Dealing with a puppy experiencing diarrhea can be a concerning time for any pet owner. It’s a common issue in young dogs, and naturally, you’ll want to know the best way to care for your furry friend, especially regarding their diet. Understanding What Should I Feed A Puppy With Diarrhea is crucial for their recovery and well-being. This guide will help you navigate the causes, symptoms, and the most effective dietary approaches to get your puppy back on track. A puppy’s digestive system is delicate, making them prone to upset stomachs, but with the right knowledge, you can provide the best possible support. If you’re ever in doubt about what can you give a puppy to eat, always consult with your veterinarian for personalized advice.
Understanding Puppy Diarrhea: Causes and Symptoms
Diarrhea in puppies refers to loose or watery stools, indicating that something isn’t quite right internally. While some causes are minor and manageable at home, others can be more serious and require immediate veterinary attention. Puppies are particularly susceptible due to their developing immune systems and sensitive stomachs.
What is Puppy Diarrhea?
When food moves from a puppy’s stomach, it passes through the small intestine as a liquid mixture. Here, vital nutrients are absorbed. The remaining digested food then enters the large intestine, where water is extracted, transforming the mixture into a more solid mass. If there’s a problem with either the small or large intestine, this process is disrupted, resulting in liquid stools. These issues can stem from various factors including viruses, bacteria, parasites, or even ingested poisons.
How Common is Diarrhea in Puppies?
Diarrhea is one of the most frequent reasons puppies visit the vet. Puppies are sensitive to change, stress, and infections, so most puppies experience diarrhea at some point in their early life. Most mild cases can be managed at home, but severe or prolonged diarrhea can rapidly lead to serious illness due to dehydration. Knowing the consistency of your puppy’s stool is key. A healthy puppy’s stool should be firm and well-formed. Anything softer, from a soggy log to a liquid puddle, is considered diarrhea.
Infographic about puppy diarrhea
Common Causes of Puppy Diarrhea
Several factors can trigger diarrhea in puppies. Pinpointing the exact cause isn’t always easy, but there are usually six main culprits.
Stress
While puppyhood seems exciting, it can also be incredibly stressful. Moving to a new home away from their mother and littermates, meeting new dogs, visiting the vet, or experiencing new environments can all trigger stress-induced diarrhea. As your puppy adjusts to their new surroundings and routine, these gastric issues should resolve. If diarrhea persists, consult your vet for advice.
A Change in Diet
Puppies have extremely sensitive stomachs. A sudden change in their food can easily cause an upset stomach and diarrhea. If your puppy's diarrhea is due to a rapid food switch, it should settle within a few days. To prevent this, always introduce new diets gradually. When you first bring a puppy home, continue feeding them the same food their breeder used while they settle in. If a diet change is necessary, slowly mix increasing amounts of the new food with decreasing amounts of the old food over a week to ten days. Understanding what human food can a 6 week old puppy eat is also important to prevent stomach upset, as many human foods are not suitable for puppies.
Food Intolerances
Dogs, like humans, can develop food allergies or intolerances at any point in their lives, though it’s rare in very young puppies. While any food ingredient can cause an allergy, protein sources such as chicken, beef, or dairy are the most common culprits. If you suspect your puppy’s food is making them unwell, discuss it with your veterinarian.
Bacterial and Viral Infections
A puppy’s underdeveloped immune system makes them more vulnerable to infections. Puppies can contract infections from contaminated food or water, or from other infected dogs and their environment. Common bacterial infections include Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and Clostridium. Viral infections can include parvovirus, distemper, infectious viral hepatitis, or certain coronaviruses (distinct from COVID-19). Many of these infections are very serious and can be fatal, requiring immediate veterinary treatment. Unvaccinated puppies, especially those whose mothers were not up-to-date on vaccinations, are at particular risk.
Parasites
Young puppies are highly susceptible to parasites that cause diarrhea, such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, coccidia, and giardia. All of these necessitate veterinary attention. Puppies can pick up parasites from their environment, infected feces, or even from their mother in the womb. This is an important consideration when choosing a breeder. If you observe an unclean environment or an unwell mother dog, it’s best to avoid that breeder. If you suspect your puppy has worms, contact your vet for guidance.
