Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea

Why does my dog have diarrhea you ask?

You watch him like a hawk when out for your walks. You’re careful about the type of food you give him, and his diet is good quality and surprise surprise!! Your dog is about to poop, and what do you see? Don’t worry; the graphics end there.

I must admit I do panic a bit (okay, more than a bit!) when I notice my dog has diarrhea.

Being a senior dog with quite a few health issues, keeping Red well is a balancing act, which, with the help of my trusted vets, we’re doing a great job of. I do my best to ensure nothing “throws her off,” even though she’s an exceptionally strong dog in all meanings of the word.

Knowing that diarrhea often comes with dehydration, that’s a big concern as dehydration can be deadly, especially in seniors.

Causes of Diarrhea in Dogs

Eating something off the street
Getting into the garbage
Ingesting a toxin
Reaction to new supplement or medication
Too much oil such as fish or coconut
NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatories)
Sudden change in diet
Drinking standing water
Bacterial infection
Parasites
Gastrointestinal disease
Addison’s disease
Liver disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Pancreatitis
Cancer
Kidney disease
Intestinal Parasites
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

My Dog Has Diarrhea – What Do I Do About It?

The first thing you DON’T do is give your dog some over-the-counter medication someone told you is good for diarrhea in dogs.

I recommend you first check if he/she is dehydrated because it only takes a second.

That’s easily done by gently pinching some fur on the back of your dog’s neck, then releasing it. If the skin goes back into place immediately, that’s a good sign.

If it takes time, that means your dog is dehydrated. The longer it takes, the more dehydrated he is.

Next, call your vet and them what’s been going on and whether or not your dog seems dehydrated.

Don’t wait a day or two to see if the diarrhea clears up on its’ own before calling. Adopting a “wait and see” when it comes to something out of the ordinary with a senior dog is never a good idea.

If you notice blood, you absolutely must tell your vet and get an appointment that day. Tell them you’ll happily sit in the waiting room until you can be squeezed in to see someone.

Try and bring poop and urine samples if you can, as they can be analyzed immediately.

Diagnosis for Senior Dog Diarrhea

Your vet will ask questions such as:

When it started
If you noticed him eating anything off the ground
Did he get into the garbage
Has anyone been feeding him things he shouldn’t be eating
Have you changed his diet recently

Anything you can think of, would help your vet figure out the reason.

Urine and poop samples can be analyzed on the spot to give your vet some idea of what’s been going on.

Sometimes they have to be sent off to a lab for further analysis in order to get a definitive diagnosis, but often testing at a vet’s office is enough to at least get your dog started on a treatment plan.

Assess the Dog’s Diet

The first thing that should be done when a dog starts having diarrhea is to assess their diet and what they have possibly eaten in the last 48 hours. Even just drinking from a dirty puddle while you were on a walk could result in tummy troubles.

We also need to be careful about switching the food out because this can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The wrong dog food can surely cause an upset stomach and acute diarrhea, especially if your dog also has a sensitive stomach.

Talk to your vet about switching to senior dog food. Older dogs have a much slower metabolic rate and can easily become overweight. Senior dog food formulas are age-appropriate, lower in calories, and easier on a sensitive stomach.

The Dog’s Medications

Many senior dogs are on medications to help with a variety of illnesses and conditions. Some of these medications, including dewormers, NSAIDs, heart medicines, and antibiotics, can cause diarrhea. If the pup is suddenly not feeling well and you have just introduced a new medication, it is worth looking into because it very well may be the cause.

Lifestyle Changes

If you have recently moved, started a new job, or in any way changed your routine at home with your pup, then this can cause emotional stress, especially if you have an older dog. Changes like this can cause different health problems, including diarrhea.

Treatment

The treatment will depend on the cause, but in my experience, your vet will give your dog some anti-diarrhea medication and anti-nausea if he’s been throwing up. You will likely take some home and administer them over the course of a few days.

If your dog seems at all dehydrated, he will be given IV fluids either for a few minutes or several hours, depending on the severity. Rehydration sachets added to drinking water may also be needed.

