Introduction

Diarrhea is often a symptom of another condition that is occurring in the dog, and it requires prompt attention and treatment. While some diarrheal conditions in dogs can be caused by minor gastrointestinal upsets, diarrhea can also be indicative of a severe medical crisis such as poisoning or a disease.

Causes of Diarrhea in Dogs

While there are dozens of conditions which can cause diarrhea in dogs, most diarrhea conditions are caused by gastrointestinal upset, food poisoning, ingestion of chemical poisons, pancreatitis, extreme stress, parasitic infections, kidney disease, and thyroid disease.

Diarrhea may either be classified as acute, meaning it occurred quickly and with severe symptoms, or chronic, meaning the symptoms are mild and come and go over a long period of time.

Diagnosing Diarrhea in Dogs

Diarrhea is often diagnosed through the pet’s symptoms, history, urine test, blood test, and fecal examination. Treatment for diarrhea includes identifying the cause of the diarrhea, calming the symptoms, re-hydrating the patient if needed, and treating the cause of the diarrhea.

Outlook for Dogs with Diarrhea

Acute and chronic diarrhea can be life threatening, especially in young puppies, older dogs, and dogs with chronic underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism. Pet owners should immediately take their dog to a veterinarian if the dog has been experiencing acute diarrhea for more than a few hours, has had chronic diarrhea for more than 3 days, is also lethargic, bloated, experiencing abdominal pain, has a fever, is passing blood in the stool, and if any vomiting is occurring.

The outlook for diarrhea in dogs is excellent as long as the dog is treated in a timely manner. Future diarrheal outbreaks can be avoided by completely treating the cause of the diarrhea and preventing future exposure of the diarrheal agent to the dog.