Is it normal for puppies to have loose stools?

Although it may be normal if your new puppy has soft stools or even diarrhea, there are many conditions that can make a puppy’s stools soft. Although watching your puppy’s poop may be disgusting, you can easily determine whether or not your puppy is healthy by doing so. You should consult your veterinarian if your stool suddenly changes in consistency or volume.

Why Does My Puppy Have Diarrhea?

The following are a few of the most typical causes of diarrhea in puppies:

Being a puppy can be a lot of fun, but it can also be stressful because there are so many new things to learn. Getting a dog’s first leash lesson, moving into a new house, meeting new people and animals, getting vaccinated, going to the vet, and having your first experience with the Roomba Your puppy may experience diarrhea as a result of stress brought on by all of these situations. Stress-related diarrhea typically develops within hours to a day of the stressful event and usually goes away on its own quickly.

Regardless of the age of your dog, diarrhea can result from changing foods too quickly. Ask the breeder or previous owner of your puppy what brand and formula of food she is accustomed to eating, and begin by following that diet. If you want to change your diet, do it gradually over a few days. Start by blending a small amount of the new food with the old, then gradually increase the proportion of the new food.

Some dogs may have food allergies or, less frequently, food intolerances. These can also cause diarrhea. It takes time to determine whether a person has a food allergy or intolerance, and your veterinarian can help.

Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, coccidia, and giardia are some typical parasites that can infest puppies. The most typical way that parasites are spread is through poop (a dog with worms excretes eggs and/or larvae, and a puppy sniffs poop and inhales them) However, some can pass from mother to pups via the placenta, such as roundworms.

Puppies with parasites may have bloody diarrhea, distended bellies, thin appearance, or appear lethargic in addition to having diarrhea. Sometimes worms in the poop may be visible.

Your puppy’s stool can be examined by your veterinarian for parasites such as worm eggs. If your puppy has diarrhea, always bring a sample with you. Your veterinarian can recommend the most effective deworming medication to address the problem once the offending parasite has been identified.

However, getting rid of worms or other parasites does not stop your puppy from reacquiring them. Be sure to thoroughly clean your yard, removing all poop to reduce the amount of parasitic worms living in the soil and environment. Keep in mind that parasites are frequently spread through poop. Otherwise, your puppy can reinfect herself from her own poop.

All puppies should begin receiving routine deworming treatments while they are still with their breeder. The majority of veterinarians advise keeping up routine, long-term deworming, such as with a monthly product.

Puppies love to mouth everything, just like young children do. Diarrhea can be brought on by eating the wrong things in a few different ways. A common veterinary diagnosis called “dietary indiscretion” simply means that your puppy ate something she shouldn’t have. This might involve devouring the trash from your cookout, ingesting a chewed-up tennis ball, or nibbling on your amaryllis plant.

Eating rich or fatty foods in excess can upset your stomach. In these situations, your dog might vomit or act uneasy in addition to having diarrhea.

If your puppy has eaten something toxic, exact symptoms will vary depending on what and how much she ate. If you suspect your puppy has eaten something toxic, or are unsure about the potential threat of her illicit snack, contact an animal poison helpline such as the ASPCA Poison Control Center or the Pet Poison Helpline, (855) 764-7661, immediately. These services do charge a fee, but its well worth it to have access to the most up-to-date information on toxicities in dogs.

Even non-toxic objects that are not food can pose a problem if they become lodged and block your puppy’s digestive system. A puppy with an obstruction may not only have diarrhea, but also vomit, be listless, refuse food, and/or experience abdominal pain.

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Any puppy owner who receives the diagnosis of parvovirus, commonly referred to as just “parvo,” is filled with fear. This virus causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, anorexia, fever, and lethargic behavior in puppies and is extremely contagious. Supportive care is used as a form of treatment to help your puppy fight the illness and deal with the symptoms. For intravenous fluids (to keep her hydrated), medications, and round-the-clock care from her veterinary team, a puppy with parvo will probably be admitted to the hospital. Especially if treatment is initiated too late, parvo is frequently fatal.

Thankfully, there is a parvo vaccine that works, and it is part of the standard puppy series. Depending on her age, your puppy will get the vaccine several times. Your puppy must attend her booster appointments on time; even one missed shot could leave her defenseless. She can receive a one-year or three-year vaccine the following year after completing her puppy series.

