Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Diarrhea

Dog diarrhea is a common condition with numerous causes. While not every instance is cause for concern, diarrhea should be managed appropriately to ensure your dog recovers. Our team at Memorial Villages Animal Hospital answers your frequently asked questions about the condition.

Question: How is dog diarrhea defined?

Answer: Dog diarrhea occurs when a dog passes loose or watery feces more frequently, or in a larger amount than usual. Diarrhea is a symptom of another issue and not a disease itself, and is classified as small intestinal or large intestinal. Characteristics include:

• Small intestinal diarrhea — When a dog’s problem originates in their small intestine, they typically pass large amounts of stool at one time, but with mildly increased frequency. The dog may also vomit or have excess gas, and weight loss is common if the condition is prolonged. Blood that is present will be digested, and the stool will look black and tarry.
• Large intestinal diarrhea — When the dog’s problem originates in their large intestine, the dog typically passes small amounts with increased frequency. Straining is common, and the feces may contain mucus. If blood is present, the feces will have bright red streaks.

Q: What causes dog diarrhea?

A: Numerous conditions can result in dog diarrhea, including:

• Dietary indiscretion — Eating too fast or too much food, and eating garbage or spoiled food, can cause diarrhea in a dog.
• Parasites — Intestinal parasites, such as giardia, coccidia, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, can cause diarrhea, especially in puppies and immunocompromised dogs.
• Food allergies — Most food allergies in dogs cause itchy skin, but gastrointestinal signs, including diarrhea, can occur.
• Infectious diseases — Bacterial and viral pathogens that attack the gastrointestinal tract, including parvovirus, canine distemper, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli, can cause diarrhea.
• Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis — This exact cause of this condition, which causes acute onset of bloody diarrhea, is unknown, but stress, anxiety, and hyperactivity possibly contribute. Toy and small-breed dogs are most commonly affected.
• Ingesting a toxin — Many common human foods and medications are toxic to dogs, and can cause diarrhea if ingested.
• Ingesting a foreign object — Foreign objects can become lodged in the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, causing an obstruction that may result in diarrhea.
• Inflammatory conditions — Inflammatory issues, such as inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal cancers, can cause diarrhea.
• Systemic diseases — Diseases such as kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis, and thyroid disease can cause diarrhea.
• Medication reactions — Diarrhea is a side effect of some medications.
• Stress — Some dogs develop diarrhea in response to stress.

Q: How do I know if my dog with diarrhea needs veterinary attention?

A: Benign dietary indiscretions are not cause for concern, but you may not know what triggered your dog’s diarrhea. Circumstances that indicate your dog needs veterinary care include:

• Other signs — If your dog has signs such as vomiting, excessive drooling, lethargy, fever, distended abdomen, or pain in addition to diarrhea, they need veterinary care. 
• Toxin ingestion — If you know or suspect your dog ingested a toxin, they will need veterinary attention. Animal Poison Control is a good resource should your pet ingest poison.
• Foreign object ingestion — If your dog ingests a foreign object that causes a gastrointestinal obstruction, they will need veterinary intervention to remove the object.
• Prolonged diarrhea — If your dog’s diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours, they should be seen by a veterinarian.

Q: How can I treat my dog’s diarrhea at home?

A: If your dog’s diarrhea doesn’t require veterinary care, you can manage their condition at home with these measures:

• Allow your dog to rest — Allow your dog to rest and recover in a quiet, comfortable area where they can be monitored.
• Fast your dog — Fast your dog for 12 hours—meaning no regular food or treats—to allow their gastrointestinal tract to settle.
• Keep your dog hydrated — Maintaining your dog’s hydration is extremely important. Help them recover faster by offering them water used to cook rice, which provides beneficial minerals and carbohydrates. 
• Offer your dog a bland diet — Once your dog has remained diarrhea-free for 12 hours, offer them small amounts of bland, easily digestible foods such as boiled chicken and rice. 
• Gradually return your dog to their normal diet — As long as your dog tolerates the bland diet, gradually reintroduce their regular food.

Q: How can I prevent my dog from getting diarrhea?

A: You can’t prevent every dog diarrhea episode, but you can take steps to decrease their risk, including:

• Providing year-round parasite prevention medication — Parasites frequently cause diarrhea, and year-round protection will protect your dog from common intestinal parasites. Many products also protect your dog from other dangerous parasites, such as heartworms, ticks, and fleas.
• Keeping your dog’s vaccinations up to date — Core vaccinations, such as parvovirus and canine distemper, protect your dog from serious viruses that cause diarrhea.
• Not giving your dog table scraps — Your dog’s gastrointestinal tract will be more regular if they eat a consistent, healthy diet.
• Keeping your garbage in sealed containers — Prevent your dog from dumpster diving by ensuring they can’t access your garbage. 
• Scheduling regular wellness visits — Regular wellness visits help detect systemic conditions in the early stages, before they can cause serious health problems. 

Managing your dog’s diarrhea is never fun, but this information should help you care for your affected dog. If you have any concerns about your dog’s diarrhea, contact our team at Memorial Villages Animal Hospital, so we can get them back to normal as soon as possible.