On of the most frequent telephone calls we get at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale is about a pet with diarrhea. Let’s face it. Diarrhea can ruin your day if you are a dog. It can also ruin an owner’s day when they come home from work and need to deal with the unfortunate dog’s mess.

Diarrhea is not a disease; rather, it is a symptom of many different diseases. Many mild cases of diarrhea can be resolved quickly with simple treatments. Others are the result of fatal illnesses, such as cancer. Even diarrhea caused by mild illnesses may become fatal if treatment is not begun early enough to prevent severe fluid and nutrient losses.

Serious vs. Non-Serious

We attempt to determine how sick the dog has become as a consequence of the diarrhea. When the dog is systemically ill (i.e., more than one body system is involved), some of the following may be noted:

1. Vomiting
2. Dehydration
3. Loss of appetite
4. Abdominal pain
5. High fever
6. Lethargy
7. Bloody and/or watery diarrhea

If any of these problems are noted, please call your veterinarian to schedule an examination.

Diagnostic Tests

If diarrhea is associated with several of the above signs, we perform a series of tests in the hope that a diagnosis can be made. This permits more specific treatment. Diagnostic tests may include a fecal examination for parasites, radiography (x-rays) with or without contrast media, blood tests, including a complete blood count, chemistry, a B12, TLI, folate test (digestive profile), cPL or canine pancreatic lipase, stool cultures, abdominal ultrasound, biopsies of the intestinal tract, and exploratory abdominal surgery. Once the diagnosis is known, treatment may include special medications and/or diets, or surgery. The number and order in which tests are performed depends on answers to the questions listed below and physical examination findings.

If your dog does not appear systemically ill from diarrhea, the cause may be less serious. Some of the minor causes of diarrhea include stomach or intestinal viruses, intestinal parasites, and dietary indiscretions (such as eating garbage or other offensive or irritating materials). A minimum number of tests are performed to rule out certain parasites and infections. These cases may be treated with drugs to control the motility of the intestinal tract, drugs that relieve inflammation in the intestinal tract, and, often, resting the digestive system followed by a special diet for a few days. This approach allows the body’s healing mechanisms to correct the problem. We expect improvement within 2-4 days; if this does not occur, a change in medication or further tests are done to better understand the problem. Please keep us informed of lack of expected improvement so that we may manage the situation properly.

Diarrhea Questionnaire:

When scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian, you will be asked a number of questions about your pet’s general health, eating habits, and specifics about the type and frequency of diarrhea. If you prepare the answers to these questions ahead of time, it will greatly help in diagnosing and treating the underlying causes of your dogs diarrhea:

1. How long has the diarrhea been present?
2. Is the diarrhea more severe now than a few days ago?
3. Consistency: Watery stool ? Stool is the thickness of pancake batter?
4. Blood: Very bloody stool? Only sporadic blood present? Blood not present in stool? Bright red blood present? Dark, tarry blood present?
5. Degree: Entire stool is soft or watery? Only portions of the stool are soft or watery?
6. Frequency: Diarrhea with each bowel movement? Diarrhea is sporadic (some bowel movements are normal)? Only 1 or 2 bowel movements per day? More than 4 bowel movements per day?
7. Color: Stool is dark brown in color? Stool is very pale in color? Stool is black and tarry in appearance?
8. Thick mucus or pieces of tissue present in stool?
9. Loss of bowel control (defecates in the house on the floor)
10. Severe straining when having a bowel movement
11. Is your dog’s appetite normal? If not, is it eating at all?
12. What have you been feeding your dog during the last week? (Include dog or cat foods, treats, table foods, milk, and anything else that it gets on a daily basis. Also state what percentage of the diet is each item or category.)
13. Does your dog have access to foods other than what you feed it? If so, what?
14. Has there been a significant diet change in the last few weeks? If so, does that correspond with the onset of the diarrhea?
15. Is your dog as active as normal?
16. Describe any change in water consumption (up or down).
17. Has vomiting been occurring? If so, how frequently and for how long?
18. Does your dog go outside your house?
19. Does your dog go outside your yard?
20. Does your dog have access to garbage cans, either within your house or yard or outside your yard?
21. Does your dog have toys that it plays with that could have been swallowed?
22. Does your dog have access to sewing materials, such as thread or needles, or rubber bands, or string?
23. Do you have other dogs or cats that live with this one? If so, does the other pet have diarrhea?
24. Do any of the members of your family currently have a diarrhea problem?

Most cases of diarrhea will resolve with symptomatic care such as withholding food for 24 hours, bland diets, and in some cases, appropriate probiotics and antibiotics. If any of the “serious signs” above are concurrent with the diarrhea or if the diarrhea has not resolved within a few days with appropriate symptomatic care, further diagnostics are needed. The age and health of your dog also must be considered. Young puppies and senior citizens can become seriously ill very quickly and prompt attention is needed.