About Puppy Diarrhea

Puppy diarrhea is SO common that your new pup is likely going to have at least one episode of loose stools or runny poop during his first few weeks with you.

The reasons for diarrhea in puppies can be varied and treatment depends on what is causing the problem. Some common causes of diarrhea include:

• changes in diet 
• stress 
• parasites
• illness/disease (such as bacterial infections, viral infections or an underlying health problem)
• eating stuff he shouldn't (can result in food poisoning, or obstruction caused by a foreign object)

Puppy diarrhea can appear as a soft 'pile', a shapeless puddle, a jet of water, or just about anything in between - and the look/consistency of your puppys' stools give important clues as to what's going on.

Puppy diarrhea treatment options might include fasting, dietary changes, supplements, or veterinary care... and which route you choose depends on the type, duration, severity and cause of the your pup's loose, runny or watery stools.

In cases of severe, or repetitive diarrhea, it's vital to seek veterinary help right away.

Age and vaccination status is also important when evaluating diarrhea in puppies.

An 8 week old puppy with diarrhea is at a higher risk of having contracted an infectious, possibly dangerous, disease as he won't have had all the necessary puppy vaccinations yet.

He is also more likely to have worms. One set of shots does NOT provide adequate protection if your puppy is less than 14 - 16 weeks old.

An older, vaccinated pup, or adult dog who has loose, runny stools could have an infectious disease, but it's more likely to be parasites such as Giardia or Coccidia, or another of the possible causes of diarrhea listed  below.

Mild - Moderate Puppy Diarrhea

If your pup has a couple of soft, chocolate-pudding-type stools, don't panic right away. 

This type of diarrhea in puppies usually doesn't last for more than 24 hours and can be caused by a simple tummy upset.

Your little guy might act totally normal, or he might seem a little quiet or look sorry for himself, but he shouldn't look really ill, be inactive, or refuse a drink or a treat (even if he doesn't want his dinner).

Mild to moderate diarrhea in puppies is most often caused by:

• Dietary changes
• Stress
• Eating something he wasn't meant to
• Disease or health condition

If your puppy has diarrhea but is acting fine (eating, drinking, peeing and playing normally) then it's most likely that the loose, runny stools are a result of something fairly simple.

A Change In Diet

If you decide you want to change the brand of food your new pup is eating that's fine, but make the transition slowly to prevent tummy upset. Any sudden dietary change can trigger loose stools or diarrhea, and this applies to treats and edible toys too.

Don't offer a bunch of new things at once. Introduce them slowly and keep them to a minimum.

It's also a good idea to only feed your pup food that is specifically designed for him. Stay away from human foods, table scraps, old food etc. these can cause him to have an upset stomach which may cause diarrhea and/or vomiting. Some puppies have more sensitive stomachs than others, but generally puppies should only eat puppy food/treats.

Stress

Eating Something He Shouldn't

Little puppies are endlessly curious, and often seem to believe that EVERYTHING is edible, until proven otherwise! 

If your pup has been snacking on inedibles, then he's most likely going to have at the very least some loose stools, possibly some diarrhea and/or even vomiting.

A surprising number of every-day foods and other items are toxic, or dangerous for your puppy to ingest. You can find a list of the ones most likely to cause trouble on my Poisonous Foods page.

In this situation a good probiotic can help 'reset' his system. I'd recommend Nutramax Proviable.

It not only rebalances his digestive system by encouraging the growth of good bacteria, but also helps to firm up stools. Nutramax Proviable probiotics are available in two formulas:

• Nutramax Proviable Kit for Cats and Small Dogs.
• Nutramax Proviable for Medium and Large Dogs 
  
  

Health Conditions

A puppy who has worms may well have loose stools, and you may (or may not) see any worms in them depending on which type of worm is causing the problem.

Coccidia can cause diarrhea, and is caused by intestinal parasites of a different kind (tiny, single cell parasites rather than worms).

Canine Coronavirus there are other health issues which can cause diarrhea in puppies include Corona Virus, Colitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Colitis is the term used to describe inflammation in the large intestine and can cause chronic diarrhea, which often contains mucus or even bright red blood.

Colitis is a symptom of other diseases or conditions rather than a disease in itself. The diarrhea which accompanies colitis is a result of the inflamed intestine which is usually caused by another underlying dog health condition such as parasites, IBD, food poisoning, food sensitivities, antibiotics, eating something that shouldn't be ingested, allergies, stress and more.

Colitis in dogs can be:

• Acute - it comes on suddenly and is short lived
• Chronic - it gradually appears over time and is always present
• Episodic - appears for a short while, resolves, reappears 

Colitis is usually fairly easy for your veterinarian to treat, but a prompt and correct diagnosis is needed so that your pup gets the right treatment/medication.

Some breeds seem to be predisposed to conditions which cause chronic loose stools, this can include Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

If a pup or dog has IBD other symptoms are also likely to be present, such as vomiting, weight loss and lack of appetite. Your veterinarian can test for this condition.