Until she has received all of her vaccinations, stay away from dog parks, boarding kennels, and well-known dog walking areas where there are other dogs. Just let her interact with dogs you know have received their vaccinations. Your puppy must be kept away from unvaccinated dogs and puppies if she contracts parvo in order to prevent the spread of the disease to them.

In addition to viruses like parvo, your puppy could develop bacterial infections in her G I. tract that can cause diarrhea. Common culprits include Clostridium, E. coli, and Salmonella. These can be acquired by your puppy from eating spoiled food or animal poop. She won’t be as vulnerable to these tiny invaders as she gets older and her immune system develops.

Vomiting and diarrhea are a dangerous combination. Both result in the loss of water from your puppy’s body, which causes dehydration. In a matter of days, dehydration can harm her internal organs permanently. Call your veterinarian as soon as possible if your dog is experiencing this one-two punch of vomiting and diarrhea.

There is no need to be alarmed if your puppy has only experienced a few episodes of loose stools and is otherwise healthy and happy. It will likely resolve on its own.

Signs to call your veterinarian to schedule an appointment:

Diarrhea that lasts more than a day

Bloody or black stool

Vomiting and diarrhea

Lethargy

Pale gums

Fever (normal for a dog is 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit)

Painful behavior—hunched posture, tense, or crying out

Known ingestion of a non-food item (such as hair ties or toys) or a toxic substance

If your puppy is generally healthy, your veterinarian may simply advise you to feed her a bland diet for a few days to give her digestive system a break (such as plain boiled chicken, plain cooked hamburger, or rice). Probiotics intended for use in dogs can also be beneficial.

To help restore normal G values, your veterinarian may also recommend a drug like metronidazole, tylosin, or Endosorb. I. tract and stop the diarrhea.

The precise course of action will depend on the symptoms and origin of the diarrhea if your puppy is also acting unwell. To help her stay hydrated, fluids may be administered through her skin.

You can take a few steps to reduce the likelihood that your puppy will experience diarrhea:

Make diet changes gradually over several days

Avoid feeding table scraps

Follow a regular deworming schedule

Pick up all dog poop promptly

Keep your puppy crated when unsupervised to prevent her from eating something she shouldnt

Keep human foods out of reach

Only use dog-friendly plants in your yard and keep toxic houseplants out of reach

Dont skip or delay any part of the puppy vaccination schedule

Avoid unvaccinated dogs until your puppy is fully vaccinated

Raising puppies is nerve-wracking. There are a lot of details to remember, such as adhering to vaccination schedules and removing socks and other objects from your puppy’s mouth. As if that weren’t enough to be concerned about, many puppies also experience puppy diarrhea, which is much less enjoyable than the occasional sock chewing.

How do you know when to call the vet and when to wait it out with all the different causes of puppy diarrhea? Generally speaking, play it safe. Call your veterinarian, describe your puppy’s symptoms, and let the doctor decide whether or not your puppy needs to be seen.

The treatment for your puppy’s diarrhea depends on the cause. Mild diarrhea caused by stress or a dietary transition often clears up with the addition of a bland diet, although it is always a good idea to consult your veterinarian about at-home treatment options and to rule out anything more serious, especially if the diarrhea continues for more than a few hours. Make sure you provide your puppy with plenty of fresh water, as even mild diarrhea is dehydrating.

If your puppy has diarrhea and hasn’t had all of her vaccinations, you should also call your veterinarian. Puppies with the potentially fatal parvovirus infection have diarrhea, necessitating immediate veterinary care.

Young puppies are prone to parasites. Puppies who have parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia, and giardia need veterinary care whether they are born with them or acquire them from the environment.

What You Can Do to Support Your Puppy

If your puppy’s doctor has determined that a viral or bacterial infection does not require treatment, you can concentrate on making your puppy feel better. It can take up to a week for your puppy’s gut lining to regenerate and for their stool to return to normal consistency after an episode of diarrhea. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to help your puppy’s developing digestive and immune systems.

Here are some tips:

Never fast a puppy!

Feed a bland diet that’s low in fat and easily digested (such as cooked white rice and chicken).

