Puppy Diarrhea
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Diarrhea in puppies can take range from a soft pile to a jet of water..and just about everything in between!
If your puppy's stools are just of the soft, chocolate-pudding variety there's generally no need for instant panic.
There are several possible reasons for the change in consistency, these include -
- A change in diet
Switching your puppy from one brand of food (or from dried to canned, commercial to home-made etc) is a very common reason for loose stools. To help avoid this, be sure that any change in diet is made gradually, over at least a week.Begin by replacing a small amount of the regular food with the new one. Then over the next 7 days or so, gradually increase the new food while decreasing the old. By the end of the week, your puppy should be happily eating his new dog food without any upset.
- Stress
A puppys' digestive system can be fairly delicate and may be affected by stressful situations. Things such as leaving their mom and siblings, a visit to the veterinarian, getting used to a new home environment, excess excitement or exercise and so on, can trigger this type of puppy diarrhea.It'll usually right itself over the course of few days, meanwhile you can help by making sure your puppy has plenty of quiet time, lots of fresh drinking water available and monitoring his bowel movements to be sure that his 'poop' returns to normal rather than becoming more loose.
- Eating something he shouldn't!
Little puppies are endlessly curious, and often seem to believe that EVERYTHING is edible, until proven otherwise! If your pup has been snacking on left-overs from the garbage can, the flowers in your front yard, or something of that nature, puppy diarrhea is most likely going to happen.
Obviously it's important to re-double your efforts to keep undesirable objects from being ingested by Fido. Many times the forbidden things a puppy has eaten are fairly harmless. But there's a whole range of stuff that's toxic to dogs (sometimes to a deadly degree).Many of them will surprise you, and are commonly seen in any home or yard.
If you're in any doubt at all about what your puppy has injested, or believe it may be harmful, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Control Center at once.
- Parasitic infection
Your puppy could have developed an infection caused by parasites, such as Coccidia or Giardia, both of which can cause pretty severe, foul smelling diarrhea (sometimes accompanied by vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite).A bad case of puppy worms (particularly roundworms) can also result in your furbaby suffering from puppy diarrhea and/or vomiting.
The most immediate concern in this case is that little Fido will become dehydrated, which is a dangerous condition for a puppy. As little as 24 hours (or less in very young puppies) with diarrhea and vomiting can cause a puppy to become seriously dehydrated.
Whenever you see this kind of diarrhea, consult your veterinarian right away. There are tests and treatment for these causes of diarrhea in puppies, and IV fluids are also often necessary.
- A serious disease
Many of the most contagious, serious (and often potentially deadly) puppy illnesses have diarrhea as one of the major symptoms.This kind of diarrhea is usually very watery, and can contain mucous and/or blood (shows as red or brown). This is a very serious situation and immediate, emergency veterinary care is needed if your puppy is to have a chance of recovery.
Dog diseases such as Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis and Corona Virus are just some of the possibilities when this kind of puppy diarrhea is seen. Don't delay, see help right away!
When you're dealing with a fairly mild case of puppy diarrhea, focus on eliminating the cause and replacing any fluids your puppy may have lost. You can use unflavored Pedialyte instead of water, or mixed with it.
If your puppy is drinking well, is bright-eyed and lively, and isn't getting worse you can probably afford to just monitor the situation. However, if little Fido seems lethargic, dull eyed or just 'not himself', or if his condition deteriorates, seek veterinary advice straight away
If the puppy diarrhea is liquid (anything from soupy to watery) there's reason for concern. There are many reasons for this type of diarrhea -
Watery, mucous-y or blood streaked puppy diarrhea is a red flag. Don't be tempted to 'wait and see', seek professional veterinary assistance immediately. Your puppy's life could literally depend on it.
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