Your vet may also recommend a few days of a bland diet such as boiled chicken and rice. A wormer will be given if they are detected.

Only your vet can provide you with a treatment plan once all test results are known.

It can be stressful for dog owners when dealing with a sick pup and the mess that comes with it. To help alleviate some of the stress and because it isn’t the dog’s fault, you may want to consider using some doggie diapers. This can help keep the home clean and can minimize accidents.

You can find some machine washable doggie diapers as well for easy cleanup. However, these are more well suited for acute dog diarrhea and should be avoided in the case of severe diarrhea.

Prevention

Keeping your dog in optimal physical and, yes, even mental condition can help him handle upsets more easily than a dog in poor condition.

Give him plenty of physical exercises (the type and duration depending on physical abilities), mental stimulation, a nutritious diet, supplements, and regular vet checks are a great start.

Take care when your dog is running off-leash to make sure he doesn’t get into garbage, which I know can be challenging.

Teaching him “leave it” or “drop it” will go a long way in that if you do catch him with something in his mouth. If he knows that command, there’s a good chance he’ll let it go before he gets a chance to gobble it up.

Ask your vet for a probiotic supplement or other supplements to support his digestive system.

If you are changing over his diet, do it very gradually over the course of at least a week, especially if he seems sensitive to changes.

Do not add supplements or change doses without consulting your vet.

Keep poisonous plants and other potential toxins out of reach.

Don’t let everyone be so “free-handed” when it comes to giving your dog treats or table scraps.

Red and Diarrhea

There was a period of time when Red would get bouts of diarrhea for various reasons. Too often for my liking.

Each time my vet would prescribe Metronidazole, and when she was dehydrated, she would get IV fluids.

I would keep some of the medication here to start her on it immediately and not waste hours until I could get to the vet.

I also keep a rehydration supplement on hand to add to her drinking water to help replace electrolytes. My vet usually recommends it after having fluids to help her continue to recover her hydration levels.

Red recently had a brief episode of vomiting and diarrhea, but that’s because she found something in the grass. I usually have eyes in the back of my head, but this time I didn’t turn around quickly enough when I realized she wasn’t walking with me.

After some quick fluids and anti-nausea medication, she was fine.

Other than that, she hasn’t had diarrhea in several months. I believe that is largely due to a change in her diet and regular acupuncture sessions.

She now eats a home-cooked, whole foods diet, and the acupuncture has boosted her immune system.

Now that she is also seeing a holistic vet, I am looking to move away from medications to more natural treatments whenever possible and safe to do.

Different Types of Dog Diarrhea

Diarrhea is unformed or loose stools that occur in larger quantities and regularly while your dog is sick. It isn’t considered a disease; rather, it is a minor condition resulting from other more serious conditions. However, with the right treatment, it can be helped.

It is important for dog owners to understand the different types of dog diarrhea and what we should watch for.

Watery Diarrhea: typically has no texture, tends to puddle up and isn’t easily cleaned up. It has the consistency of a thicker soup and may require more extensive cleaning procedures.
Cottage Cheese Diarrhea: this type of dog diarrhea has a slight texture but still no defined shape. It looks like it is in a pile, but that is not the case when you go and pick it up.
Moist, Loose Stool: people describe this as having the texture and appearance of soft-serve ice cream (gross, I know). It is moist, has a distinct “pile” shape, and will definitely leave behind a residue when it is picked up.

When Should I Take My Dog to the Vet?

If you have reviewed all the possible causes and have evaluated what could be potentially causing your dog to have diarrhea but still have no answers, it is worth a trip to the vet. Here is when you should take your dog to the vet because diarrhea could be a sign of something more serious:

Persistent diarrhea that has not stopped over the course of 24 hours
Dog’s stool appears black in color or contains blood
The dog is vomiting in addition to the diarrhea
Your dog appears weak and lethargic
You know that your dog got into something that was potentially contaminated or poisonous