Dog Diarrhea: Causes & Information

Dog diarrhea is most commonly associated with colitis in dogs, which is essentially caused by an inflammation of the colon which results in soft stools. Dog diarrhea can be a distressing for both dog and owner and can mean frequent trips to the vet.

What causes diarrhoea in dogs?

Diarrhoea in dogs can be caused by a number of factors. Buying poor-quality and cheap pet food can have an adverse effect on a dog’s digestion system which in turn leads to dog colitis. Overeating can also leave you with a dog colitis problem. This can occur when dogs are fed just once a day and certain foods sometimes don’t agree with a dog and lead to dog diarrhoea. Dogs, like humans, can suffer from stress and this can also present a dog diarrhea problem.

Dog diarrhea can also occur after your dog has undergone treatment for another condition or injury and is on a course of antibiotics. Antibiotics can leads to a dog’s diarrhoea problem as whilst working to kill the dangerous bacteria, they can sometimes disrupt the normal healthy bacteria in the intestine, which results in diarrhea in dogs. In these cases it is recommended to re-balance the amount of  ‘good bacteria’ in the dog’s gut.

Viral infections such as parvovirus can cause severe foul-smelling dog diarrhea and bacterial infections from sources such as spoiled food and salmonella can result in dog colitis.

Symptoms of Colitis in Dogs

The symptoms for colitis dogs are generally soft stools. A dog with diarrhoea can often become extremely depressed. Diarrhea in dogs will also cause dehydration. So if you’re dog is perhaps not acting their normal self or seems a little reserved, it is worth checking their stools for any early signs of dog colitis.

Chronic dogs diarrhea

Most dogs suffering from dog colitis will experience chronic diarrhoea. Diarrhea is loose, inconsistent bowel movements which can eventually become entirely liquid.

Frequent Bowel Movement

If your dog is making a lot more trips to the back yard, then it is often a sign that your canine is experiencing dog diarrhea.

Tenesmus – Difficulty passing stools

Tenesmus is a dog’s feeling of the need to evacuate the bowels, with little or no stool passed. Tenesmus may be constant or intermittent, and is usually accompanied by pain, cramping and involuntary straining efforts. It can be a temporary and transient problem related to constipation. Tenesmus can be a symptom of diarrhea in dogs.

Potential Problems that can arise due to Dog Diarrhea

Diarrhoea in dogs on the whole is not a life-threatening condition. However older dogs, puppies and smaller dogs can often find it tough when dealing with dog diarrhea so it’s worth keeping an eye on dog colitis.

Treatment for Diarrhoea Dog

Treatment for short-term diarrhoea dog is generally simple.
Short-term dog diarrhea may occur if your dog has eaten something he shouldn’t, or if you have changed his diet recently, he could wind up with a bout of dog diarrhea; this could also be the result of eating dairy products or a food he’s allergic to. You may be able to help clear up your dog’s diarrhea  by putting him on a full 24-hour fast. If he seems better after a day, put him on a bland diet of two parts cooked rice and one part boiled skinless white-meat chicken. Start him off with small amounts every four hours. If he’s doing well, feed him about 1/4 of his regular food along with the bland diet; gradually up the percentage over several days until he’s back on his normal diet. While your dog is recuperating from dog colitis, make sure he’s getting enough water. Diarrhoea can rapidly lead to dehydration, so your vet may recommend a drink enriched with electrolytes. Pedialyte, a formula for babies that’s available in drug stores and supermarkets, is often given to dogs with dog colitis to help replenish important minerals depleted by diarrhea and dog colitis. Limit your pet’s level of exercise to short walks while they are recovering from dog diarrhea.

Longer term dog diarrhea is more likely to be a digestive problem.
If your longer-term dog diarrhoea is the problem then the first thing that you should look at finding a way to re-balance the good bacteria in your dog’s gut – helping them to properly digest their food.

Preventing Dog Diarrhea

There are several steps you can take to minimise the risk of dogs diarrhea. When changing your dog onto a new brand of food, instead be sure to do it gradually to see how they react to it. Make sure your dog doesn’t eat anything that is lying around as this can contribute to dog colitis. Also keep an eye on their mood as this can be a sure sign of dog diarrhoea.

Remember, you are not alone – there are many dogs that suffer from dog diarrhea, runny stools and colitis. Ask your friends, people you see walking their dogs in the park and the internet can be an invaluable search tool to see how other people help dogs with runny stools.

