Why does my dog have diarrhoea? This is a question most vets in first opinion practice likely get asked on a daily basis. But before many pet owners take their dogs to the vet, Dr Google is often asked the dog diarrhoea question first.
So, instead of having to click on various links and scroll through numerous websites to find out what could be the cause of dog diarrhoea, I’ve written this blog post to help dog owners figure out what could be wrong, and the right time to seek veterinary advice.
Is diarrhoea normal?
Occasional digestive upsets can occur in many species due to various factors, and it is no different for dogs. However, the severity of the symptoms and potential causes can vary, making it imperative that a dog sees a vet at the right time.
Some dogs can still be bright and active even whilst having diarrhoea, but they could deteriorate depending on the cause and even if it has started to dehydrate them. It could be slightly sloppy in consistency, or the other extreme which would be bloody diarrhoea and very frequent.
Scavenging or changing the diet
One of the most common causes of dog diarrhoea is the dog having eaten something they are not meant to (i.e. they have scavenged), or a change in diet that does not agree with them. Changing the diet could have been done too quickly, or they may be allergic to the new food. You can read more about allergies in dogs here .
Stress or anxiety
Just like humans, if some dogs get very stressed, their brains cause the body to respond by altering the gut’s activity, causing diarrhoea.
Parasites and infections
Some parasites such as worms or giardia which can be picked up during the dog’s normal activity, may lead to diarrhoea. Bacterial and viral infections can often cause diarrhoea, and potentially other signs such as vomiting. The severity can vary, so if in doubt, get in touch with your vet as they may be able to get a stool sample tested for parasites and infection.
Immune-related causes of dog diarrhoea
We’ve already briefly mentioned allergies above, but dogs can also be affected by inflammatory bowel disease, where the dog’s immune system is overactive in the guts, causing inflammation of the intestines, which in turn results in diarrhoea.
Toxins or poisons
Numerous substances can be toxic or poisonous to dogs, such as plants, certain human medications, and even foods like chocolate!
Signs can vary depending on the amount consumed, and can eventually become severe and cause other internal issues.
If you suspect your dog has eaten something they are not meant to, speak to your vet ASAP. To save time when speaking to the vet, make sure you take a note of what they may have eaten, the quantity, and the ingredients.
Liver or kidney disease
Along with certain toxins affecting these organs and leading to dog diarrhoea, stress on these organs (due to them having to process most of the things eaten or drank by a dog), or even the organs eventually giving up due to old age, can cause several signs such as diarrhoea, and often also vomiting.
Pancreatitis
Inflammation of the pancreas can be caused by several different factors, which in turn can cause dog diarrhoea due to poor absorption from the gut.
Cancer
These days, unfortunately cancer has become one of the potential causes of diarrhoea. Tests are tricky to diagnose it, and it is often diagnosed once all the other potential causes above have been ruled out.
Other causes of dog diarrhoea
There are several other less common causes of dog diarrhoea which I have not mentioned as the list can become endless, but majority of the times it is one of the causes above. If your canine companion needs to see a vet, the vet will likely figure out what the cause is.
When to speak to your vet
If your ‘gut feeling’ (no pun intended) is to take your dog to the vet, then I would always advise doing so, as it is better to be safe than sorry, and better to treat earlier rather than later.
However, if your dog has only had a single bout of diarrhoea and still look well in themselves, you can probably keep an eye on them for initially. You could consider feeding them for a bland diet of for example boiled rice and boiled/scrambled egg for a few days until their tummy settles if they are still bright and active. You could even add in some probiotics to help.
Some owners opt to starve their dogs for 12-24 hours initially to give the digestive tract time to rest and recover, and this could be an option too. If this is done, I would recommend monitoring your dog’s drinking, and if they are not drinking, vomiting anything straight back up, or looking dehydrated, then get in touch with your vet.
Signs of dehydration include reduced skin elasticity (skin tent time) when you lift up the scruff, reduced energy, sunken eyes, dry gums, amongst other signs.
However, if the diarrhoea is worsening, your dog isn’t looking like their normal self, or other signs such as vomiting, blood in the stools, or foul-smelling diarrhoea have appeared, definitely speak to your vet ASAP.
If your dog is straining but not producing much stool, there is a chance they may have a blockage, so speak to your vet about it, especially if you suspect they could have eaten something they’re not meant to, maybe even chewed up a toy.
Ways to minimise the chances of dog diarrhoea
- Try not to change their food too often, and if you have to do so, try to do it slowly over a number of days by slowly weaning them onto the new food. Once you find a healthy, nutritious food that they love which also produces normal stools, try stick to it.
- Probiotics can definitely help the microbiome of your dog’s digestive tract. There are numerous commercial products on the market, as well as home alternatives.
- Monitor what your dog eats, and stop them from scavenging.
- Ensure they regularly receive anti-parasite treatment such as de-worming medication.
- Make sure your dog visits the vet at least annually for a general check-up. During your dog’s annual vaccinations is a perfect time to get this box ticked.
In summary, if in doubt, speak to your vet. And never give any human medications without speak to your vet first, because as we discussed above, some human medications can be toxic to dogs.
Note:The advice provided in this blog post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute veterinary advice. If in doubt always seek veterinary advice.