Top

Puppy Diarrhea

Puppy diarrhea isn't a fun subject to talk about, but it's so common that every puppy owner needs to know what it could mean, and how to deal with the problem.

There are several possible reasons why little Rascal has diarrhea.... and several different types of diarrhea, each one giving clues to the cause.

Sometimes loose stools and diarrhea in puppies can be due to something simple, like a change in diet, and this isn't cause for concern.

However, it is also one of the first signs of many serious puppy illnesses, (including Parvovirus, which can kill quickly) so it's something that should NEVER be ignored, and always evaluated quickly.

All of this can be confusing, and worrying, and it's always better to be safe than sorry. The information on this page is designed to help you get some idea of the cause of your pup's diarrhea, and whether or not an urgent veterinary visit is needed.

Why Does My Puppy Have Diarrhea?

Although diarrhea in puppies is very common, that doesn't make it normal. Never ignore or discount it.

If little Rascal's stools are soft, wet, liquid, watery, or they contain mucus and/or blood, there's a problem somewhere, and it's up to you to figure out where.. and why.

These are the most common causes of puppy diarrhea:

• Illness or disease
• Intestinal Worms
• Eating something they shouldn't
• Stress
• Reaction to deworming medication
• Reaction to vaccination
• Poisoning

Let's look at each one.

Which Illnesses Cause Diarrhea in Puppies?

The most common diarrhea-causing illnesses in puppies are Canine Parvovirus, Coccidiosis and Giardia (the latter two are parasitic illnesses).

Of the three, Parvo is the most dangerous and strikes the fastest, but left untreated both Coccidiosis and Giardia can also be very serious, even fatal.

Intestinal worms can also cause diarrhea, and depending on the type of puppy worms Rascal has you MAY see them in his poop.

So, how do you know if your puppy's diarrhea is being caused by an illness, infection, disease or worms? 

Simply look for accompanying symptoms.

If your little Rascal is ill, chances are good he's going to have more than just diarrhea to show for it.

There's a trifecta of symptoms which are classic signs that a puppy is sick, these are:

• Repeated diarrhea
• Repeated vomiting
• Lethargy or exhaustion

These other symptoms may or may not be noticeable but all indicate stress and/or pain/illness:

• Refusing to eat and/or drink
• Shaking or trembling
• Hiding
• Pacing 
• Panting
• Drooling

The diarrhea may start off semi-solid but become progressively more liquid, eventually becoming very watery and may be explosive.

Mucus in your puppy's stools indicate inflammation.

Blood in puppy poop (may be red streaks or look like coffee grounds) indicates internal bleeding.

If your puppy's diarrhea is caused by worms, other symptoms may include:

• Worms, or pieces of them, visible in his stools, also in his vomit
• Excessive hunger often accompanied by weight loss or failure to grow
• Enlarged or distended belly
• Dull, dry coat
• Pale gums and/or lips
• Coughing,  hacking or gagging
• Rear end itchiness

Vomiting in puppies is like diarrhea in that it can indicate a variety of problems, some minor, some major. It generally needs evaluation by a veterinarian quickly.

Your puppy may start by throwing up semi-digested food, repeatedly emptying his stomach until all that is come up is clear (possibly yellow or frothy) liquid. 

Puppy Diarrhea Caused By Eating Inedibles

Puppies are renowned for trying to chew, and swallow, just about anything.

This can obviously lead to some health problems, including diarrhea, vomiting, constipation and even an intestinal blockage.

If little Rascal has raided the trash can, eaten the cat's food (or been in the litter box), chewed up and swallowed a toy/sock/stick/rug/plastic bag/toilet paper... or any one of another gazillion random objects he may have come across... then he's likely to have an upset tummy. Soon.

With luck, whatever he swallowed isn't toxic or dangerous and will pass through his digestive tract and come out the other end, but even in this best-case scenario some diarrhea and/or throwing is likely to be involved.

Quite often you can see what caused the problem because pieces of it show up in his vomit or stools. Other times it's a bit of a mystery.

The type of diarrhea you're most likely to see in this situation is of the soft, pudding-like variety. He may have the runs only once, or several times in a row. 

There may be some mucus in or around his poop if whatever he ingested irritated his intestines/colon but you shouldn't see blood. If you do, then little Rascal needs to see a veterinarian right away.

Vomiting can happen. Again you may see pieces of whatever he tried to eat in what he brings up. 

If your puppy is repeatedly gagging/hacking/drooling or trying to vomit and seems distressed, anxious or unsettled he may have something lodged in his trachea or windpipe. 

If you think this has happened little Rascal needs veterinary help immediately.

Finally, sometimes whatever a puppy has eaten is too big, or too heavy, to pass easily through the loops of intestine and bowel and gets lodged somewhere along the way.

