Mary Allen
Diarrhea in dogs is not exactly pleasant. We tell you the causes and reveal how your dog will soon be wagging its tail again.
There are probably more appetizing topics than the (liquid) bowel movements of our favorite four-legged friends. But diarrhea is an inevitable part of living with a dog. Because dogs are not only cute and fluffy but also living creatures with everything that goes with it – things like flatulence and diarrhea are included.
So that you are not completely overwhelmed when your furry snout suddenly has problems of the more liquid type, we have summarized all relevant information about diarrhea in dogs for you in this guide. Here you can find out about the possible symptoms and causes of diarrhea, how you can help the dog and when you should plan a visit to the vet.
Symptoms: How does diarrhea manifest itself in dogs?
Similar to us humans, diarrhea in dogs means that the stomach or intestines have gotten mixed up. One of the most obvious symptoms is the liquid consistency of the stool. The consistency can vary, from solid to greasy to really liquid. But that’s not the only symptom.
You have certainly had diarrhea before and can remember other side effects. Dogs can experience this as well, except they aren’t as good at communicating their ailments. In addition to the shapeless feces, an important characteristic of dogs is above all a change in character. If the dog’s ears and tail are drooping and listless instead of flapping and wagging happily, this can be a sign that your dog is not doing well.
Other symptoms of diarrhea include:
- abdominal pain and cramps
- Exhaustion to the point of apathy
- lack of appetite (even in “hoover breeds” like Labradors and Beagles)
- additional vomiting
- gas
- blood/mucus in the stool
- Fever
- dry and sticky mucous membranes in the mouth
- frequent “needs” or even incontinence
How dangerous is diarrhea in dogs?
While acute diarrhea is not dangerous in itself, you should still keep a close eye on your dog. If diarrhea persists for a longer period of time, there is a risk that your dog will dry out internally. With diarrhea, as diarrhea is also called, you lose a lot of fluid and important nutrients.
The liquid droppings and other symptoms can also be a sign of a more serious illness in the dog. That’s why you shouldn’t take diarrhea in dogs lightly or even ignore it, but always consult the veterinarian for reliable advice when in doubt.
Common causes of diarrhea in dogs
Dogs develop diarrhea for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the dog food is to blame, sometimes something completely different. Yes, even the psyche can be behind it. Look here:
Nutrition
If your dog has diarrhea, there are a number of possible causes. A common cause, like ours, is an upset stomach. Since many dogs love to eat (we’re looking at you, Labrador!), they often get something under their snout that doesn’t do them any good.
This includes, for example, rubbish by the wayside or the leftovers from dinner that… quite accidentally… end up under the dining table and disappear there in the dog. In particular, they simply cannot tolerate spicy food, dairy products, and other foods, and the dog’s stomach goes crazy afterward. Carrion, unclean and spoiled feed can also lead to diarrhea.
A change in diet can also be a cause. Dogs generally have a rather sensitive stomach. Changes should therefore always be made gently and in small steps. Your dog can also have an allergy or intolerance to certain ingredients in the food. A visit to the vet is best in this case. He can find the cause and give you tips on which dog food you should feed in the future.
Medication
Drugs can really mess up intestinal flora. Antibiotics in particular often lead to diarrhea in humans and dogs alike, because they severely attack the intestinal flora. If your dog needs to take antibiotics, you can feed them probiotics and bland foods to help them through this time.
Diseases or parasites
Diseases are also a common cause of diarrhea. These can be acute illnesses, such as gastrointestinal infections. This infection is often triggered by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Giardia in particular due to contaminated water is more common in dogs since the furry friends love to slosh around in puddles and other wild bodies of water.
But more serious and chronic diseases often manifest themselves with diarrhea. These include inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), certain autoimmune diseases, hormonal diseases such as Addison’s disease, kidney or liver weakness, a lack of cobalamin and folic acid, and organ dysfunction.
Other causes
Most of us probably know it all too well: we are nervous, excited, or tense and our stomachs are upset. As a result, diarrhea can occur. Dogs experience it in a very similar way because stress – or love – can get quite upsetting for them too.
You should pay special attention to the possibility that your four-legged friend has eaten something poisonous. Rat poison in the bushes, slug pellets in the garden, or, unfortunately, the dreaded poison bait often initially lead to diarrhea. It is all the more important that you always have one or two eyes on what your dog is devouring. In this way you avoid such situations and, in an emergency, you can immediately explain to the veterinarian what your dog has eaten.
