Diarrhea in Dogs and Cats: Should I Worry About My Pet?

All dogs and cats can experience diarrhea at some point in their lives. The most common causes are bacterial or viral infections , as well as dietary causes, such as the intake of inadequate or spoiled food or sudden changes in diet. Typically these are processes that can be controlled by limiting solids intake for one or two days and the application of soft diets, but there are cases in which it will be necessary to go to the vet as soon as possible.

When should I take my pet to the vet for diarrhea?

You should take your dog or cat to the vet in the following cases:

• When diarrhea occurs with many bowel movements per day.
• When the animal stops drinking or is very depressed and does not want to get up at all.
• If diarrhea lasts more than a day or is a strange color.
• If the animal stops urinating or does so in small quantities.
• If the diarrhea contains blood, in any quantity.
• If you think your dog or cat may have ingested something foreign, inedible or may have been poisoned.
• If you notice that your body is colder or warmer than usual.

While your pet has diarrhea, and while you wait to make the decision to go to the vet based on its evolution or the state of the animal, make sure he always has water on hand, as diarrhea will cause him to lose a lot of fluids and minerals and you could become dehydrated.

What should I do in case of diarrhea in puppies?

In the specific case of kittens and puppies, given that their immune system is still developing and, therefore, they are more susceptible to environmental changes, and especially food changes, diarrhea is usually not so worrying, although it will be advisable to take them to the vet to rule out any underlying disorders, especially due to parasites in puppies or viral types when the animal has not yet received all the vaccines for the first months of life.

Recommendations to avoid diarrhea in my dog ​​or cat

To avoid diarrhea, we can apply some recommendations at home, such as making dietary and environmental changes in a very progressive way. Thus, the dog or cat can gradually get used to new situations and new ingredients in their diet. Similarly, it is also a good idea to consult your vet on the convenience of administering probiotics in some situations that may favor the appearance of diarrhea due to stress.

In cases where the vet must intervene, the dog or cat is usually given intravenous fluids to deal with dehydration, as well as probiotics to restore the microbial flora beneficial to the intestine and, in very specific cases, antibiotics to fight possible pathogenic bacteria that cause diarrhea. At the same time, the treatment will also be based on dietary changes, which the veterinarian will have to adjust according to the needs of each case.

Last but not least, if we observe that our pets have a tendency to suffer from diarrhea in stressful situations, especially in the case of cats, we must prevent the problem by encouraging calm environments and applying changes as gradually as possible.