My Dog has Diarrhea. What Should I Do?

Your dog has some vomiting and/or diarrhea.  There are many reasons why he or she might not be feeling well.  Because it’s our job to be complete, we have a systematic way of treating all cases to ensure that we diagnose the problem quickly and provide the best relief for your pet’s symptoms.  Here are the steps we always take with every diarrhea and vomiting case and why they are important.

Addressing Diarrhea in Dogs Starts with an Examination

Diarrhea and or vomiting are symptoms, not problems.  We find out why your dog is not well by looking at its whole body.  In a physical examination we can determine if your pet’s stomach hurts, if it’s dehydrated, if it’s digestive track is inflamed, if its major vital signs are within normal limits, and if there are other symptoms present that could be linked to the upset stomach issues.  This overall assessment of how your dog is doing is essential if we are going to correctly diagnose why your pet is not well and provide the right medicine that will work the fastest to provide relief.

Does My Dog Have a Parasite?

Twenty percent of all vomiting dogs are infected with a parasite.  That means that 1 out of every 5 patients that presents for a tummy issue can be diagnosed within minutes of arriving at our practice and provided with treatment right away.  Doing a fecal test for your dog is smart and thorough medicine.

Tests To Determine Why Your Dog Has Diarrhea

Based on the findings of our physical exam, we may conduct additional tests.  Like the other work mentioned above, these tests are essential to understanding why your pet is vomiting or has diarrhea.  Blood tests can give us insight into how extensive the problem is.  X-rays give us a look at the whole digestive track.  These tests help us understand the overall health of the stomach and intestines and in some cases reveal the direct cause of the problem.

Treatment for Diarrhea in Dogs

Based on our examination and the diagnostic work that we do, we’ll give your pet something to either cure the problem or treat the symptoms or both.  Tailoring each treatment specifically to your pet, its breed, age, and life style means that your pet is more likely to get better and feel better faster.

What To Feed A Dog With Diarrhea

In addition to any prescribed medications, we may also recommend a diet change until your pet’s medical issue is resolved.  Diet changes can include withholding food and/or water for a brief period of time or a change in what your pet eats.  Stopping food or changing the diet gives the pet’s tummy a chance to quiet down and recover.

Treatment For Diarrhea in Dogs

Many pet owners have a knee jerk reaction to vomiting or diarrhea and want to immediately skip to treatment options.  After years of experience and treating thousands of cases of diarrhea and vomiting in both dogs and cats, all of us at Animal Medical do not agree.  The best approach to resolving any case of vomiting and diarrhea is a methodical one that starts with a physical exam by a trained, experienced veterinarian.  Doing less means that your pet remains uncomfortable for a longer period of time, continues to have symptoms that are hard for both you and the pet to deal with, opens the door to additional problems or symptoms, and risks potential catastrophic outcomes.