Hi Dr. Barchas,

Yesterday my dog Geronimo got into the trash, which had some leftover steak in it. Today he has had diarrhea six or seven times. The last few times, not much came out except for mucus, but I noticed some blood in it. What is going on, and how worried should I be? He feels perfectly fine in between episodes of diarrhea.

Michelle
San Mateo, CA

Geronimo is suffering the consequences of dietary indiscretion. The syndrome, also known as “garbage gut,” is a result of the fact that dogs exercise very little common sense when they decide what to eat and what not to eat. It is one of the most common problems I see in my practice.

When dogs eat garbage, leftover picnic foods that they find in the park, or other noxious items, they may give themselves food poisoning. Some dogs are especially sensitive and can suffer the same problem if they eat too many treats, eat the wrong type of treat, or are fed a novel diet.

In mild cases, the result is diarrhea, usually accompanied by cramps. The cramps cause dogs to attempt to defecate frequently, even if there is no feces to eliminate. As a result of repeated straining, they may defecate a bit of mucus and blood. Usually this does not represent a serious problem.

Most dogs will recover from mild cases of dietary indiscretion if they skip a meal and then eat an easily digestible food, such as steamed white rice with low fat cottage cheese, for a few meals.

Please be aware that dietary indiscretion can sometimes lead to much more serious problems, such as pancreatitis. If your dog is vomiting, lethargic, weak, or not interested in food, you should contact your veterinarian.

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Hello Dr. Barchas,

My little fellow Buda is having a lot of discharge from his eyes
(brownish tears). I took him to the vet and was told that is very common for
his breed (Sphynx) to have their eyelids rolled inwards, thus causing
a lot of tearing and discharge. Sphynx are definitely very rare in
Mexico so I’m not sure this is the right diagnosis, as we’ve been giving
him eye drops and he’s still having lots of discharge. Do you have any
recommendations? What could be the problem? How can it be fixed?

Thank you very much,

Alejandra
Mexico City, Mexico

There may be another explanation for the discharge from Buda’s eyes.

Most medical conditions that cause excessive tearing or mucus production in the eyes also cause irritation. Irritated eyes usually are red and uncomfortable. Pets with eye problems therefore usually hold their eyes partially (or completely) closed (they squint), and their eyes may be red or puffy. They may rub their eyes or act as if bright light hurts them.

If Buda’s eyes are comfortable and appear completely normal other than the discharge, what you are seeing is probably nothing to worry about.

During the course of the day (and night), the eyes are bathed in tears, which naturally have a brown tinge. The tears normally drain from the eye into the nose through a duct. In some pets, this drainage system does not work properly, causing tears to spill out of the eyes. This usually is harmless.

As well, even pets with proper drainage will build up deposits of mucus in the corner of the eye. This happens to people too, but we rub them out as they form. So, the reason most pets get occasional “eye boogers” is that they don’t have fingers with which to remove them.

That said, any person who is worried that their pet has excessive eye discharge should take him to the vet for an assessment. Eyes are a sensitive part of the body, and it is better to be safe than sorry.

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Hi Dr. Barchas,

My vet told me the other day that my cat Whiskers is overweight, and that this can lead to health problems. What health problems was he talking about, and what can I do to help my little friend?

Sean
Pomona, CA

Overweight cats and dogs are at increased risk for a number of health problems. Heavy cats are more likely to suffer from life-threatening diabetes and kidney failure. Obese members of both species suffer increased rates of arthritis, skin infections, and urinary infections. In dogs, obesity may contribute to such severe arthritis that pets become unable to stand up or walk.

There are two effective ways for any creature, animal or human, to lose weight: eat fewer calories, or burn more calories.

Low calorie, weight management diets are available for both cats and dogs. These vary from commercially available light formulas to heavy-duty, prescription-only diets available only from veterinarians. Switching your pet to one of these diets, if he is otherwise healthy, is a simple first step you can take. As well, you should consider feeding him smaller portions.

Also, treats often contribute to weight problems. I recommend that overweight pets have their treats divided into small pieces. Feed just one piece each time you want to give your pet a treat.

Since it isn’t practical to make cats exercise, weight management in that species is very dependent on feeding practices. Dogs, however, can go for walks. Owners of overweight dogs are more likely to see their pets lose weight if they combine dietary modification with increased exercise.

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Dear Dr. Barchas,

Within the past few months my dog has taken a liking to eating his
feces. The vet said it is normal and gave us a powder to put in his food to
deter him. It did not work. I hate trying to correct him when he is
going to the bathroom and trying to eat it, because I think it confuses
him. Any tips?

Linda
PA

Dear Dr. Barchas,

Why do dogs eat poop?

Denise
San Francisco

When I started writing this column, I vowed that I would not cover this subject. Simply put, eating feces is an unsavory topic. However, for week after week I have received different versions of this question from hundreds of people. Clearly, people want to know why dogs eat feces, and what can be done about it. So here goes.

First, to answer the question of why dogs eat feces. The simple answer is that dogs eat feces because they are dogs. It’s something they do.

For those of you who desire a more scientific answer, one actually exists. The most current thinking on the development of dogs as a species states that dogs initially evolved to live on the fringes of human society. In this role, they scavenged human leftovers and waste. Although feces is generally unhealthy when eaten, it does have very slight nutritional value. Therefore, dogs ate feces in their role as scavenger. Modern dogs who participate in this behavior are simply following their instincts.

That said, for well-fed modern dogs, the health risks from eating feces are much greater than the benefits offered by its very slight nutritional value. As well, eating feces is disgusting. So, what can be done to stop the behavior?

Sadly, there is no simple answer. For dogs who eat their own feces, products are available that can be added to food and which claim to make the feces unpalatable. These products work well for some dogs, and have no effect for others.

Some people recommend pouring hot sauce onto feces and allowing dogs to eat it. The pain from the hot sauce, in theory, will create an aversion to feces. In my opinion, this method is cruel and I cannot recommend it.

In the end, there is only one method that consistently works: physically prevent access to feces. If your dog eats his own feces, keep him on leash while he defecates and clean up immediately after he is done. If your dog eats other dogs’ feces, keep him on leash when he is in areas where feces is present. And finally, if your dog eats out of your cat’s litter box, put the box in an area where the dog cannot get to it.

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