Eating Things They Shouldn’t
Puppies explore their world with their mouths, often leading them to ingest inappropriate items. This could include garden plants, rubbish, unattended medicines, other pets’ feces, or cleaning products. Some of these substances are highly toxic to dogs, and you should contact your vet immediately if your puppy eats something they shouldn’t. Fatty foods can also cause illness. Additionally, many what fruits should dogs not eat such as grapes and raisins, and other what human food can you feed dogs like chocolate, onions, and some artificial sweeteners, are poisonous to dogs. Therefore, it is crucial to supervise your puppy closely and what meat should i not feed my dog is a good question to ask when preparing food for them.
When to Consult Your Vet for Puppy Diarrhea
It can be difficult to determine when puppy diarrhea warrants a vet visit. Always err on the side of caution and consult your veterinarian if you are concerned. Contact your vet if:
- The diarrhea is severe or happens very frequently (several bouts over a few hours), especially if it’s very liquidy.
- The diarrhea lasts longer than a day.
- Your puppy is not eating or drinking.
- Your puppy’s condition appears to be worsening.
- Your puppy is very young or very small, as they can dehydrate rapidly.
- Your puppy has other underlying health conditions.
- You notice blood in their diarrhea, particularly if it’s more than a small streak or occurs repeatedly.
- You see worms in their stool or vomit.
- Their stool is black and tarry, which could indicate digested blood.
- Their diarrhea has a very strong or unusually unpleasant odor.
- They are also vomiting, especially if there’s blood in the vomit.
- Your dog is straining frequently to defecate, but nothing is coming out.
- Their gums are pale, bluish, or tacky to the touch, suggesting dehydration.
- Their tummy is painful to the touch or appears bloated.
- They show other concerning signs like weakness, fever, or extreme lethargy.
- You suspect your puppy has ingested something unusual, potentially toxic, or an object that could cause an intestinal blockage.
What to Feed a Puppy with Diarrhea (And What to Avoid)
If your puppy’s diarrhea is mild and doesn’t require immediate veterinary attention, home care focusing on hydration and a bland diet is often recommended.
Ensuring Hydration
Puppies with diarrhea can dehydrate very quickly. Ensure they always have access to fresh water. If they’re reluctant to drink, you can try adding a small amount of juice from a can of tuna (ensure it’s not tuna in brine, which is salty and can worsen dehydration) to their water, or offer them ice cubes to lick. If your puppy refuses to drink, contact your vet immediately.
Bland Diet Options
When it comes to what should I feed a puppy with diarrhea, a bland diet is key until their stomach settles. You should start by feeding them small portions of plain boiled white rice mixed with plain boiled chicken breast (skin and bones removed). This simple combination is easy on their digestive system.
Alternatively, and often ideally, you can use a commercial gastrointestinal diet formulated specifically for puppies with sensitive stomachs. Products like Purina PRO PLAN® Veterinary Diets EN Gastrointestinal are designed with specific feeding guides to ensure your puppy’s nutritional needs are met and contain ingredients to support gut health as much as possible. Probiotics for dogs, such as PRO PLAN® Fortiflora, can also be beneficial in restoring healthy gut flora.
How Often Should I Feed a Puppy with Diarrhea?
After your puppy has experienced diarrhea, it’s important to feed them an appropriate diet in small, frequent meals throughout the day (e.g., 6-8 small meals). This approach allows their digestive tract to process food properly again without being overwhelmed. Continue to ensure they have constant access to fresh water to maintain hydration. Once your puppy’s bowel movements return to normal, gradually reintroduce their usual food over a few days.
Should I Starve a Puppy with Diarrhea?
No, starving a young puppy, especially when unwell, can be dangerous. It is not recommended to starve a dog of any age with diarrhea, as their intestines require food to repair and recover. For very young puppies, it is even more critical that they are fed small, frequent meals and have access to water, as dehydration poses a significant risk.
Preventing Puppy Diarrhea
While it might be impossible to prevent all instances of puppy diarrhea, several proactive measures can significantly reduce the risk:
- Gradual Diet Changes: Always introduce new foods slowly, whether transitioning from breeder food, puppy to adult food, or a new brand.
- Maintain Hygiene: Keep your home clean, especially if you have other pets, using pet-friendly disinfectants.
- Vaccination and Deworming: Ensure your puppy is fully vaccinated and dewormed according to your vet’s recommendations.