How long does dog diarrhea last?
If your dog’s stomach is upset, you first have to distinguish between acute and chronic diarrhea. Acute usually means that the problem occurs in the dog from one day to the next. Acute diarrhea should be over after a maximum of three days.
It becomes chronic when your dog gets diarrhea more frequently and recurrently or if it does not subside after three days. This can be caused by food intolerance or it can be a sign of a more serious illness. Even if we repeat ourselves in this guide: In this case, be sure to take your dog to the vet.
When should you take it to the vet?
If your dog gets diarrhea, it is important to observe him very closely and find out a possible cause. If your four-legged friend has other symptoms such as violent vomiting, abdominal cramps, or is restless or lethargic, a visit to the veterinarian is advisable. The same applies to these symptoms:
- bloody diarrhea
- Frequent diarrhea
- The dog doesn’t want to eat or drink
- More than 40 ° C fever
Ultimately, trust your gut feeling. You know your dog best. It is better to visit the vet once too often than once too little. Even if diarrhea comes from Bello secretly raiding the kitchen cupboard, the veterinarian can give you important nutritional tips for feeding and examine him for intolerance.
Diarrhea in puppies
You should definitely go to the vet if your puppy gets diarrhea. On the one hand, there is a particularly high risk that puppies will swallow everything that comes in front of their snouts. So who knows exactly what is in the stomach of the little curly head. On the other hand, puppies do not yet have enough reserves that could compensate for the loss of fluid in the body. The same is true for older dogs, for whom dehydration could be dangerous.
Tips against diarrhea in dogs: you can do that
If your four-legged friend is afflicted by acute diarrhea and no other symptoms seem to arise, there are a number of measures you can take to help him.
Stay hydrated
The most important thing the dog needs now is water. Check carefully whether he is actually drinking something and encourage him to do otherwise. Check if the dog is sufficiently hydrated by looking at the mucous membranes in the mouth or by (gently) pulling up a fold of skin. If the crease does not disappear immediately, the dog has lost too much water and needs to drink something as soon as possible.
24-hour diet
Bello won’t be happy about it, but diet is a good remedy for acute diarrhea. Between 12 and 24 hours, you should give him no food and only water to allow the dog’s stomach to recover. And as difficult as it is: This also applies to treats.
Light food
Of course, your dog will soon need food again. In order to protect the stomach and intestines in the first few days, bland food is particularly advisable. One of the most popular recipes consists of low-fat chicken, very soft-boiled rice (without salt), boiled and mashed carrots, and cottage cheese or cottage cheese.
Quark and cottage cheese are particularly suitable as dog food against diarrhea, as they have a positive effect on intestinal flora and neutralize harmful intestinal bacteria. For a dog weighing ten kilos, such as a Maxi Cockapoo, you need about this amount:
- 100 grams of chicken meat
- 200-300 grams of cooked rice
- 150 g pureed carrots
- 125 g cottage cheese or cottage cheese
It is best to feed your four-legged friend a bland diet in small portions throughout the day. Alternatively, you can also buy ready-made bland food for dogs in stores.
Dietary supplements
Diarrhea not only messes up the fluid balance but also leads to a loss of important nutrients and minerals. You can compensate for this with dietary supplements, which you can get commercially as powders, treats, or tablets.
Other tools
In addition to bland foods and supplements, there are also homeopathic remedies that can have a beneficial effect. These include, for example, activated charcoal tablets, which absorb toxins from the dog’s intestines. Healing earth is also said to end diarrhea faster.
If your dog has diarrhea due to certain medications, you can use prebiotics and probiotics to help quickly rebuild and stabilize the flora in the stomach and intestines.
Can diarrhea be prevented?
Diarrhea cannot be prevented. Sooner or later your dog will also be affected. However, what you can do is take preventative measures to reduce the chance of diarrhea.
You achieve this primarily by strengthening and stabilizing the gastrointestinal flora. Also make sure you have a balanced, healthy, and high-quality diet with lots of vitamins and nutrients by giving it good food. Also, give your dog plenty of exercises. And very important: Teach your dog as early as possible not to eat waste or rubbish when going for a walk or in the kitchen.
Then make sure that your four-legged friend always gets all his health checks and examinations and that his deworming is up to date. In this way, you can largely rule out more serious diseases such as worms in dogs and reduce the likelihood that your dog will get the notorious small whistle.