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The small intestine, named for its small diameter, roughly spans 3-4 times the length of your dog’s body. As food material exits the stomach, it enters the small intestine and mixes with pancreatic and gall bladder secretions. These secretions cause breakdown of food nutrients to allow absorption of proteins, sugars, and fats. Dogs with small intestinal disease do not feel well; they may have vomiting and/or voluminous, watery diarrhea. By far, the most common cause of small intestinal inflammation is dietary indiscretion-raiding the trash can or eating something rotten from the park. Other common causes of small intestinal disease include: foreign body ingestion (e.g.: corn cob, toys), dietary intolerance, parasites, and viral infections.
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