Diarrhea in dogs: what to do?

Diarrhea in dogs

Many of us dog owners would have experienced our dogs passing out loose stools. which is a very common Diarrhea in dogs. The question that arises in your head is often whether it is a cause for concern, and do we need to go to the vet and seek medical attention straight away. Believe it or not, gastrointestinal upset is one of the most common reasons parents go to the vet. Although most cases are mild and usually don’t require veterinary attention right away, we still ought to know when to seek vet attention. The answer depends on the cause and the other symptoms accompanying loose stools.  Diarrhea in dogs could be caused by a few common reasons.

loose stools symthoms

These symptoms usually last a week or so. During this time, it’s best to monitor for a few days. Usually, the loose stool goes away, and if your dog is still his or her usual self. Then usually the problem will go away on its own. And your dog’s appetite should be back by then. During this time, it’s a good idea to give wet food with blended meat. For example some porridge, it’ll definitely help with digestion. Probiotics might be a good idea too. As it helps the replenishment of the good bacteria that are lost. Loose stools might just be transient.

If you have just changed their diet from kibbles to raw food, then do it gradually. So as not to induce allergic reactions. If you’re trying treats or meals with a novel protein, do give in small amounts to isolate the possibility of an intolerance.

Prolong Diarrhea

However, after a week, your dog is still tired and lethargic, or there are red or black stools. This might be a more severe problem. This could be blood from the intestines. If it’s accompanied by vomiting, it could be a blockage of the gastrointestinal tract. It could be due to bones or other objects that they could have swallowed unintentionally. For bones usually, they are digested by stomach juice. But for plastic or metals then you would require the help of a vet. Getting an x-ray done might be a good idea now. Go to your trusted vet and they would help you with it. If there’s a blockage usually surgery might have to be done.

If there’s no blockage then this might be a parasitic infection. Then usually anti-parasite medicine will do the job. In the very unlikely case, or if your dog is old. It might be cancer. But on the bright side cancer is still very treatable with modern chemo drugs. There are many cancer survivors around. And it’s not the end of the world.

We as parents are often very concerned about our dog’s health. We need to consider both the long-term and short-term effects of their diet. While most loose stools are no harm, do be on the guard for any possible accidents that may happen.

We as parents are often very concerned about our dog’s health. We need to consider both the long-term and short-term effects of their diet. While most loose stools are no harm, do be on the guard for any possible accidents that may happen.