Diarrhoea is defined as an alteration in the normal pattern of defecation resulting in the passing of soft, unformed faeces, with an increased water content, or an increased frequency of defecation. Show
If your pet is lethargic, won’t drink, has vomiting as well, or blood in the diarrhoea, you should take him or her to your local Greencross Vet! What causes Diarrhoea?Diarrhoea is not a disease; rather, it is a sign of many different diseases. Diarrhoea may be due to primary gastro-intestinal disorders (parasites, bacterial or viral infections, dietary indiscretions, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease etc.) or may be secondary to other disease conditions such as liver disease, diabetes or pancreatic disorders. How serious is Diarrhoea in dogs and cats?Many mild cases of diarrhoea can be resolved quickly with simple treatments. Others may be the result of potentially serious illnesses. Even diarrhoea caused by mild illnesses may become serious if treatment is not begun early enough to prevent severe fluid and nutrient losses. When presented with a pet with diarrhoea, your vet will normally try to answer a number of basic questions: Is the diarrhoea serious enough to make the pet systemically unwell?(eg. dehydration, fever, weight loss, loss of appetite). If the answer is No, symptomatic treatment may be all that is required. If the answer is Yes, more aggressive treatment and tests to determine the cause of the diarrhoea are likely to be required. Is the diarrhoea acute or chronic?Acute diarrhoea is more likely to be due to less serious causes, and more likely to respond to symptomatic or non-specific treatment. Chronic diarrhoea is more likely to require a specific diagnosis for effective therapy. Is the diarrhoea primary (ie Due to disorders of the gastro-intestinal tract) or secondary (ie. Due to disorders of other body organs or systems).The tests required to diagnose primary diarrhoea are very different to those required for secondary diarrhoea. Is the diarrhoea typical of a disorder affecting the small intestine, the large intestine, or both?As with (3), the answer to this question will determine what tests are required to diagnose the cause of the diarrhoea. What types of tests are performed to find the cause?If diarrhoea is chronic, or is associated with systemic illness (other symptoms may include fever, weight loss, vomiting, change in water intake and loss of appetite) we perform a series of tests to try and make a specific diagnosis. This permits more specific treatment. Diagnostic tests may include radiography (x-rays) with or without barium, blood tests, bacteriological cultures, biopsies of the intestinal tract and exploratory abdominal surgery. Once the diagnosis is known, treatment may include special medications and/or diets, or surgery. If your pet does not appear systemically ill from diarrhoea, or the diarrhoea is acute, the cause may be less serious. Some of the minor causes of diarrhoea include stomach or intestinal bacteria or viruses, intestinal parasites and dietary indiscretions (such as eating garbage or other offensive or irritating materials). A minimum number of tests are performed to rule out certain parasites and infections. These cases may be treated with drugs to control the motility of the intestinal tract, drugs that relieve inflammation in the intestinal tract, and/or a special diet for a few days. This approach allows the body’s healing mechanisms to correct the problem. We expect improvement within 2-4 days; if this does not occur, a change in medication or further tests are done to better understand the problem. Please keep us informed of any lack of expected improvement so that we may manage the situation properly.
Our South Wilton vets commonly see dogs that are experiencing diarrhea. Usually, a mild bout of diarrhea is nothing to be concerned about. The most common cause of diarrhea in dogs is usually just mild gastrointestinal distress caused by your dog eating something that didn't agree with them— such as table scraps. Switching your dog to a new brand or type of food may also cause them to have diarrhea as their stomach adjusts to their new diet. However, there are some situations in which diarrhea can indicate a more serious underlying issue. You should monitor your pet for any further symptoms and contact your vet if you feel there is any reason for concern. What causes diarrhea in dogs?Below are some of the most common causes of diarrhea in dogs:
When should you contact your vet?If your dog has one or two episodes of diarrhea but is otherwise symptom-free, there is likely no cause for concern. Monitor your dog's bowel movements to see if things clear up. More than 2 episodes could indicate a problem, so it's a good idea to call your vet if your pooch has more than 2 bouts of diarrhea. If your dog seems to be straining to pass a stool but is only passing small amounts of watery diarrhea, they could be experiencing a painful blockage due to the ingestion of a foreign object, such as a toy. This is a serious situation and requires immediate veterinarian attention. Contact your vet or head to the nearest emergency animal hospital for care. Recurring bouts of diarrhea over a short period of time could also be a sign of a very serious health issue, particularly if your dog is very young, very old, or has a compromised immune system. Your dog could be experiencing a life-threatening infection, such as parvovirus or salmonella. If your dog is displaying other symptoms alongside diarrhea you should also take them to the vet as soon as possible. Other symptoms to watch for include:
How to Treat Diarrhea in DogsWhen it comes to treating diarrhea in dogs it's important that you don't give your dog any human medication without consulting your vet. Many human medications are toxic to dogs and could cause further complications. If your pup has mild diarrhea with no other symptoms you may want to give your dog some time to recover by having them fast for 12-24 hours. You can also try having them switch to a bland diet for 24-48 hours. Plain-cooked brown rice with chicken or canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) are both good options that may help to stop diarrhea in dogs. Once their bowel movements return to normal you can slowly reintroduce their regular food. Other things that might help to soothe your dog's upset stomach include natural yogurt, probiotics, peeled boiled potatoes, cottage cheese, or a cooked egg with no oil added. Chronic diarrhea in dogs can happen when your pup has a sensitive stomach. If your dog experiencing frequent diarrhea with no other underlying causes, your vet may be able to recommend medication or a specialized diet to help. When it comes to your dog's health, it is always better to err on the side of caution and speak with your vet to determine the best treatment plan for your dog's diarrhea. Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet. Is your dog experiencing frequent bouts of diarrhea? Contact our South Wilton vets today to set up an appointment for your pup.
