As diarrhea is common in cats and dogs, so does it occur in exotic pets. Animals like hamsters, rabbits, turtles, and birds are generally prone to this disease. You might regularly see your exotic pet interacting normally in their enclosure and chewing with their nimble teeth when eating. If you’re a passionate owner of the mentioned animals, you’re fully aware when they exhibit signs of gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea.
So what are the common causes of this condition, and how can you stop it? Keep reading below to find out.
What Causes Diarrhea in Exotic Pets?
A few symptoms can be concerning and even messy for pet owners when their exotic animals have diarrhea. Some notable signs to look out for include vomiting, excessive drooling, watery and bloody stool, and complete loss of appetite. If your pet has been showing signs of the mentioned disease for more than a day, this is when it gets alarming and needs medical attention.
Here are five common culprits of diarrhea and their remedies to help reduce your worries.
1. Parasitic Infections
Intestinal parasites are often found in animal stool and water sources. If your pet drinks contaminated water or eats their stool, they might consume parasitic cysts, which frequently lead to parasite infections and diarrhea. This usually happens to cats and dogs and can be treated by veterinary internal medicine specialists.
Worms in bunnies and protozoa in hamsters are common parasites that can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.
2. Dietary Indiscretion
Other reasons for gastrointestinal problems are overeating and feeding spoiled foods. While giving healthy food options to your exotic pet is great, overfeeding them might do more harm than good. Feed them moderate to average amounts of their recommended diet to prevent upset digestion and constipation.
3. Changes in Diet
Improper diet is the most common cause of diarrhea in exotic pets. If you have rabbits, turtles, or hamsters, you should never feed them processed foods not specifically designed for their digestive system. A bunny’s diet must consist of 80% grass hay, as they are herbivores. Hamsters must eat a compound pellet ration or a mixture of seeds (pumpkin, wheat, sesame, sunflower, corn kernels) to meet their nutritional needs.
If you want to try healthy alternatives, ensure that the food you feed them is 100% safe for their health. Slowly introduce new foods to their diet to avoid upsetting their stomach. You can also ask the vet for healthier food options and recommended diets for your pet’s optimum health. You may check websites like https://www.lovinghands.com/site/home to learn more about essential vet services.
4. Antibiotics
Vets often prescribe antibiotics to bunnies with respiratory infections and hamsters with pneumonia, skin abscesses, and Tyzzer condition. However, these animals sometimes respond negatively to antibiotic prescriptions, often resulting in diarrhea. So if your pet starts having bloody or watery diarrhea while being treated with antibiotics, immediately take them to exotic vets. You may visit their website for detailed information on what they do.
5. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Although IBD is among common gastrointestinal disorders in humans, this condition is also present and being examined in many kinds of animals, including exotic pets. The most common sign of inflammatory bowel disease is diarrhea and weight loss. Although there is no known remedy for the mentioned condition, it can be regulated with several medications and therapy to reduce inflammation.
Key Takeaways
Now that you understand the causes of diarrhea in exotic pets, you can make simple adjustments at home to relieve their condition. If your pet has a single bout of diarrhea and is acting normally, there’s nothing to be worried about. However, if they’re lethargic, vomiting, rejecting food, or showing signs of weakness in 24-72 hours, veterinary care should be sought immediately to get them back in full health.
