The adorable new puppy you just brought home surprised you by peeing in a puddle; no big deal, you clean it up, but it keeps happening. What should you do?.
We’ll go over everything you need to know about puppies and diarrhea so you can quickly restore your dog to their best condition.
Puppy diarrhea and home care
Even though not all diarrhea cases need medical attention, you should always consult your veterinarian if your puppy has loose stools. We can treat some cases of diarrhea at home with home remedies or care. But how do you know? What should you do?.
Viral Infections
The most well-known viral infection that causes diarrhea in puppies is parvovirus. It is frequently fatal without proper treatment and is spread by direct dog-to-dog contact as well as contact with contaminated environments, people, or feces. Canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus-1, and canine coronavirus (unrelated to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19) are additional viruses that can cause diarrhea in puppies.
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:
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:
FAQ
Should I be concerned if my puppies poop is runny?
The majority of the time, mild cases of diarrhea will go away on their own with time and patience, but severe cases may need immediate medical attention from your veterinarian. Concern should be expressed if symptoms last for more than a few days or if you experience diarrhea along with fever, bloody stool, pale gums, lethargy, mood swings, or tar-like stool.
How can I firm up my puppy’s stool?
- High-Quality, High-Protein Diet. Dogs require a balanced diet with enough digestible protein for them to have regular bowel movements.
- Get Rid of Dairy. …
- Feed Your Dog Less. …
- Avoid Fatty Foods. …
- Probiotics. …
- Drink More Water. …
- Add More Fiber.