If your dog is experiencing diarrhea, it may be nothing serious and may self resolve with a few hours. Causes of diarrhea in dogs can range from something as simple as overeating to being an indicator of a serious illness. Infection, food allergy and parasites are all common causes of diarrhea in dogs. Try giving your dog bland meals and wait 24 hours to see if the diarrhea improves. If not, you should see your veterinarian for a diagnosis, to prevent dehydration and to get proper treatment for the underlying cause.
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Causes Other than Illness
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There are several reasons your dog may have diarrhea that aren’t related to illness. These could include the dog eating something she shouldn’t, the dog eating too much, a change in the dog’s diet or stress. If there has been a change in your dog’s environment or routine, the dog may be nervous and this may be the cause of the diarrhea. A little time to adjust and some reassurance that everything will be OK will help your dog to feel more secure and the diarrhea should resolve itself.
Parasites
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Intestinal parasites are a common cause of diarrhea in dogs. Giardia, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia and tapeworms are all possibilities. Parasitic infections will likely see the diarrhea accompanied by other symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, anemia and possible skin lesions. Most of these parasites are microscopic, but some--such as roundworms and tapeworms--may be evident in the dog’s stool.
Poisoning
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Various toxins in your dog’s environment can lead to poisoning, and diarrhea may be a symptom. Additional symptoms can include lethargy, vomiting, lack of appetite, stumbling, difficulty breathing and seizure. With some types of poisoning, your dog may immediately show symptoms. With other types, symptoms may not develop for a few days. If you have any reason to believe your dog may have been poisoned, you should take him to a veterinarian immediately.
Viruses
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If your dog is less than a couple of years old and has severe diarrhea, the cause could be parvovirus, and you should get your pet to a veterinarian immediately. Other possible viruses that can cause diarrhea include the coronavirus and distemper. These are especially concerning if your dog is not up to date on vaccinations.
Bacteria
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Bacteria could be the cause of your dog’s diarrhea. This is most likely if your dog has gotten into spoiled food or has a habit of eating out of the garbage. Feeding the dog undercooked or raw meats can also lead to the pet being infected with these bacteria. Possible bacterial causes include clostridia and salmonella. If the dog ate spoiled food, the pet may have food poisoning.
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