Diarrhea is a common problem in dogs, usually it will pass within one or two days but it can also be caused by more serious health problems. So if needed consult your vet, especially if the diarrhea is severe or occurs frequently

What to Watch For

Loose stools are of course, the main indicator of diarrhea. Diarrhea varies in frequency, duration, and intensity from dog to dog. Diarrhea may also be accompanied by vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain or lethargy

Primary Causes of Diarrhea in Dogs

Acute diarrhea is often due to:

• Eating non dog food: like scavenging or eating food outside their diet like food scraps

• Stress

• A sudden change in diet: like switching their food without a transition period

• Bacterial, viral or parasitic infections

Home Treatment for Acute Diarrhea

For healthy adult dogs who have mild diarrhea with no other symptoms:

Make sure your dog has access to plenty of clean water to avoid dehydration. Encourage your dog to drink. If needed, add something to their water (like a bit of salmon oil) so they will be extra encouraged to drink

Give your dog a small meal of boiled, white-meat chicken (no bones or skin) and white rice. Or give them a mix of sweet potato or pumpkin instead of rice. You can give this diet to your dog until their stool consistency returns to normal

If the diarrhea continues for more than one or two days or your dog’s condition worsens at any time, call your vet immediately. Diarrhea can be extra dangerous for puppies and senior dogs so don’t take any chances and visit your vet

Diagnosis for Dogs With Diarrhea

If your dog suffers from frequent liquid bowel movements, or the current attack is severe and/or associated with vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain or weight loss, make an appointment with a veterinarian

Diagnosing the cause of dog diarrhea can sometimes be as easy as running a simple fecal exam. But sometimes, it can be challenging and require different procedures such as blood work, abdominal X-rays or ultrasound, endoscopy, or exploratory surgery

How to Prevent Diarrhea in Dogs

Here are several ways to reduce the occurrence of diarrhea in dogs:

• Always keep your dog up to date with deworming and vaccinations

• Do not suddenly change your Dog’s diet. When switching foods always include a transitional period

• Do not feed your dog table scraps

• Do not allow your dog to scavenge

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