We're always accepting new patients, so contact our veterinary hospital today to book your pet's first appointment. Contact Us Nothing gets a pet owner moving faster than the preemptive sounds of their pet preparing to vomit or have diarrhea.If you have a dog, you will likely have to deal with diarrhea at one time or another. And in some unfortunate cases, it may be a regular situation. What is Diarrhea?Diarrhea is the term used when your dog passes non-formed loose or watery stool more often and in larger amounts than they would normally defecate. It is a common condition that is a sign or symptom of other diseases or issues rather than a disease itself. It can be the result of a minor condition, such as a dietary indiscretion, that only requires simple treatment for its resolution, or it can be the result of a serious illness, such as cancer, that requires more involved treatments.
Dogs can become dehydrated and develop electrolyte imbalances. Therefore knowing why your dog may have diarrhea and the possible cause helps you know when it is critical to seek medical care versus treating your dog at home. How to Know When You Can Treat Diarrhea at Home
How to Know When Diarrhea is a Medical Emergency
When in doubt, call your veterinarian or an emergency hospital for advice.
Questions? To chat with a veterinarian about your dog's diarrhea, Click here How to Treat Your Dog's Diarrhea at HomeThere are times when your dog may be off, and you can manage their diarrhea without a trip to the veterinarian. If you have determined that it will likely be ok to try and “ride out” your dog’s diarrhea for 24 to 36 hours, then here are some options to help. RestJust like with us, rest is important. Give your dog a quiet and comfortable place for them to recover. It is likely best to be a place close to a door to go outside, and that has an easy-to-clean floor for those unfortunate poop accidents. FastingIdeally, fast your dog for 12 hours to allow their gastrointestinal tract to rest and recover. This means NO treats, regular meals, snacks – food of any kind. HydrationIt is critical that you maintain your dog’s hydration. During this period of time, you can give your dog rice water. The benefit of rice water over plain water is that it may help improve digestion, help alleviate gas and bloating, provide some beneficial minerals, and the carbohydrates provide some energy. You want to use good quality white rice (not minute rice). Brown rice is not recommended since it has too much fiber. How to make rice waterIngredients:
Instructions: Boil 1 cup of white rice in 4 cups of water for 10 to 30 minutes (maybe longer) until the water turns a creamy white color. Remove the liquid and allow it to cool. Save the cooked rice for later use. Once cooled, give it to your dog as often as they will consume it. Discontinue if your dog starts vomiting and contact your veterinarian. For those dogs not interested, you can add a couple of teaspoons of low sodium chicken broth powder or dog-safe bone broth (be sure it does not contain any onions or garlic). Alternatives to rice waterIf you find that rice water isn’t your dog’s thing, you can try clear, unflavored Pedialyte. Personally, I think the stuff tastes terrible and would prefer the rice water! I do not recommend Gatorade because it is high in sugar, and that can cause further intestinal inflammation. There are electrolyte solutions made specifically for pets, as well. After FastingOnce you are past the first 12 hours of fasting, you can begin offering your dog small amounts of a bland, low-fat, and easily digestible diet. Bland Diet Options1. Plain, boiled, boneless, skinless chicken and rice (the leftover from the rice water). 2. Chicken or turkey baby food (be sure it does not contain onions or garlic – the links we provided are pet safe baby food choices) Serving Size Example: A small breed dog can be offered a tablespoon or two every hour for a couple of hours. Then allow them to rest for a couple of hours. If there is no vomiting or worsening symptoms, you can slightly increase the amount. You will end up feeding smaller portions more frequently than what is their usual feeding routine. 3. There are prescription veterinary diets that work well as bland diet alternatives if cooking isn’t your thing! It is always helpful to regularly keep a couple of cans or packets at home. Royal Canin Digestive Low Fat, Hills I/D, Purina EN, or others. Note: If your pet recovers and you have leftover dry GI food, you can keep it fresh by putting it in a Ziploc® bag and placing it in the freezer for emergency use. The Under the Weather bland diet does not require a veterinary prescription, so you can buy some ahead of time and keep it just in case. They have many flavors, so be sure to pick the one that matches the protein your dog is currently on, i.e., chicken. Under the Weather Bland Dog Food Diet
For sensitive stomachs. All Natural, 100% human-grade meat (rice & chicken). How Long to Keep Your Dog on a Bland DietGenerally, you will keep your dog on a bland diet for one or two weeks. During that time, continue feeding small amounts every 3 to 4 hours. If the diarrhea goes away, then over another one to two weeks, you will slowly transition them back to their regular dog food diet. Do not give treats or any other food than their regular dog food. Once they have been transitioned fully back to their regular dog food for a couple of weeks, then you can begin slowly offering extras such as their treats.
