Dog Diarrhea: Prevention, Causes, Symptoms and Warnings

Dog Diarrhea

Dog diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which is a serious condition that can be fatal for your dog. If your dog moves its bowels more often than usual and the bowel movements are watery, it's a sure sign of dog diarrhea.

A change in diet or an improper diet is one cause of dog diarrhea. Feed your dog appropriate dog food, not table scraps.

Sometimes, a change of environment or an especially exciting event can give your dog a temporary case of mild diarrhea.

Various infections can also cause dog diarrhea. Your vet can determine if this is the case by looking at a stool sample.

If your dog is suffering from mild diarrhea, you may be able to treat him at home. "Mild" means that your dog's stools are soft, and look like chocolate pudding. Your vet can give you the best advice about how to treat your dog's diarrhea, but generally home treatment involves feeding your dog a bland diet for a few days. If your dog shows symptoms of dehydration, consult your vet immediately. A good way to tell if your dog is dehydrated is to gently pinch the skin on his back. If the skin stays pinched when you release it, your dog is dehydrated.

If your dog is experiencing severe diarrhea, take him to the vet. "Severe" means that the diarrhea is projectile, uncontrolled, and watery.

If your dog is a puppy and is experiencing any form of diarrhea, consult your vet. Puppies are prone to a range of infections that can cause diarrhea and their health can deteriorate quickly once symptoms appear.

If your dog's mild diarrhea lasts for more than a few days, and does not respond to home treatment, see the vet. His immune system may be compromised, making him vulnerable to further infections.

 

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