Dog Diarrhea: Causes, Treatment, and When to Be Concerned – From drool puddles and muddy paws to kisses with open mouths and fur in the furniture, pet parents suffer a lot. But we’ve yet to hear of someone enjoying dealing with poop, particularly watery poop. Dog diarrhea is the worst, and your dog will not enjoy it either if they are feeling stomach issues. Eating something that did not sit well with your dog’s digestive system is the main cause of moderate dog diarrhea. Diarrhea, however, may strongly show an underlying medical situation. Moreover, if untreated, it may result in serious side effects such as electrolyte imbalances and dehydration. In this blog, we will discuss what is Dog Diarrhea: Causes, Treatment, and when to Be Concerned.
Why do dogs have diarrhea?
Diarrhea is characterized by loose or watery feces and a constant frequency of bowel movements. Low absorption of water, minerals, and electrolytes, combined with increased fecal material movement through the colon, results in runny stool.
Diarrhea is a symptom of something else that is happening in your dog’s body, not an illness. It can be caused by a lot of factors, like bowel or kidney disease, or a change in nutrition.Diarrhea is mostly mild and will clear up on its own, but it is also a sign of a more severe illness. It is important to call your veterinarian if your dog’s diarrhea lasts longer than twenty-four hours.
Typical reasons for canine diarrhea
Munching trash, scavenging off the table, or what’s on the floor, Dietary change, Intestinal parasites, Bacterial infection, Food allergies and intolerance, Bowel inflammation, Pancreatitis, Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, or Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome are other names for bloody diarrhea, Side effects of medication, Stress-Related Hormonal or Endocrine Disorder (Addisons), Poison or a foreign substance ingestion, Kidney or liver disorders, Certain cancers.
Your veterinarian will try to attribute your dog’s from the above reasons if your dog’s diarrhea warrants a visit.
Is dog diarrhea a problem?
Diarrhea may be focal and moderate, or indicative of more severe underlying illness, depending on the dog and etiology. If your dog is straining but only passing tiny volumes of watery diarrhea, the situation is also rather dangerous. For help, call your vet or visit the closest emergency animal hospital.
Reasons to be concerned
It is suggested to exercise caution when dealing with diarrhea. Even if your dog’s symptoms are not serious, contact our virtual care staff if you have any issues. You should take your dog in for care if any of the following apply to them –
- You own an elderly dog or a dog with a history of health problems.
- Your dog is a puppy.
- Excruciating diarrhea that does not go away in a day
- Passing much mucus or having bloody diarrhea
- Black stools that are dark or sticky
- Throwing up in addition to having diarrhea, specifically if they are not able to swallow food or liquids
- Appetite loss
- Fever and Lethargy
- Loss of weight
- Dehydration
- Abdominal pain
How is dog diarrhea treated?
Your veterinarian must recognize the current reason for your dog’s diarrhea before treating it. In addition to asking you a few questions about your dog’s nutrition, routines, and behavior, they will ask you to bring a fresh fecal sample to your consultation. Your veterinarian might suggest diagnostic testing based on how serious your dog’s diarrhea is.
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, frequently known as gastroenteritis or AHDS, is one of the most often causes of diarrhea in our pets. Since these are excluding diagnoses, we could perform every test and everything would seem to be normal.
How to treat diarrhea in dogs
Your dog probably only needs a little supportive care to completely recover if the diarrhea is minor and they are otherwise healthy. Dogs that have more serious diarrhea or notable underlying issues will be treated further. For example, your dog will go through parasite treatments if intestinal worms are the cause of their diarrhea. Moreover, they will need a specific diet if they have a food sensitivity.
What can you give your dog at home to treat diarrhea?
Only if your dog is a healthy adult and is acting and eating normally should you treat their diarrhea at home. It is not right to treat serious diarrhea or symptoms at home; instead, veterinary care is important. Before trying any at-home treatments, we suggest consulting with our virtual care staff. When you are cleared to do so, you can try the following to help your dog’s digestive tract recover.
- Always make sure your dog is drinking water.
- Put pee pads inside the house or take your dog outside more often. When they have diarrhea, dogs can not “hold it in” and will need to urinate more regularly.
- For some days, feed them bland things like white rice and boiled chicken.
- Serve meals that are high in fiber and easy to digest, like boiled sweet potatoes.
- You can get a sensitive stomach food by contacting your veterinarian.
Ask your veterinarian for suggestions if the diarrhea does not get better after two days.
How to stop diarrhea in dogs
They are likely to experience diarrhea at some point in their lives because it is one of the most often causes of veterinary visits. You can take the following actions to stop it from occurring more often than necessary –
- Make sure your dog has had all of the advised vaccinations and treatments for parasite prevention.
- Make sure they can not access the waste in your home.
- Avoid giving children leftovers from the table, specifically products that are rich, creamy, or spicy.
- If you must alter their diet, do it gradually over a time of one to two weeks.
- Ask your veterinarian about probiotics or other supportive measures for your dog’s digestion if you have a stressful event approaching.
Conclusion
Keeping an eye on your dog’s toilet habits is one of the great ways to keep an eye on their well-being and avoid diarrhea. Although you are already overwhelmed by your dog’s feces, knowing what’s typical for them may help you spot issues early and possibly save you from seeing the veterinarian. With a keen eye and some preventative actions, you can stop diarrhea from disturbing you and your pup’s healthy life.
FAQs
What is dog diarrhea?
Diarrhea refers to loose, watery stools mainly occurring in large and/or often amounts (three or more times per day). Diarrhea in dogs is not a condition in itself but rather a sign of another physical illness.
Should I stop giving my dog water if they have diarrhea?
Diarrhea can rapidly lead to dehydration, so your dog must have access to water at all times. Because dehydration is dangerous, particularly for puppies, senior dogs, or dogs with underlying health situations, they must get enough water.
What if my dog has diarrhea but no other signs?
If your dog has a single bout of diarrhea with no other symptoms, it is likely not a cause for worry. Observe your dog’s bowel movements closely to see if diarrhea remains.
