Puppy Diarrhea – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Puppies are cute as a button, but raising them can be a nerve-wracking task. Everything from their food and grooming to vaccinations and deworming schedule has to be on track. Providing your furry friend with the best puppy health insurance, regular vet checkups, and healthy food are essential aspects of responsible pet ownership. Puppies, as we know, are vulnerable to diseases and also experience tummy issues like Diarrhea quite frequently.

It is eewwwy and frustrating to even talk about it, but, diarrhea can actually be a symptom of an underlying infection or illness. Hence, it is imperative to be aware of the condition thoroughly and know what must be done to treat and prevent him from getting sick so he stays in the pink of health always. 

What Is Diarrhea In Puppies/Symptoms?

Diarrhea is the occurrence of loose stools, which leads to a repeated number of bowel movements. It is common in pups because their immune system is not fully developed. They are still in a growing state and hence, are more susceptible to infections or systemic issues than adult dogs. Many factors can lead to this condition in puppies. Like – 

• Spoiled food
• Food intolerance due to certain allergy or food being too hard on their tummies
• Bacterial Infections
• Viral Infections
• Parasitic Infections like worms
• Stress in puppies
• Diet Change

Symptoms of Diarrhea in Puppies

The first thing to notice if your puppy is troubled is obviously his stools. When a puppy experiences diarrhea the symptoms manifest in the form of – 

• Loose stools
• Liquid stools
• Excessive farting

Well, these are the general symptoms of normal diarrhea that happens mostly due to food intolerance, indigestion, food allergy, diet change, or stress. But, when there is a graver issue to address, there could be additional and more severe symptoms like – 

• Bloody Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Black stools
• Pain
• Excessive discomfort
• Pale gums along with the above symptoms

Any of these above-mentioned symptoms need immediate vet attention so that the cause of diarrhea can be diagnosed. Moreover, continuing diarrhea which your pup has been experiencing for more than a day certainly need veterinary aid. 

Puppy Diarrhea Treatment and Remedies

Diarrhea can lead to extreme dehydration, which can further worsen the condition of puppies. Thus, it is extremely important that – meanwhile you go to the vet for a check-up, you must provide ample water to your dog. If the condition is severe, it is recommended not to delay the vet visit, but in case it is milder diarrhea and your puppy seems fine and active, the condition can certainly be treated at home. 

So, what you must do when your pup suffers from mild diarrhea? Here are the remedies. 

Remedies for Puppy Diarrhea

The foremost thing to do when your pup’s tummy is upset is to stop feeding him anything. Be it food, chews, or any edible items; all must be withheld for at least 12 hours. Doing so gives time to the puppy’s tummy to recover its balance and heal.

Next – give plenty of water. Ice cubes can also be given for the pup to munch on.

Once he feels better after 12-14 hours, you can then feed bland food like rice or boiled macaroni or chicken broth sans salt. Yogurt is another great option to help the stomach to re-balance the lost electrolytes due to diarrhea. 

Pedialyte diluted with water also helps counter the loss of electrolytes and dehydration caused by diarrhea and thus, can also be provided additionally.

Once all of these steps are executed, wait for the pet’s poop to normalize. Check if it has regained its normal consistency.

If the pup’s condition doesn’t get better even after you have already tried all these home remedies, it is recommended that you take professional help. In cases of severe diarrhea, which are caused due to infections, viruses, worms or ingestion of toxic substances, proper medical treatment like antibiotics or de-worming is necessary to cure the dog without which, his condition won’t improve. Even if it improves for a few days, chances are high that diarrhea will relapse. Thus, make sure appropriate treatment is given.  

Prevention

So, what you must do to prevent the condition is – whenever you are introducing some new diet to your pup, do it slowly and in small proportions. Give him a balanced meal, but consult your vet to get the appropriate amount as per the weight and age of your pooch. Follow the vaccination schedule diligently. Worm your pup every alternate week, 2 weeks from his birth until 6 months. Then switch to once a month until 12 months. Apart from that, maintain a regular meal routine for your pup and keep his surroundings clean so that he doesn’t feel uncomfortable and stressed out.

Diarrhea in puppies is often normal, but it needs attention. It can be debilitating to the pup’s overall health; thus, you must know everything about it and supervise your furry kiddo regularly. And yes, there are certain breeds like German Shepherds or Bernese Mountain Dog that have higher chances of suffering from gastrointestinal illnesses. Therefore, you should take preventive steps beforehand and take the necessary measures when such a situation emerges. If you are willing to buy any online pet supplies then it is the right time because pre-summer sale has been started in many online pet eCommerce sites. An Exclusive offer for pet parents goes & get your products today!