What is Causing My Dog’s Diarrhea in Monroeville, PA?

There are many reasons that your dog might have started having diarrhea. Because dogs are not always picky about what they eat and because some dogs can also have allergies or other health conditions that are causing the diarrhea, finding the root cause can be tough. There are some useful tests that can be done to check on possible reasons for your dog’s digestive upset, and this might be the best way to sort out why your dog has diarrhea in Monroeville, PA.

Thankfully, most of the reasons for dog diarrhea are easy to treat. You do need to take this condition seriously, but you should not panic about the diarrhea that your dog is displaying. Do make sure that there is no blood in the feces because this can be a sign of more major health issues.

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4 Possible Reasons for a Dog’s Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be caused by many different things but below are 4 of the most common.

1. Eating Garbage or Dead Animals

Dogs that have access to outdoor spaces can sometimes get into trouble by eating items that are not food. When your dog chooses to eat something like garbage, or the corpse of an animal that they have found somewhere, they can make themselves sick. The bacteria that are present in these kinds of objects can lead to a major digestive upset.

The other thing that can happen when your dog chooses to eat garbage is that they can eat inedible items. These items can be hard for the digestive tract to handle, and this can lead to inflammation and then subsequent diarrhea. Irritating items that are not edible can cause a lot of discomfort and secondary issues like vomiting and diarrhea.

2. Underlying Conditions

In some cases, diarrhea is a sign of other health problems that need to be addressed. This is more common in diarrhea that shows up slowly over time. This might be an indication of inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions, organ dysfunctions, and other systemic illnesses. You will need to make sure that you pay attention to other symptoms of poor health like lethargy, dull coat, dull eyes, and general discomfort.

When your dog has diarrhea but also seems just off in general, they might be sick with something more serious than a digestive upset. Your veterinarian can help you to diagnose more serious conditions or to rule out conditions like this and treat for the digestive upset itself. Underlying conditions are less common in younger animals, but you should never assume that your pet does not have a more serious issue going on if there are various signs that this might be the case.

3. Allergies to Diet

Some dogs have trouble with kibble foods, and this can lead to allergic reactions that cause diarrhea. When you see a link between feeding times and your dog’s diarrhea, you might need to rule out issues with what they are eating. Switching to a raw diet or making the move to an allergy food can make a big difference for your dog and can stop the diarrhea they are suffering from.

Dietary issues are a common reason for a variety of allergic reactions like itching, sneezing, and diarrhea. You might need to rule out that this is not the culprit behind your dog’s diarrhea by making a trip to the vet. You can also try switching your dog’s diet to an allergy-friendly food on your own if they seem healthy other than their diarrhea.

4. Stress and Nerves

Some dogs experience diarrhea because they are nervous or worried. This emotional response can be caused by a move to a new home, a new pet in the house, stormy weather, and more. Some dogs are more intense than others, and you will find that your dog might not be feeling sick but is instead feeling nervous or upset.

This underlying cause of diarrhea can be readily resolved in some cases. You can get your dog to the vet and onto some anti-anxiety medication and you can try putting them inside during noisy hours near your home. You might also want to give an older dog a break from a new pet for a few hours each day or change the behavior of the younger animal toward them. While nerves can be tough to grapple with, you will likely be able to find an easy fix for this reason behind your dog’s diarrhea.

Will I Need to Collect a Stool Sample?

You will probably need to collect a sample of your dog’s diarrhea for your vet to examine when you go to your appointment. Your vet might also want to run some tests on the sample to look for parasites and other issues. Try to collect your dog’s feces right before you head to the appointment if you can.

A stool sample can be a helpful way for your vet to diagnose and help you treat the cause of their diarrhea. While this is not an enjoyable part of the process of seeking answers, you will be helping your pet out greatly by collecting a sample before you go to your vet appointment.

Diarrhea in Dogs Can be Caused by Many Things

There are many reasons that your dog might have diarrhea. You will want to work with your veterinarian in most cases to help you to diagnose and treat your dog’s diarrhea. This condition can lead to dehydration and loss of appetite, so you will want to attend to it as soon as possible. If you have a dog that lives indoors, you will also want to attend to the issue before there are many messes made in the house.

Caring for your dog’s diarrhea can be easy if you start treatment early and if you seek the help of a vet to diagnose the underlying reasons for the diarrhea. Diarrhea can be easy to treat in most cases, but you will want to make sure that you know why your dog is displaying this symptom so that you can treat the condition effectively.

Call Northern Pike Veterinary Hospital at 412-373-8580 to talk with your veterinarian about your dog’s diarrhea.