Sun, heat, humidity… in a word, summer. And lurking for our canine friends, right with the summer season, are irksome intestinal problems that complicate daily life and, sometimes, the long-awaited holiday. "During the summer, problems with diarrhoea, especially in dogs, become more frequent. The reasons are various. First and foremost is the heat, which speeds up the putrefactive processes in food. After just a few minutes, a fresh and appetising bowl can turn into a source of intoxication, particularly if 'visited' by flies and bluebottles," explains Laura Cutullo, holistic veterinary surgeon, homeopath and flower therapist.

Summer for dogs means water, insects and toxic plants

Another cause of intestinal problems is water. The thirst brought on by humidity and scorching heat encourages dogs to drink even stagnant water or water containing dissolved toxic substances. From there to troublesome diarrhoea is a very short step indeed. Isolated episodes, yet ones that leave owners puzzled and often lead them to contact their vet even when no actual illness is present.

Lizards and insects become amusing prey for our four-legged companions to hunt, in the garden or during runs in city parks and in the countryside, and they represent further enemies of perfect intestinal function. "These small animals are often ingested, as are plants, leaves or shrubs that the dog finds in the garden or in the countryside," Cutullo continues. These are sometimes species that are poisonous or toxic to both the stomach and the intestine. The presence of indigestible matter in the intestinal tract (hair, bones, paper, wood) can also cause loose stools, especially in hot and humid weather.

Some dogs suffer from so-called Pica (ingestion of non-edible substances), and it is precisely during the summer heat that the phenomenon tends to increase, leading to irksome intestinal problems. Not to mention food intolerances, which are becoming increasingly widespread among our animals. "The 'assailed' organism," explains Dr Cutullo, "reacts with its most effective weapon: the expulsion of harmful substances. Hence the onset of diarrhoea, often accompanied by vomiting. One or two loose stools should absolutely not cause alarm, but if the problem is more significant, action must be taken."

Intestinal disorders resolved with natural medicine

It is worth paying close attention, then, to our dogs' stools. "Naturally, if mucus and blood are present, if there is also abdominal pain, or if the problem is severe and continues for more than a day, a veterinary surgeon must be consulted," states vet Cutullo. If the episodes are limited in number, however, it is essential not to try by all means to stop them as soon as they appear: diarrhoea is an important self-healing mechanism that the body activates. Should the disorder be repeated and copious, however, our dog's body will end up losing important substances such as water, sodium and potassium.

Dehydration must therefore be compensated by giving the animal plenty to drink, ideally a broth made with vegetables, a little meat and some rice. "The broth should be given," the vet continues, "at room temperature several times a day, with the solid parts removed." To counteract the intestinal absorption of toxins, it is then important to use activated vegetable charcoal, available in powder or tablet form, which is also extremely useful as a first response in cases of suspected poisoning because it absorbs drugs, irritants and poisons. It should be used for a maximum of four or five days (though one day is often sufficient), because it unfortunately also reduces the absorption of nutrients.

Tablets can be crushed into powder and easily added to the daily food. To reduce inflammation of the intestinal wall, carob powder is also excellent: the dose ranges from ½ to 4 teaspoons three times a day depending on the dog's size. Laura Cutullo advises: "There are homeopathic complexes containing various remedies that are effective for gastrointestinal problems, among them: Colocynthis, effective for pain from violent intestinal spasms; Mercurius sublimatus corrosivus, for mucous and bloody stools, intestinal colic and rectal tenesmus; Chamomilla, which helps with abdominal spasms; Chininum arsenicosum, which relieves abdominal bloating; and Veratrum Album, for vomiting and diarrhoea with hypothermia and marked asthenia.

These complexes come in drops and tablets, but for animals I recommend the tablets, as in the drops the presence of alcohol can be toxic (always in cats, for example, and in dogs when there are liver problems). The dosage ranges from 1 to 2 tablets 2–5 times a day depending on the frequency of the episodes. Among the "single" remedies — also homeopathic (in homeopathy a "single" remedy refers to one in which only one remedy is present in the vial) — those worth keeping to hand are various: if the animal is weak, seeks warmth, is thirsty, defecates in small quantities but very frequently and has cold paws and body, the appropriate homeopathic remedy is Arsenicum album 5CH; if the diarrhoea comes on after eating spoiled food and is accompanied by vomiting and restlessness, it is better to use Nux vomica 5CH; if the stools are liquid, copious and have a disgusting odour, it is advisable to administer Podophyllum 5CH. "In these cases," adds Dr Cutullo, "the dosage is 3 granules every 1–3 hours, decreasing the frequency in line with the improvement of the little patient."

In all cases of diarrhoea or dysentery, once intestinal function has improved, it is advisable to give the animal a little yoghurt daily, containing lactic ferments that reach the intestine: from one teaspoon to two tablespoons, depending on the animal's size. For dogs with a strong intolerance to dairy products, it is better to use concentrated probiotics instead, available from the pharmacy.