Common Causes of Diarrhea in Exotic Animals and How to Stop It

As diarrhea is common in cats and dogs, so does it occur in exotic pets. Animals like rabbits, turtles, hamsters, and birds are usually prone to this disease. You might regularly see your exotic pet interacting normally in their enclosure and munching 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 issues like diarrhea.

So what are the common causes of this condition, and how can you possibly 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 watch out for include excessive drooling, vomiting, 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 requires medical attention.

Here are five common culprits of diarrhea and their remedies to help ease your worries.

1. Changes in Diet

Improper diet is the most common cause of diarrhea in exotic pets. If you have rabbits, hamsters, or turtles, you should never feed them processed foods not specifically designed for their digestive system. A bunny’s diet should consist of 80% grass hay, as they are herbivores. Hamsters should eat a compound pellet ration or a mixture of seeds (pumpkin, sesame, wheat, sunflower, corn kernels) to meet their nutritional needs.

If you want to try healthy alternatives, ensure that the food you’re feeding 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 go here to see the essential veterinary services for your pet.

2. Parasitic Infections

Intestinal parasites are often found in animal stool and water sources. If your pet drinks contaminated water or eats their stool, they may consume parasitic cysts, which often lead to parasite infections and diarrhea. This usually happens to cats and dogs and can be treated by an internal medicine vet Alpharetta, GA.

Worms in rabbits and protozoa in hamsters are common parasites that can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.

3. Antibiotics

Veterinarians often prescribe antibiotics to rabbits with respiratory infections and hamsters with skin abscesses, pneumonia, and Tyzzer disease. However, these animals sometimes react negatively to antibiotic prescriptions, often resulting in diarrhea. So if your pet starts having watery or bloody diarrhea while being treated with antibiotics, take them to an exotic vet immediately.

4. Dietary Indiscretion

Other reasons for gastrointestinal issues are overeating and feeding spoiled foods. While providing healthy food options to your exotic pet is good, overfeeding them might do more harm than good. Feed them moderate to average amounts of their recommended diet to prevent constipation and upset digestion.

5. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Although IBD is among common gastrointestinal disorders in humans, this condition is also present and being investigated in many kinds of animals, including exotic pets. The most common symptom of inflammatory bowel disease is diarrhea and weight loss. Although there is no known cure for the said condition, it can be controlled with several medications and therapy to reduce inflammation.

Key Takeaways

Now that you know the causes of diarrhea in exotic pets, you can make simple adjustments at home to relieve their condition. If your exotic pet has a single bout of diarrhea and is acting normally, there’s nothing to be concerned about. However, if they’re lethargic, rejecting food, vomiting, or showing signs of weakness in 24-72 hours, veterinary care should be sought immediately to get them back in full health.