Sudden Diarrhea in Dogs: When Home Care Isn’t Enough
Few things are more distressing than your dog suddenly having a bout of diarrhea—especially if it happens inside your home. Now you’re worried about your pup and facing a mess to clean up. But if your dog can’t get out the door in time to relieve herself, you might have a dog diarrhea emergency on your hands.
Not sure what to do? The team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital is here to help.
What Causes Sudden Dog Diarrhea?
There are a myriad of reasons your dog might be experiencing intestinal distress. Here’s a sampling of the causes:
- Dietary indiscretions, such as eating half of your favorite chocolate bar, enjoying a trash-can feast, or jumping up to gulp down some table scraps
- Sudden change in diet
- Newly-developed intolerance to an ingredient in their food
- Stress and/or excitement from travel, visitors, and schedule changes
- Intestinal parasites—a particularly prominent reason for diarrhea in puppies
- Viral or bacterial gastroenteritis
So, when do you actually call the vet for diarrhea in dogs?
Let’s discuss.
How to Know When Acute Diarrhea in Your Dog is an Emergency
Call your vet right away for any of the following reasons:
- Stool is red or black and tarry, a signal that blood might be in the stool
- Repeated watery diarrhea, especially if it lasts longer than one episode
- Vomiting joins in on the diarrhea drama
- Weakness, fever, belly pain, or lethargy
- Signs of dehydration, like sunken eyes and reduced urination
In addition, you should always call your vet regarding dog diarrhea if your pet is a puppy, a senior dog, or a pooch with a chronic condition. These pets can deteriorate more quickly when their bodies are in distress, so it’s always better to bring them in promptly.
Care and Treatment for Dog Diarrhea
For a mild case of diarrhea in an otherwise healthy pup, your veterinarian might recommend short-term, supportive care, including extra hydration and a diet that’s easy to digest, along with close monitoring.
But if symptoms continue even after this type of care, your clinic may decide to check for parasites, dietary issues, dehydration, and more serious diseases.
When you decide to take your pet to an urgent or emergency care appointment for diarrhea, be prepared with the following information:
- How long the diarrhea has been happening, and how frequent it is
- Whether you’ve noticed blood, vomiting, lethargy, or loss of appetite along with the runny stool
- Any recent food or treat changes, or exposure to potentially harmful food and/or substances
- Your dog’s age, weight, and current medications
When your pet’s gut is acting up, trust your gut for seeking care. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you need a consultation regarding your pet’s runny stool, call the experienced team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital. Our team is here for you five days a week from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Call us at (530) 823-6306 to schedule an appointment!