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Diarrhea: as a pet parent, it’s something you’ll unfortunately need to become familiar with. Believe me, as a veterinarian, I get an almost daily reminder of what happens when a dog’s digestive system goes a little haywire. Besides knowing the best way to remove messes from your carpet, understanding a bit about the causes and treatments for diarrhea will go a long way in helping you to keep your dog as healthy and digestively normal as possible. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Dog Diarrhea?
You’ve no doubt heard the term, but what constitutes diarrhea exactly? There is an actual definition that may come in handy. Diarrhea is any stool that isn’t fully formed. It may be called soft, loose, watery, or runny. Either way, your dog has diarrhea when their stools don’t form that perfect Tootsie Roll or sausage shape and instead come out as a pile of mush or even squirt of liquid. You may notice your dog pooping more frequently and it may come in higher amounts, so it’s important to know what’s normal for your pup.
Diarrhea is very common in dogs, so you’re not alone in experiencing those late-night emergency potty breaks. Because diarrhea is so common in dogs, it's hard to pin down precisely how often it occurs. So, to make things easy, you may assume that your dog is going to experience diarrhea at least once, but more likely multiple times, in their lifetime.
Types of Diarrhea in Dogs
Diarrhea in dogs can actually be classified into different categories. To you, this may not make sense—diarrhea is diarrhea, right? But to your vet, classification is important to help in diagnosis as well as treatment. So, you can help your vet out by understanding a little bit about the different types.
Small Intestine Diarrhea
Different parts of the digestive system can cause different types of diarrhea. When there’s an issue with the small intestine, you may see a slight increase in the frequency of bowel movements as well as a large increase in the volume per bowel movement. This is because absorption of nutrients isn’t happening as it should in the small intestine and partially digested food is instead moving through. Due to lack of absorption, dogs may also lose weight if their diarrhea lasts long enough.
Large Intestine Diarrhea
With diarrhea originating from issues with the large intestine, you’re going to see lots and lots of bowel movements. Each movement may be smaller than normal and will likely come with some urgency and straining. Dogs don’t typically lose weight with this type of diarrhea since the affected area is after the main site of nutrient absorption.
Acute versus Chronic Dog Diarrhea
The other way you’ll want to classify your dog’s diarrhea is by how long it lasts. Acute diarrhea pops up suddenly and doesn’t last more than a week or so. Chronic diarrhea is ongoing, happening again and again over the course of weeks or months.
Causes of Dog Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a result of issues with the digestive tract, but just what are those issues? It turns out, there’s a lot! Basically, anything that causes damage or an imbalance in the normal functioning can lead to increased water in the feces or a faster transit time through the system. Here’s the main ones:
Dietary indiscretion: Eating something they shouldn’t is a dog’s MO and sometimes those things can really upset their GI. This may be rotten food, toxins, or an indigestible foreign object.
Infection: Bacteria, viruses and fungi can damage the lining of the digestive tract leading to issues with nutrient and water absorption and may be a reason a dog is pooping blood.
Internal parasites: Dogs and worms often go hand in hand. Heavy internal parasite loads can really mess with the GI system’s normal workings.
Allergies/Sensitivities: Sensitivities to certain foods can lead to chronic diarrhea as long as a dog is allowed to eat that ingredient.
Switching Foods: A dog’s digestive system is a finely tuned machine, made to efficiently digest food. It that food is changed suddenly, that machine gets thrown out of whack, potentially leading to diarrhea.
Medication: Some medications, such as certain antibiotics, aren’t good for a dogs’ microbiome and can actually kill off the good bacteria necessary for digestion.
Others: Stress, cancer, and organ dysfunction can also play a role in a dog with diarrhea.
Diagnosing Dog Diarrhea
Although not all dog diarrhea needs veterinary care, you should investigate the cause at home, using some of the same steps a vet would. First, start with a history. Note when you first notice the diarrhea, what it looks like, frequency, volume and any other signs.
Take a good look at your dog or let your vet do it. Taking their temperature and feeling their abdomen for areas of pain or firmness are big pieces of the puzzle. If you note anything off, be sure to call your vet. Hydration status is also important as diarrhea can really drain a dog of their fluids and possibly make them dehydrated.
