Symptoms of Diarrhea in Dogs

Overview

Diarrhea in dogs is a common problem, largely because dogs will put almost anything in their mouths. Dog diarrhea is an unformed or loose stools, usually occurring in larger amounts and/or more often. Diarrhea is not a disease but rather a sign of many different diseases.

Diarrhea is a very common ailment for canines, and can range from a mild case to very severe. How serious the illness is will be determined by how long the diarrhea has been going on, and what symptoms accompany it.

Most cases of diarrhoea in dogs are not serious and will resolve themselves. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that diarrhoea in dogs may be the result of a more serious condition such as an infection, parasites, swallowing a foreign body or a poisonous substance.

Medical treatment for diarrhoea is usually only necessary if a dog isn’t improving or seems unwell and painful. It is very rare for a dog with diarrhoea to need antibiotics as part of their treatment.

Major Symptoms of Diarrhea in Dogs

The symptoms of diarrhea may vary according to whether the episode is of an acute nature, or whether your canine companion is having a chronic problem. If the diarrhea lasts more than a day or two, or if your dog really looks unwell, contact the veterinarian without delay.

• Dehydration
• Watery Stool
• Explosive stool
• Increased frequency of bowel movements
• Urgency of bowel movements
• Straining to defecate
• Accidents indoors
• Abdominal Pain
• Fever
• Listlessness and weakness
• Fluid accumulation in legs, abdomen or chest
• Weight loss
• Dull and brittle fur
• Vomiting
• Blood or mucus in stool
• Low appetite
• Depression

What Stools Color Can Tell You About Dog Diarrhoea

The consistency and color of diarrhea reveal a lot about the cause of the problem and what is happening in your dog. Take very careful note of the color, consistency, and anything else that might help when you describe the symptoms to a vet. In many cases, diarrhea will resolve after a few days of home treatment, but it’s a good idea to give your vet a call if it continues for a long period or has any one of several signs that may point to a serious problem.

White, Chalky Poop

If your dog’s poop has ever been white and chalky-looking, you probably assumed that something was wrong — that’s definitely not the correct color for poop.

Dogs on a raw food diet are the most likely to have white, chalky poop.

Blue Poop

Treat blue diarrhea as an emergency. It could mean your dog has eaten rat poison (which is usually blue) or a toy. Save the stool in a bag, then take the bag and your dog to the vet.

Green Poop

Green dog poop has a few possible explanations — it’s possible that your dog has just eaten a large quantity of grass or leaves, but it could also be more serious.

If your dog’s poop is green, it could be caused by rat-bait poisoning, a parasite, or some other internal issue.

Grey Poop

The most common causes of grey, greasy stools are:

Pancreas issues such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, Gall bladder issues and Parasites

Yellow Dog Poop

Yellow mucus usually indicates a food intolerance, especially if you’ve recently changed your dog’s diet. Take a look at what your pet’s been eating and try to rule out any new ingredients that could be causing an upset stomach and mustard-yellow dog poop. 

Bloody Poop

A small streak of red is often seen with diarrhea. If blood is consistently in the stools, you might want to check with your vet … but if your dog is bright, active and acting normal, it’s probably not a cause for concern.

Sometimes blood in your puppy’s poo (showing up as red streaks in dog poop, for instance) can be a sign of a slight tear or trauma around their bottom or in their rectum. This will be just a tiny trace usually

Diarrhea With Vomiting in Dogs

When dog diarrhea occurs with vomiting, a new section of the gastrointestinal tract has entered the picture. Gastroenteritis is the group term for inflammation of both the stomach and the upper GI tract.

Sometimes a high-fat treat, even a small one, can trigger pancreatitis—a condition wherein the pancreas, which produces digestive enzymes, among other things, becomes inflamed. This condition can cause acute vomiting and diarrhea as well as abdominal pain. In very severe cases, pancreatitis can even be fatal.

Vomit that contains blood can look red, brown, or black. Unlike a small amount of blood in the stool, any amount of blood in vomit is concerning and should result in a trip to the vet right away.