Breeds which may have a genetic predisposition to this condition include:

• Shetland Sheepdog
• Collies
• German Shepherd
• Irish Setter
• Boxer
• King Charles Spaniel
• Golden Retriever
• Miniature long-haired Dachshund
• French Bulldog
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier

Treatment for Mild/Moderate Puppy Diarrhea

Fasting Or Withholding Food

If a puppy's tummy is upset because of a dietary indiscretion, one of the quickest ways to help him feel better is to give his digestive system a rest.

You can achieve this by fasting her for a short period.

For a puppy of 16 weeks and up you can usually withhold food for 24 hours without too much trouble.

If your pup is only 8 - 16 weeks old you might want to give her a couple of plain, dry dog biscuits or a handful of plain, cooked, white rice before bed to prevent her vomiting from a build up of acid in her tummy.

Although he won't be getting fed, you need to make sure that your pup gets plenty of fresh water to drink because diarrhea causes dehydration.

Dehydration is the number one issue caused by diarrhea and is responsible for weakening a puppy's immune system and compounding his problems.

If he doesn't want to drink plain water, try adding a little unsalted chicken broth to it for flavor.

Dehydration causes electrolyte imbalances and it's important to rebalance these as quickly as possible.

Some puppies and dogs will drink unflavored pedialyte.

Alternatively you can make 'rice water' by boiling one cup of WHITE rice (not brown rice or the 'Minute Rice' variety) in four cups of water for about 20 minutes. 

Strain to remove rice and let the water cool. Once cool it's a good source of valuable electrolytes for your pup.

After the 24 hours is up, you can start by feeding your pup a bland diet, and a small amount of plain, boiled, white rice (with a little chicken broth added if desired) is one of the most popular choices.

If he tolerates this well and his bowels are returning to normal you can go back to giving him his regular food after another 24  hours.

Supplements 

Some products that are designed to help deal with occasional, mild to moderate diarrhea in puppies and dogs include

• PetWellbeing BM Tone-up Gold
• PetAlive Runnipoo Relief 
• DiaGel for Dogs 

Adding NaturVet Digestive Enzymes (or another similar product) to your pup's food can also help rebalance your little one's gut and reduce loose stools.

Probiotics 

Something else that is helpful in rebalancing your puppy's digestive system is to use a probiotic.

This will encourage the growth of 'good bacteria' in the gut, and can settle things down.

I'd recommend Nutramax Proviable Supplement for Dogs and Cats.

Moderate - Severe Puppy Diarrhea

A puppy with a liquid stool (anything from soupy to watery),  especially if the diarrhea is repetitive, is very likely sick and you definitely need to get him to your veterinarian as soon as you can.

Severe puppy diarrhea is usually caused by one of three things:

• Disease
• Parasites
• Internal bleeding

Disease 

Many of the most contagious, serious (and often potentially deadly) dog illnesses have diarrhea as one of the earliest symptoms.

This kind of diarrhea is usually very watery, and can contain mucous and/or blood (shows as red or brown). It's usually frequent, and may spray or 'jet' out with some force.

Both Canine Parvovirus and Distemper cause severe diarrhea in puppies, and need urgent veterinary diagnosis and care if your pup is to have a chance at survival.

Although both are potentially fatal diseases, Parvo is much more common, and watery diarrhea (along with repeated vomiting and lethargy) is a classic symptom and the disease most likely to be the culprit.

Distemper is more likely to be diagnosed due to respiratory and/or neurological symptoms, although diarrhea may well be present.

Both Canine Parvovirus and Distemper are routinely vaccinated against when little Fido is given his puppy shots and both are CORE vaccines as recommended in the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) Canine Vaccination Guidelines.

Vaccination for both these diseases is very effective and the risk of an adequately vaccinated puppy catching either of them is very low.

As I mentioned above (and can't stress enough!), watery diarrhea that's has streaks of blood or contains mucus is a red flag. Don't 'wait-and-see', get veterinary help IMMEDIATELY. Your puppy's life could literally depend on it.

Parasitic Infection

Your puppy could have developed an infection caused by parasites, such as Coccidiosis or Giardia, (see links above) both of which can cause pretty severe, foul smelling diarrhea (sometimes accompanied by vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite).

A bad case of puppy worms (particularly roundworms, whipworms or hookworms) can also result in your pup suffering from diarrhea and/or vomiting.

You might also notice that his stools contain a lot of mucus because the worms cause a lot of internal irritation. This is most often seen in very young puppies who haven't been dewormed yet, or older pups who have never been treated for worms, or not treated often enough.

Internal Bleeding

Black or 'tarry' looking stools could be a sign of internal bleeding. The blood could be coming from Fido's stomach or his small intestine.

Trauma to the belly is the most common cause of internal injuries and bleeding, but diseases such as Parvovirus, Diabetes or cancer can also cause blood loss like this.