Diarrhea - 10 Serious Signs to Watch For

All dogs get "the squirts" now and then. Diarrhea is natural. It's your dog's body flushing out toxins. Usually the leading cause of it is "dumpster diving", more commonly known as "noshing out of the wastebasket, when no one is looking."

Something as simple as changing your dog's food too quickly can cause diarrhea. A sudden change in diet may upset their digestive system, inflaming their belly. After a few days, most dogs will adjust to the new food, and presto!...no more diarrhea.

Puppies and senior dogs, are more susceptible to a lot of stomach virus and infections. That can cause diarrhea for a day or two. If you suspect a virus or infection, call the vet if it lingers for more than 3 days.

There are also more serious and dangerous causes, such as:

1. Parvovirus
2. Distemper
3. Food poisoning

Most of the time, diarrhea isn't serious. Don't feed your dog for a few hours. They won't starve to death! A 12-24 hour rest usually gives their belly enough time to recoup. If your dog is older, or is hypoglycemic, don't waste time. Get him or her to the vet right away. A little honey or corn syrup rubbed on their gums may help level off their insulin, preventing them from slipping into a diabetic coma.

Water! Water! Water!

The most dangerous element of diarrhea is dehydration. If your pet's diarrhea is extremely watery, and they refuse to drink, get to your vet immediately! Through an IV, your vet can replace the lost fluids much faster than you can.

If it is less severe, add a few splashes of Gatorade, Powerade or Pedialyte to their drinking water. Athletes suck down power drinks to rehydrate. It works faster than drinking plain water.

If all else fails, try slipping ice chips into their mouth. Or tempt them with pieces of a Popsicle, as long as they are not hyperglycemic. The objective is to get fluids into them quickly and regularly.

Check Your Medicine Cabinet

You may already have what you need, sitting right there in your medicine cabinet. It's that really shocking pink stuff you drink, when your belly is upset. Yup! It's Pepto-Bismol to the rescue!

Go easy with it. Give it according to your dog's body weight. One tablet per 15 pounds, no more than three times per day is more than enough. For the liquid, it's recommended ½ to 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds, no more than three times per day. You may have to use a syringe (without the needle!) to get it down their throat, or you can try mixing it in a spoonful of peanut butter.

When your dog shows signs of feeling better after a few days of fasting, go easy on the feedings. Small amounts of boiled rice, mixed with ground chicken or extra lean ground beef and water; is easy to digest. Try to pour some extra broth in their bowl for hydration. If your dog doesn't have a problem with dairy products, toss in a tablespoon of yogurt or cottage cheese. It promotes growing the "healthy" flora in their gut.

After a day or two on the rice and ground meat diet, slowly work their regular food into the mix. Remember keep the servings small, but feed them every 4-6 hours. By gradually adding more of their regular food, and feeding them fewer times, they should be good to go!

When it's time to call your veterinarian. The 10 serious signs to watch for are:

1. Lethargy
2. Fever
3. Vomiting
4. Foul smelling stools
5. Black tar-like stools (usually occult blood)
6. Blood in stools (fresh blood)
7. Lack of appetite
8. Lack of hydration
9. Pain when defecating
10. Symptoms last more than 3 days

Bottom Line: Custard like diarrhea for a day or two is nothing to panic over. If it lasts longer than that, call your veterinarian. They can quickly set up an IV, to help make your dog more comfortable. It's always better to err on the side of caution.