Diarrhea in dogs in an uncomfortable inconvenience, but it also can be dangerous. In young puppies, diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration. Puppy diarrhea is usually the result of stress, common intestinal parasites or food problems, but serious puppy diseases such parvovirus can cause diarrhea as well. If your puppy's symptoms do not resolve or show improvement in two to three days, contact your veterinarian.
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Stress
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Your puppy's first few days at a new home are going to be filled with new sights, sounds and schedules. Her food may have changed, and her water might taste different. Her sensitive digestive system could react to these stresses with a mild case of diarrhea. As she acclimates to her new pack, symptoms should subside. To help her feel secure quickly, provide a consistent, safe environment. Keep your puppy's mealtime and walk schedules as regular as possible. Build quiet time into her schedule, allowing her to rest during the day. During an episode of diarrhea, reduce the amount of food you are feeding her by half and divide the meals into three or four daily servings. Add two or three tablespoons of water or unsalted, fat-free chicken broth to her food to combat dehydration. Increase the amount of food over two or three days until the serving sizes are back to normal. After each meal, take your puppy outside, but do not encourage play. Take her to her designated potty-training area for her after-meal bowel movement.
Parasites
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If your new puppy has a bloated belly accompanied by diarrhea, he may have worms. Internal parasites are common in puppies and are easily treated. Over-the-counter wormers are available in pet supply stores. When purchasing, be sure to read the label carefully: there are different wormers for different worms. Look for products that contain fenbendazole or pyrantel pamoate. These products will cause your puppy to expel the worms in his feces. Be prepared to see wriggling, living worms. They will not survive long outside the warm and friendly confines of your puppy's intestines, but clean up and dispose of the feces quickly. Roundworms can spread to other animals and people, so proper sanitation is important.
Dietary Indiscretion
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Your puppy explores her world with her mouth. If she swallows something toxic or indigestible, it may cause diarrhea. Be sure to puppy-proof your home before your puppy ends up with a belly full of spoiled food, cat litter or worse. Dietary indiscretion can be dangerous. If your puppy ingests a toxic substance, it is a medical emergency and should be treated as such. Contact your veterinarian and poison control hot line immediately.
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