Now, if they’re at the vet, they may continue their investigation with a fecal test, bloodwork and imaging. You may bring your dog’s stool sample to the vet or let them collect their own. More in depth cases may need a biopsy of the intestinal lining, but that isn’t likely to be a part of the first step.
Treatment of Dog Diarrhea
Mild cases of diarrhea may be initially treated at home. If you’re unsure what to do if your dog has diarrhea, we’ve got you covered. Start by withholding food for 12-24 hours. For puppies, older dogs or dogs with some health conditions, this may not be advised, so be sure to talk to your vet first. Sometimes just giving the gut a bit of a break while it sorts through its issues can go a long way in treating their diarrhea.
You can follow this up by feeding a bland diet just to further pamper the digestive tract on its healing journey. Again, talk to your vet first for the best course of action for your pup.
For more severe cases, your vet is going to take the treatment reigns and may enlist the help of antibiotics or anti-parasiticides to treat any infections or parasites that may be causing the problem. Dogs that are dehydrated may require fluid therapy, and any other signs, such as vomiting, will likely be addressed as well. Hospitalization may even be required for severe cases, something that often comes with a high price tag. Having pet medical insurance can really help with those costs, so be sure to have coverage in place before your dog gets sick. Pet insurance can help cover a range of treatments, from medications and therapies to more extensive procedures like hospitalization and surgery. Knowing you have pet insurance can provide peace of mind in these stressful situations, allowing you to focus on your dog's recovery rather than financial concerns.
Chronic diarrhea related to diet will require a diet change. Often switching to a higher quality or novel protein diet will do the trick. More sensitive dogs may need a hypoallergenic change.
Recovery and Management of Dog Diarrhea
Since every case of dog diarrhea is different, there's no standard timeframe for it to resolve. That being said, most mild cases should become less smelly and runny in a matter of days, while more difficult cases may take weeks or months to clear.
Along the way, you may be able to help speed recovery by giving your dog probiotics to support a healthy gut environment and a bland, easily digestible diet so that the digestive system can focus more on getting better and less on digesting.
Prevention of Dog Diarrhea
Diarrhea is common, we know this now, so it’s unlikely you’ll be able to keep your dog from ever showing up with it, but there are some things you can do to avoid it. These mainly revolve around regular veterinary care, including vaccinations, parasite prevention, and a proper diet that doesn’t include table scraps or rooting through the trash.
To prevent dogs from eating things they should not, keep them leashed on walks and supervise them closely off-leash. Removal of feces and standing water from yards is another important preventative measure.
If changing your dog’s food, do so by gradually mixing the old with new over the course of a couple of weeks and try to keep your dog as chill as possible by avoiding abrupt changes to their schedule and providing them with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
When is Dog Diarrhea an Emergency?
Fortunately, you likely won’t have to rush your dog to the vet with every case of dog diarrhea, but there are times that it may be necessary. Diarrhea that lasts longer than a couple of days, is bloody, or that has other symptoms with it should see a veterinarian. Things like lethargy, not eating, a fever, stomach pain, vomiting or a swollen, hard abdomen mean you need to get your dog to the vet. Dehydration of any degree is also a veterinary must-see.
Young puppies or older seniors may be at risk of more severe complications from diarrhea, so consider seeing a vet sooner when these dogs have diarrhea. Also, dogs with other health conditions, such as kidney or liver disease, should see a vet if diarrhea pops up.
So, What Causes Diarrhea in Dogs?
Diarrhea is a messy issue for dog parents and veterinarians alike, so you’ll want to work together to get to the bottom of it all. Understanding some of the basic causes and treatments can go a long way in helping to diagnose and prevent dog diarrhea so that you hopefully won’t need to enlist the help of your vet. However, if you’re out of your comfort zone or your dog has lasting or severe diarrhea, or if it comes with other signs, don’t be afraid to reach out for professional help.
Dogs are amazing at bouncing back, and even when their tummy's a little off, they tend to stay in high spirits. With the right care and a bit of patience, they're often back to their old selves in no time, ready for their next walk or game of fetch. By being prepared and knowing what to do, you're not just helping them get over the diarrhea; you're supporting their natural ability to heal and thrive, which means more happy days with your best friend by your side.