Other Things That Can Help With DiarrheaIn addition to rest, fasting, and a bland diet, there are some other things you may find helpful in dealing with diarrhea issues at home. ProbioticsProbiotics may be helpful when dealing with diarrhea. Since the digestive tract makes up about 60 to 80% of your pet’s immune system, keeping it healthy is important. Probiotics help support a healthy immune system by keeping the intestinal bacteria in good balance and aiding in digestion. You can try regular, unflavored, probiotic-rich yogurt (you want as low a sugar content as possible), or you can pick up a probiotic like Purina’s FortiFlora, Nutramax’s Proviable (tablet or paste), VetriScience Fast Balance GI Paste, VetriScience Vetri Probiotic BD, or Iams’ Prostora Max. FortiFlora Nutritional Supplement for Dogs Proviable Health Supplement for Dogs & Cats VetriScience Fast Balance Gi Paste – Fast Acting Gastrointestinal Support for Cats & Dogs Vetri Probiotic BD, Bowel Defense & GI Support Supplement for Dogs FiberFiber, such as pumpkin, has been found to help with some cases of diarrhea. It acts as a prebiotic because it stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria by lowering the pH and providing the nutrients they need. Additionally, it helps inhibit the harmful bacteria in the intestines. Always be sure that your dog has access to plenty of fresh water when giving them fiber supplements. In the case of stress-induced diarrhea, starting a fiber supplement a few days prior to the stressful event can help prevent the diarrhea from starting. Psyllium fiber can be purchased over the counter as whole husks, in products like unsweetened, unflavored Metamucil, or this dog-formulated fiber brand Serving: 1 teaspoon for smaller dogs and up to 3 teaspoons for larger dogs, once to twice daily mixed into food. You can also grind the psyllium fiber finer if you want to. NOTE: Do not use any of the flavored varieties of Metamucil, especially those with chocolate. Additionally, read the labels to be sure they do not contain xylitol – it is very toxic to pets. Promote HealingRebound Recuperation Formula for dogs can also be very beneficial. While it isn’t a treatment for diarrhea, it acts as a support for recovery. It helps promote hydration, which is important when dogs have diarrhea. It contains prebiotics and antioxidants, which are essential in helping to support the immune system for recovery. It also helps stimulate them to eat and drink. Consider blood protein supplements. Supplements that use blood proteins that are rich in immunoglobulins may help reduce inflammation, promote healing, and provide other benefits for dogs. The WINPRO line of supplements (Immunity, Mobility, Allergy, Focus, Training) has been met with very positive feedback from dog owners. In our own experience, our dogs loved the taste of their supplements. You only give your dog one or two (depending on their weight) each day, so a bag of 60 will last you 1–2 months. You should not give your dog more than the recommended amount.
