Dealing with diarrhea in your canine companion can be a worrying experience, prompting an urgent search for effective remedies. Our veterinary team in New Ulm is here to shed light on the common culprits behind dog diarrhea and outline how you can help alleviate the issue. Understanding the potential causes and recognizing when professional help is necessary can significantly contribute to your dog’s well-being.
Common Causes of Diarrhea in Dogs
Diarrhea is a prevalent issue among dogs, with various underlying reasons. While some instances are mild and resolve quickly, others can indicate more serious health concerns that require veterinary attention.
Here are some of the most frequent causes of diarrhea in dogs:
- Dietary Indiscretions: Ingesting garbage, spoiled food, or experiencing a sudden change in diet or treats can upset a dog’s digestive system.
- Stress and Anxiety: Emotional distress can manifest physically, leading to gastrointestinal upset.
- Foreign Object Ingestion: Chewing and swallowing non-food items like toys, bones, or fabric can cause blockages or irritation.
- Toxin Exposure: Accidental ingestion of household toxins or poisons is a critical emergency.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as antibiotics, can have diarrhea as a side effect.
- Parasitic Infections: Internal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Coccidia, and Giardia can cause significant digestive issues.
- Viral Infections: Serious and contagious diseases such as parvovirus, distemper, and coronavirus can lead to severe diarrhea.
- Bacterial Infections: Pathogens like Salmonella can cause gastrointestinal distress.
- Gastrointestinal Conditions: Chronic issues like inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and colitis affect the digestive tract.
- Organ Disease: Underlying conditions affecting the liver or kidneys can also impact digestive health.
- Cancer: In some cases, intestinal cancer can be a cause of persistent diarrhea.
When to Consult Your Veterinarian
Occasional episodes of diarrhea in an otherwise healthy and active dog are often not a cause for alarm. Monitoring your dog’s behavior and bowel movements is key. However, if your dog experiences more than two episodes of diarrhea, it’s advisable to contact your veterinarian.
A particularly concerning sign is when your dog strains to defecate but only passes small amounts of liquid stool. This could indicate a painful blockage, potentially caused by swallowing a foreign object, which necessitates immediate veterinary intervention. Promptly contact your vet or proceed to the nearest emergency animal hospital.
Recurring bouts of diarrhea over a short period, especially in very young, old, or immunocompromised dogs, can signal a serious underlying health problem. Infections like parvovirus are life-threatening and require urgent veterinary care. If your dog experiences repeated or chronic diarrhea, seek veterinary advice without delay.
It is crucial to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible if your dog exhibits diarrhea along with any of the following symptoms:
- Lethargy or weakness
- Blood in the stool
- Vomiting
- Excessive drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Signs of dehydration, such as sunken eyes, a dry nose, or dry, sticky gums
If you have any concerns about your dog’s health or notice any unusual symptoms, contacting your veterinarian is the best course of action. They can assess whether your pet requires a professional examination. You can learn more about symptoms of a blockage in a dog to identify critical warning signs.
Treating Diarrhea in Dogs
Crucially, never administer human medications to your dog without first consulting your veterinarian. Many over-the-counter medications safe for humans can be toxic to dogs.
For mild cases involving one or two loose stools, allowing your dog to fast for 12 to 24 hours may help their system recover.
A bland diet for a day or two can also be beneficial. Consider offering plain cooked white rice with a small amount of boiled chicken and a spoonful of plain canned pumpkin (ensure it’s not pumpkin pie filling). Once your dog’s condition improves, gradually reintroduce their regular food.
Other supportive measures that may help soothe an upset stomach include:
- Plain yogurt (ensure it contains live cultures and no artificial sweeteners)
- Probiotics specifically formulated for dogs
- Peeled, boiled potatoes
- Cottage cheese
- Scrambled eggs (cooked without oil)
- Veterinarian-prescribed medications or specially formulated therapeutic dog foods
When it comes to your dog’s health, it is always best to be cautious. A veterinary examination allows your vet to diagnose the root cause of the diarrhea and recommend the most appropriate and effective treatment plan.
If your dog is suffering from diarrhea, contact our vets in New Ulm to schedule an appointment.
