If you’re dealing with a dog or cat with diarrhea, you are definitely on the receiving end of a highly unpleasant situation. Your pet most definitely agrees. Understanding what causes diarrhea in pets, knowing how to treat it, and knowing when to call a veterinarian are the keys to remedying a messy problem.
Diarrhea, especially in dogs, is extremely common but can sometimes be a symptom of a more severe illness that can lead to acute dehydration or worse if left untreated. In this blog post, the vets at Jacksonville Community Pet Clinic share information on what you should be on the lookout for and how you can get your pet on the mend fast.
What are the Most Common Causes of Pet Diarrhea
Diarrhea in dogs and cats is typically triggered by intestinal distress. For a dog, this might be as simple as nibbling on grass or eating something they shouldn’t while playing outside. Common reasons for diarrhea for cats are intestinal parasites or eating toxic houseplants. With that said, the reasons for diarrhea in either dogs or cats are common to both. These can include:
1. Viral or bacterial infections
2. Abrupt changes in their diet
3. Ingesting toxic plants or substances
4. Stress or anxiety, often from traveling or a change in environment
5. Eating garbage or table scraps
6. Ingesting foreign objects such as toys or bones
7. Illnesses
So, How Can You Stop Diarrhea Once It Starts
Most often, diarrhea resolves itself in a few hours. If your pet only has one or two loose stools, you would be safe to take a more conservative approach and start with these remedies:
Diet Change – Feeding your pet home-prepared food that acts as a binder can help rebuild the consistency of your pet’s stool. A diet of cooked white rice, plain chicken, cottage cheese, canned pumpkin (not pie filling), and plain yogurt can help settle an upset gut. Once the diarrhea begins to abate, you can reintroduce small portions of your pet’s regular food until they return to their normal selves.
Fasting – Keeping your pet’s stomach empty for 12 to 24 hours is another way to help ease the symptoms of diarrhea. After all, if nothing is going in, nothing will be coming out. Make sure your pet still has access to fresh, clean water. It’s best to consult with your vet before taking this approach. A vet might also recommend you give your dog or cat access to an unflavored Pedialyte electrolyte drink to help stave off dehydration.
Antidiarrheal Agents – Your vet might prescribe probiotics or even dewormers in some cases. It can be difficult to gauge the effectiveness of probiotics or supplements, so it’s important to ask your veterinarian which ones you should give your pet beforehand. Giving your pet a human medication is never wise, as some over-the-counter human medications can be toxic to your dog or cat.
How to Help Your Vet Pinpoint the Problem
When you seek help for pet diarrhea, it’s important to make note of a few things to help aid in the diagnosis. This includes any environmental, dietary, or life changes within the household that might have been a trigger. Also, if Fido recently feasted on a lovely bit of roadkill, that would be important to mention.
It’s also important to be able to tell your vet the frequency and the color of the loose stool. For instance, yellow diarrhea often results from a bland diet, like plain chicken and white rice. When these types of ingredients mix with bile in the intestinal tract, they come out as yellow stools.
Bloody diarrhea often indicates a more serious problem, such as colitis. However, a little blood in your pet’s stool is simply the result of tiny blood vessels breaking open under the stress of a diarrheal episode and is not a real cause for worry. When the stool is mostly blood, it’s important to seek emergency veterinarian care.
Black stools can be the canary in the coal mine to significant health issues. Black, tarry stools can indicate a lodged foreign body or a bleeding ulcer. In this case, it’s best to seek medical attention right away.
When Should You Seek Immediate Veterinarian Care for Pet Diarrhea
When you seek help for pet diarrhea, it’s important to make note of a few things to help aid in the diagnosis. This includes any environmental, dietary, or life changes within the household that might have been a trigger. Also, if Fido recently feasted on a lovely bit of roadkill, that would be important to mention.
Signs like bloody stools, abdominal pain, weakness, and vomiting can be signs of a life-threatening condition. You should seek an immediate vet examination if:
1. The diarrhea won’t stop after 48 hours
2. Your pet is also vomiting
3. Your pet lacks appetite
4. Your pet is listless
5. Your dog or cat has bloody stools
6. There is irregular drooling
7. Your pet is showing signs of dehydration (white gums, skin that stays in place when pinched)
If these issues are present, one of our vets will perform a series of diagnostic tests to find the origin of the problem. These might include blood tests, x-rays, endoscopies, or even exploratory surgery, depending on the severity of the illness. Your vet might also ask you to bring a fecal sample for medical evaluation.
Suppose your pet has been having diarrhea for more than two days. Your vet might also recommend a hospital stay and intravenous fluid therapy to restore metabolic disturbances resulting from severe diarrhea over time.
When in Doubt, Seek Veterinary Advice
If your dog or cat suffers from acute diarrhea, it’s important to get them evaluated by one of our vets at Jacksonville Community Pet Clinics. We might also discuss dietary options that could help ensure diarrhea doesn’t return. Don’t forget to schedule regular checkups and provide monthly flea treatment and annual pet shots to help keep your pets healthy.
