Most dogs will have bouts of diarrhea throughout their life. The majority of the time this is caused by nothing more than a minor stomach upset or the ingestion of something foreign. Like humans, dogs can simply have reactions to certain foods.
The problem arises when the diarrhea goes on for longer than a day or so and when other symptoms begin occurring. Symptoms to watch out for in addition to diarrhea include:
Vomiting
Lethargic
Loss of appetite
Not drinking water
Blood in stool or vomit
If your dog has diarrhea and is displaying any of these symptoms then veterinary advice is needed. Diarrhea can dehydrate an animal very quickly, particularly puppies who can actually die within a very short time of dehydration so you need to make sure your dog is drinking water.
You can test the hydration level of a dog by picking up some loose skin. If the skin bounces back quickly then the dog is hydrated, if it sticks up for a little while then dehydration is occurring. Alternatively you can feel the dog’s gums. Dry gums indicate dehydration.
Dogs with bloody diarrhea must seek medical advice immediately as this can be a sign or a number of things such as worms or serious intestinal problems.
Treating dog diarrhea depends on the cause. If the vet assumes it is the result of ingesting something like too much grass or a foreign object then the diarrhea is likely to pass on its own without treatment. If worms are the cause (confirmed by a stool sample examination) then appropriate worm treatment will be prescribed.
Further tests may be needed in some cases to determine whether there are abdominal or intestinal conditions causing the diarrhea.
Dogs will commonly eat objects in their environment that are not considered food such as sticks, leaves and grass and even human rubbish like plastic. All of these things can cause diarrhea (and blockages) so try and minimize the amount of broken sticks and rubbish items in your dog’s environment.
Dogs with diarrhea should be fed a very bland diet as advised by your vet. Water intake must also be monitored to assure that dehydration does not occur.
Diarrhea is a common dog ailment but thankfully it is not a serious problem in most cases.
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