Dog with diarrhea: causes & golden tips

Every dog has diarrhea from time to time. It may not be the most pleasant subject to discuss, but because many dogs experience it occasionally, it is certainly an important topic: Let’s talk poop!
A dog’s stool should be brown, compact, shaped like an elongated cylinder, and easy to pick up. When the stool is loose or watery, we call it diarrhea. What can cause diarrhea in dogs? What can I do if my dog has diarrhea? Read our golden tips for dogs with diarrhea.

A dog can suffer from acute diarrhea. In this case, the dog has diarrhea for only one to a few days. When it lasts longer, we call it chronic diarrhea.

Causes of diarrhea in dogs

There are various causes of diarrhea in dogs. Of course, we cannot discuss them all, but you will find the most common causes below:

1. Your dog has diarrhea because of a new food. A dog’s digestive system needs time to ‘get used to’ new food. The gut flora—the bacteria in the intestines—needs to adapt to digest it optimally. During this period, a dog may have looser stools.
   For this reason, it is recommended that you gradually switch your dog to a new food (depending on the food your faithful four-legged friend is currently eating) to reduce the risk of diarrhea. In our article – Switching to a different dog food: how do you do it? – we share our advice on changing foods.
   
   
2. Your dog has eaten something unsuitable. We all know it. While out walking, you suddenly hear or see your dog chewing enthusiastically or quickly swallowing something. It could be waste that has ended up on the street, but it could also be spoiled food, for example. Both can result in diarrhea. Dogs that often eat things off the street may suffer from diarrhea more frequently than dogs that do not.
   
   
3. A parasitic infection. This could include worms, such as tapeworms or roundworms. Please note: if your dog has worms, you can also become infected when you come into contact with your dog’s stool!
   
   
4. A viral infection. A viral infection is spread from dog to dog through saliva or feces. When a dog has a viral infection, it often suffers from diarrhea. However, the dog will usually also have other symptoms, such as an elevated body temperature, lethargy, or vomiting. An example of a viral infection is IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).
   
   
5. Your dog has Giardia. Giardia is a parasitic infection that is common in puppies and older, weaker animals. A puppy’s immune system is not yet fully developed, so puppies have a greater chance of contracting Giardia than adult dogs whose immune systems function properly. When a puppy has Giardia, its stool is slimy and may contain blood. The puppy may also feel nauseous and vomit. Do you suspect that your puppy has Giardia? Contact your veterinarian immediately! Please note: Giardia is also contagious to humans.