- Supervise Outdoor Exposure: Until fully vaccinated, keep your puppy away from unvaccinated dogs and public areas where unvaccinated dogs may have been present, such as parks.
- Puppy-Proof Your Home: Store cleaning products, pesticides, and medications in high or securely locked cupboards. Keep houseplants out of reach and ensure your puppy cannot access human foods that are toxic to them.
- Avoid Table Scraps: Do not feed your puppy salty, fatty foods, or any table scraps.
- Reduce Stress: Establish a consistent routine to help minimize stress in your puppy’s life.
- Constant Supervision: Keep a close eye on your puppy to ensure they aren’t eating anything they shouldn’t.
- Balanced Diet and Exercise: Provide a well-balanced diet suitable for their age and ensure they receive adequate exercise and playtime.
- Regular Vet Visits: Attend all recommended veterinary check-ups to monitor your puppy’s overall health.
Specific Diarrhea Concerns
Diarrhea can manifest in different ways, and certain characteristics might indicate specific underlying issues.
Why Does My Puppy Have Diarrhea with Mucus?
Mucus, a jelly-like substance, can occasionally appear in dog stool. A small amount is normal, produced by the large intestine to aid stool passage. However, large amounts of mucus suggest inflammation or irritation in the gut. Possible causes include parasites, stress, infection, dietary changes, food intolerances, or poisons. Red mucus could indicate bleeding and should prompt a vet visit for advice.
My Puppy Has Diarrhea with Blood in It – What Does It Mean?
Blood in your puppy’s diarrhea can signify intestinal inflammation or a burst blood vessel from straining. A small, one-off streak might not be alarming, but significant blood or persistent bleeding requires immediate veterinary attention. This could point to parasites, infections, or other serious issues.
My Puppy Has Vomiting and Diarrhea, What Should I Do?
If your puppy is experiencing both vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration can occur rapidly and become very dangerous. Encourage your puppy to drink, but contact your vet immediately for advice, especially if your puppy is very young.
Is It Normal for Puppies to Have Diarrhea a Lot?
While most puppies have diarrhea at some point, frequent upset stomachs warrant a vet visit. Your vet can help determine the underlying cause. For puppies with chronic diarrhea, a specially formulated diet like PRO PLAN® Puppy Sensitive Digestion, which supports the digestive system with specific nutrients, might be beneficial.
Can My Puppy’s Teething Give Them Diarrhea?
Some owners report diarrhea during teething. This could be due to stress and discomfort from sore gums, or from chewing on irritating objects to relieve pain, potentially causing mild infections. If your puppy has severe or prolonged diarrhea, or other concerning symptoms during teething, consult your vet.
Can a Puppy Have Diarrhea After Worming?
After deworming treatment, some puppies may experience mild tiredness or diarrhea, especially if they had a significant worm burden. These effects should be temporary, lasting only a few days. If symptoms persist longer, or your puppy becomes very tired, weak, or stops eating or drinking, contact your vet.
Why Does My Puppy Have Diarrhea After Their Vaccination?
Mild diarrhea can occur after vaccination, either as a slight adverse reaction to the injections or due to the stress of visiting the vet. This should resolve within a day or so. Severe side effects are rare, but contact your vet if diarrhea is severe, lasts more than a day, worsens, or if other signs like vomiting, breathing difficulties, or itchy/bumpy skin develop.
Why Does My Puppy Have Diarrhea After Antibiotics?
Antibiotics can disrupt the balance of good and bad bacteria in your puppy’s gut, leading to diarrhea. This usually resolves once the course of antibiotics is finished. Discuss with your vet if a gastrointestinal diet or probiotics can help your puppy during this time.
My Puppy Has Diarrhea – Could It Be Parvo?
Parvovirus is a highly contagious and potentially fatal canine virus that causes diarrhea, often accompanied by vomiting, lethargy, or a high temperature. Parvovirus is a very serious condition, especially in puppies, and early treatment significantly improves the outcome. If you suspect your puppy has parvovirus, seek veterinary attention immediately.
In conclusion, understanding what should I feed a puppy with diarrhea involves a combination of providing adequate hydration, offering a bland, easily digestible diet, and knowing when professional veterinary intervention is necessary. Always prioritize your puppy’s health and well-being by consulting with your veterinarian for any persistent or severe symptoms. Your proactive care and attention are vital for their swift recovery.