Always provide plenty of fresh water. A puppy should drink about 1.5 cups of water per 10 pounds of body weight per day. If your puppy won’t drink enough water, offer a little dilute (unsalted) chicken broth.

Mix a little fiber into their food to help firm up your puppy’s stool: try a teaspoon of Fiber One cereal, or add a little unflavored psyllium powder (start with ¼ tsp per meal and, over a few days, work up to 1 tsp per meal).

Add a probiotic and prebiotic supplement, like S. boulardii + FOS Powder for dogs.

Test your puppy’s gut microbiome. Microbiome testing can tell you whether your puppy’s gut contains all the different kinds of bacteria we would expect to find in a healthy dog. Our noninvasive, at-home Gut Health Test detects any missing bacterial groups, identifies harmful groups that might be causing symptoms, and gives you personalized tips for adjusting your puppy’s diet to promote the right gut flora.

Keep up with the vaccination schedule recommended by your veterinarian. When to begin vaccinating will depend on whether your puppy had a nursing mother for the first few days of their life. (Some of the mother’s antibodies are passed along to the puppies in that first milk, called colostrum.)

Every now and then, any puppy may experience an episode of diarrhea. But you can help lower the chances. Here are some tips for preventing diarrhea in puppies:

Always supervise puppies to make sure they don’t eat anything they shouldn’t.

Puppies should be crated whenever they’re unsupervised.

Always introduce new foods gradually over the course of 7–10 days.

Use proper, pet-safe disinfectants to clean surfaces.

Keep up with the vaccination schedule prescribed by your veterinarian.

Until puppies are fully vaccinated, they should be kept away from unvaccinated dogs and public spaces.

Talk to your veterinarian about parasite prevention and deworming.

Clean up after your puppy and any other pets to make sure there’s no poop lying around.

There are many variables that affect your puppy’s health, and not all of them are within your control. However, there are many things you can do to ensure your puppy has a healthy and happy childhood.

Your puppy’s digestive system and gut microbiome are still developing, which means that even small dietary changes may cause diarrhea.

Parasites (like roundworms and Coccidia) and pathogens (harmful bacteria like Salmonella) are also common causes of diarrhea in puppies, whose immune systems aren’t mature enough to fight off these attackers.

Until they have been fully vaccinated, puppies are especially vulnerable to parvo and distemper, two highly contagious, often life-threatening viruses.

Call your veterinarian immediately if your puppy’s diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, fever, lethargy, distress, or any other additional symptoms.

If diarrhea is the only symptom, and your puppy is otherwise behaving normally, you can wait up to 48 hours to see if the diarrhea will resolve on its own, using the tips suggested above to help them feel better. If it doesn’t, call your veterinarian.

Untreated diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which is very dangerous for puppies.

A noninvasive, at-home Gut Health Test can tell you whether your puppy’s diarrhea might be due to a gut microbiome imbalance.

If your veterinarian finds no parasites or infection, you can help your puppy’s gut heal by feeding a bland diet, mixing in a little fiber (like psyllium), and/or adding a probiotic and prebiotic supplement (like S. boulardii + FOS Powder for dogs or Gut Maintenance Plus).

FAQ

What causes loose stools in puppies?

Young puppies are prone to parasites. Puppies who have parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia, and giardia need veterinary care whether they are born with them or acquire them from the environment.

Is it normal for puppies to have soft stool?

In healthy puppies, soft stools are common, but if a puppy switches from having firmer stools to soft stools, you should observe the change for 24 hours. Contact your advisor or the local coordinator if the soft stools last longer than 24 hours or turn into diarrhea and begin fasting the dog.

How can I firm up my puppy’s stool?

1. High-Quality, High-Protein Diet. Dogs require a balanced diet with enough digestible protein for them to have regular bowel movements.
2. Get Rid of Dairy. …
3. Feed Your Dog Less. …
4. Avoid Fatty Foods. …
5. Probiotics. …
6. Drink More Water. …
7. Add More Fiber.

When should I worry about loose stools in my puppy?

However, if your dog seems ill or has had symptoms for longer than 24 hours, it’s always best to seek advice from your veterinarian. If your dog has mild diarrhoea for less than 24 hours, you might want to try settling them at home before calling your veterinarian.