WHAT CAUSES DOG DIARRHOEA?

BY THE HUNTERS NATURAL NUTRITION TEAM

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WHY DO DOGS GET DIARRHOEA?

Diarrhoea in dogs is one of the most common minor ailments that nearly all dog owners can hold their hand up and say they’ve experienced. Dogs get diarrhoea for a number of reasons, however essentially speaking, diarrhoea in dogs indicates that something somewhere isn’t right. Usually, diarrhoea is not serious, however if you are concerned, you should always seek appropriate advice from your veterinarian. There are a number of different reasons why dogs get diarrhoea. It can be caused by a bacteria, worm, virus or some other small parasite, however sometimes, it’s usually a result of something they ate, or a recent change in their diet.

Dogs as you likely already know, have a tendency to eat nearly anything they find, and this can cause a problem. For most dogs, this will never be an issue, but for some it can cause a significant episode of digestive upset. Sometimes dogs will even consume things that can’t be digested, with some causing blockages in the digestive system (a medical emergency). Our collie once decided to eat a wooden ice lolly stick, which resulted in a trip to our vets and a rather large bill. If you think your dog has diarrhoea as a result of eating something they shouldn’t have, it’s important to speak to you vet immediately.

DIARRHOEA AND MANAGING THE RISKS

It’s all about prevention and there are number of ways you can protect your dog from experiencing an episode of minor diarrhoea. If you have recently changed your dogs diet, this may explain the diarrhoea. If you are introducing a new food, it’s important that you do so over a period of a week. This is to prevent any sudden dietary change that can lead to episodes of digestive upset. That said, it is normal for all dogs to experience looser stools and an increase in flatulence when changing their diet. If you need advice, speak to our nutritionist for free.

It’s also a good idea to think about how easily accessible certain things are to your dog. Foods such as raisins and chocolate are dangerous to your dog, and should be kept out of reach, as should all ice lolly sticks! In some cases, you may need to re-visit the ‘leave’ command with your dog. Finally, ensure your dog is up to date with his vaccinations and worming. This is especially important if your dog is working and mixing with other dogs in the field.

…DIARRHOEA IS NOT USUALLY SERIOUS, HOWEVER YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK APPROPRIATE ADVICE FROM YOUR VET IF YOU ARE CONCERNED.

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DOG HAS DIARRHOEA - WHAT SHOULD I DO?

My dog has diarrhoea – what should I do? – well firstly don’t panic. As we’ve already said, short episodes of diarrhoea in dogs will likely have been caused by something they’ve eaten. If you’re concerned or you think your dogs has ate something dangerous, speak to you vet immediately. If your dog has diarrhoea, it’s important you reduce the chances of dehydration, so keep water bowls accessible and full. If you think your dog is ill because of a food, you may wish to consider switching to a grain free diet. Have a look at our Field Performance Chicken. In any case, it’s a good idea to feed little and often to give your dogs digestive system time to recover. It may also be worth reducing the amount of work your dog is doing at the moment whilst he his ill.

NEED ADVICE ABOUT YOUR DOG AND DIARRHOEA?

If you think your dogs diarrhoea is a result of their food, our nutrition team can help. We offer free nutritional advice online. To get advice, simply complete our nutrition advice request form online and our team will respond with free advice and recommendations tailored to your dog.

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