Man’s Best Friend, confidant and healer

A massive 99% of pet owners describe their dog as a friend and 100% regularly talk to them, according to new research published by dog health supplement company, Pooch and Mutt¹.   97% of dog owners also say that they think their canine friend helps to keep them healthy, with most of them – 98.5%, citing walks and exercise as the main reasons for this.  But, with dogs increasingly being used in therapy, with mentally ill and patients recovering from physical illness, scientific research suggests that there may be many other reasons, which pet owners are unaware of, for the feelings of general wellbeing owners describe in the Pooch and Mutt survey results.

Guy Blaskey, Managing Director of Pooch and Mutt said: “there is now a significant body of evidence to support the theory that pet ownership can have a positive effect on human mental and physical health, from common problems such as stress and self esteem, to recovery from serious illnesses including heart disease and cancer².  This means that, potentially, pet owners may already be saving the National Health Service considerable amounts of money!”

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All in the Mind

In the Pooch and Mutt survey, 59% of pet owners admit to ‘discussing’ their problems with their furry companions, suggesting a ‘two-way’ communication between pet and owner.   Many scientific studies, including those conducted by psychologist Dr June McNicholas at the University of Warwick and referenced in the British Medical Journal³, conclude that relationships with pets can have certain advantages over inter-human relationships.  They are less subject to ‘burnout’ and ‘fluctuations’ and don’t impose a strain or cause concern about continuing stability.

The Office for National Statistics says that one in four adults in Britain experiences at least one diagnosable mental health problem and 8-12% of the population experience depression in any one year.  The use of therapy animals is becoming more widespread and research conducted by the University of Belfast suggests that pet owners are likely to have higher self-esteem and suffer less loneliness and depression, than those living without pets.  National charity, Pets As Therapy, for example, has worked with over 22,000 pets in 25 years and these animals play important roles in hospitals, hospices, care homes, day centres, special needs schools.

Lessons and Work

In addition, McNicholas’ research also showed that pet ownership has an important role in play in education, with significantly less school absenteeism among children who live with pets!

Blaskey said: “If the positive effect of pet ownership on children’s attendance at school is mirrored in adult’s attendance at work, the UK’s pet population may be making a considerable contribution to the UK’s economy and Gross Domestic Product as well as to its ‘Gross National Happiness’ – a happier nation is a healthier and more productive nation”.

Fitness and Health

91% of people surveyed by Pooch and Mutt believe that they’re fitter because they have a dog.  But, like the UK’s human population, statistics show that between 30-60% of the UK’s dog population – a minimum of 6.5 million dogs, are overweight.  The extra weight that these dogs carry puts added pressure on their joints, meaning that they’re even less able to exercise.  This is the same vicious cycle many humans experience.

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Blaskey concluded: “As a nation we’re beginning to understand how much dogs contribute to the mental and physical health of their owners, yet people are not necessarily repaying this by looking after the health and wellbeing of their pets.  Overweight dogs should be given a glucosamine based supplement to reinforce their joints and help keep them mobile, so that they can burn off excess fat.  For dogs that aren’t portly, plenty of exercise and a good diet, supplemented with the right mix of vitamins and minerals, will help dogs to cope with the strains of modern life and keep them in top condition – fit, alert and ready to listen to our problems!  A fit dog will mean less expense of vet bills too.”

Blaskey believes that a healthy pet shouldn’t have to visit a vet more than once a year for annual vaccinations.  He recommends the following for maintaining optimum health:

• Choose pet food that’s free from added salt, sugar, fat and unnecessary additives.  Don’t feed your pet the same food as you eat as this will not meet its nutritional needs
• Use a good all-round worming, flea and tick treatment to keep the parasites away
• Look for a good dietary supplement containing EU approved probiotics, vitamins and minerals
• For older and overweight pets, choose a supplement for keeping joints and bones in good condition
• Check your pet regularly for ticks, especially if they walk and play in long grass
• Brush longer coats to remove parasites, grass seeds, etc, checking inside the ears for
• Keep nails trimmed where necessary

Further information about how to look after your dog’s health is available from www.poochandmutt.com.

Ends

Further information and imagery from:

Alison Taylor, AT PR Ltd; alison@atpublicrelations.com; 07775 925 452

¹Pooch and Mutt survey of 1,200 UK dog owners published May 2009

²House JS, Landis KR, Umberson D.  Social relationships and health.  Science 1988;241: 540-4.

³BMJ 2005; 331: 1252-1254 (26 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7527.1252