Questions? To chat with a veterinarian about your dog's diarrhea, Click here Over-the-Counter Medications and Why They Are Best to AvoidYou may be wondering why I have not mentioned over-the-counter (OTC) human medications, such as Kaopectate®, Pepto Bismol®, or Imodium®, for your pet. The reason being, depending on the cause of the diarrhea, these medications can do more harm than good. They should only be given if recommended by your dog’s veterinarian and only at the dose they advise. These medications can be toxic to your dog, especially if dosed incorrectly. Pepto Bismol’s and Kaopectate’s active ingredient is bismuth subsalicylate. This ingredient is a derivative of salicylic acid or aspirin. If your dog gets the wrong dose, toxicity can result. If your dog has intestinal bleeding that you are unaware of, bloody vomit and diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weakness may result. These medications may also affect platelet function, which can affect blood clotting times. When blood does not clot, bleeding continues, which can lead to other issues. If given with any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as Rimadyl®, DeramaxxTM, etc., there is an increased risk of intestinal ulcers or perforation. It can cause your dog’s stool to look blackish. Blackish stool in dogs is referred to as melena (digested blood in stool) which can indicate serious medical conditions. This can make diagnosing certain medical issues difficult and possibly add the need for more costly tests. Lastly, the tablet form of the anti-inflammatory will appear radio-opaque (white) on x-rays. This may appear as a metallic foreign body and result in unnecessary surgery or other treatments. Note if you have a cat: If you have been advised by your veterinarian to give either Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate to your dog and you have a cat, do not let your cat consume these medications. They will cause salicylate toxicity. This can result in anemia, ulcers, and liver failure, regardless of the dose. Why You Should Use Extreme Caution With Imodium®Imodium (which goes by the generic name Loperamide) is a synthetic opioid. All opioids are known to cause constipation. They work by slowing down gut motility which allows for more fluid and salts to be drawn back into the body system. Imodium, when administered at safe levels, is not helpful for pain and, therefore, will not relieve any abdominal discomfort your dog may have. While, in some cases, Imodium may help, there are others where it can cause potentially serious side effects. Some of these side effects include constipation, sedation, bloating, and even pancreatitis. You should never give Imodium to your dog if:
What If Home Treatment Doesn't Work?When in doubt, when concerned, or when the diarrhea extends beyond a day or two, despite your best at-home efforts, your best bet is to have your pet — and their poo — evaluated by your veterinarian. No amount of internet searching and no number of trial and error home remedy attempts can compete with the comprehensive history taking, thorough physical examination, diagnostic testing, and the ability to prescribe safe and effective medications or supplements that only your veterinarian can offer. Dehydration is a Big ConcernDiarrhea causes dehydration because your dog is losing more fluids than they can take in. This lack of fluid balance prevents their bodies from functioning properly. Diarrhea Can Cause Nutrient DeficiencyThe small intestine is where dogs absorb most of their nutrients from what they ingest. Therefore, when the cause of diarrhea relates to the small intestines, your dog is missing out on a lot of the nutrients they would normally gain from their food. In addition to diarrhea, issues of the small intestines usually cause vomiting (increasing the risks of dehydration) and weight loss (because of the lack of nutrients).
Questions? To chat with a veterinarian about your dog's diarrhea, Click here Why Dogs Get DiarrheaThere can be many causes of diarrhea in dogs. Typically, dogs will vomit or have diarrhea due to:
When fecal matter moves through the intestines faster than normal, and there is decreased absorption of water, nutrients, and electrolytes, the result is diarrhea. It is a symptom of diseases or other issues like toxins, foreign body ingestion, etc., that affect the small intestines, large intestines, or other organs outside the gastrointestinal tract. Be Prepared to Answer Your Veterinarian's QuestionsBeing able to answer your vet's questions about your pet’s diet, environment, habits, behavior and knowing the details about your dog’s diarrhea will aid in narrowing the list of possible causes. By narrowing the list of possible causes, this also helps determine if and what specific tests are needed or if you will be able to treat the issue with some medications at home. There are different characteristics for when diseases cause small intestinal diarrhea versus large intestinal diarrheas, and the diagnosis and treatment for both are generally different. Here are some details to pay attention to when you suspect your dog has diarrhea. Characteristics of Small Intestinal Diarrhea:
Small intestinal diarrhea can be caused by any of the following:
Characteristics of Large Intestinal Diarrhea:
Large Intestinal diarrhea can be caused by the following:
As mentioned, there are organs outside the intestinal tract that can potentially cause diarrhea. Diseases that affect the kidneys, liver, and pancreas can all cause diarrhea. What Your Veterinarian Is Likely to Do
It is important to regularly (several times per week) monitor your dog’s bathroom habits – even if they are shy about it! This helps you know what is normal and abnormal for them. It will alert you to problems sooner – which may avoid a vet visit. These key pieces of information – change in pooping habits, changes in poop color, firmness, amount, etc. – are very valuable when providing information to your dog’s veterinarian. It may save you a lot of time and possibly eliminate a lot of extra testing. |