Symptoms of an intestinal blockage in puppies or dogs can be vague, but may include:

• Diarrhea or loose stools
• Vomiting... or attempts to vomit, may or may not bring anything up
• Apparent constipation... pup is straining to poop but nothing comes out
• Excessive drooling
• Distended belly
• Belly that's tender to the touch
• Excessive gas
• Refusal to eat
• Signs of discomfort/pain such as panting, pacing, whining or hiding
• Collapse

This is a veterinary emergency so get your puppy to your veterinarian immediately if you think he may have an obstruction, if it's after hours find a 24 hour pet clinic. Again, this could be a life-or-death situation.

Stress Can Cause Puppy Diarrhea

We all know the feeling... we're stressed, anxious or scared and suddenly our belly is cramping and we're wondering if there's a bathroom nearby!

Stress, anxiety or fear has the same effect on animals, and puppies are no exception.

If your pup has a bad or scary experience he might suddenly need to poop, or he may have diarrhea several hours later, or even the next day.

This type of diarrhea in puppies is usually of the soft, pudding-like variety and one or two loose stools is usually all that he (and you) will have to worry about.

You might be wondering what could stress a puppy out, well quite a few things as it happens.

Puppies are creatures of habit and routine, it's what helps them to feel safe and gives them confidence.

Any sudden changes in their environment, routine, family  unit and so on can cause anxiety and stress.

Puppies are very intuitive and sensitive and if little Rascal's human family is feeling sad, anxious, stressed or angry, he'll absorb that emotion and it will affect him too.

Changes which may stress a puppy include:

• A new baby
• A new pet
• A new person in the home
• A divorce in the family
• Someone moving out of the home
• A change in work hours for a family member
• A child going to school when they've previously been home all day
• Anything that makes the human family members anxious, sad or worried
• A house move
• Being boarded while family is on vacation
• Starting doggie day-care or getting a new dog-walker or dog-sitter

As you can see there are LOTS of things which might make your little guy anxious enough to get an upset tummy.

Of course he'll adjust to any changes given a little time and lots of love, understanding and reassurance.

If you think stress is what's causing your puppy to have diarrhea and other than some soft or slightly loose stools he seems healthy and is eating/drinking/acting normally then you can usually wait 24 hours or so to see if the problem resolves itself.

But, if he seems ill in any way, the diarrhea happens repeatedly and gets worse, or he isn't back to normal within a day, have your vet take a look to make sure all is well physically.

Can Puppy Vaccinations Cause Diarrhea?

Yes, yes they can.

When puppy shots are given there's the potential for a whole range of side effects and adverse reactions.

Diarrhea is actually one of the more minor puppy shots reactions that little Rascal could experience, and it generally isn't anything to be too worried about and doesn't last very long.

But it's also possible for puppy diarrhea to be just one of several side effects your puppy experiences after being vaccinated.

If Rascal shows any other signs of being unwell or you notice changes in his behavior, appetite, mobility or appearance, make sure you get him to  your veterinarian for an exam to find out what's going on.

Can Puppy Deworming Medication Cause Diarrhea?

Again the answer is, yes.

It's not unusual for a puppy who's been given a dewormer to have some diarrhea or vomiting.

Puppy deworming medicines are pretty strong and because they're targeting parasites who live in little Rascal's digestive tract it's not surprising that they can cause digestive problems.

Of course, worms themselves can cause diarrhea and/or vomiting, so your little guy could be getting a double-whammy.

Heartworm preventatives can also cause diarrhea or vomiting, among other things.

It's very common to see worms in your puppy's poop for several days after he's been given deworming medication. 

The drugs are killing the worms and they're then being flushed out of his body, in his stools. This is yukky, but it's what you're aiming for.

As long as your puppy seems happy and healthy otherwise, and the diarrhea or loose stools don't become chronic (ie get worse and continue for more than a day) there's generally nothing to worry about.

But as with all cases of puppy diarrhea, IF you see any other signs of illness in your puppy, he isn't drinking enough water, or there are behavioral changes which worry you, get  him examined by a veterinarian right away.

Puppy Diarrhea Caused By Poisoning 

Once again, this cause of diarrhea in puppies happens because puppies usually want to chew/eat/drink anything they come in contact with.

Your home is full of things which could potentially poison your puppy. Here are just a few of the most common ones:

• Cleaning products
• Lawn and garden products
• Car cleaning/maintenance products
• Pool chemicals
• Medications
• Vitamins & Supplements
• Some common foods
• Chocolate, artificial sweeteners and gum
• Indoor and outdoor plants, trees and shrubs

Learn more about all the things which are poisonous to dogs so you can keep little Rascal safe.

There are a whole slew of different symptoms of poisoning in puppies and dogs, and diarrhea is just one of them.

Others include vomiting, excessive drooling, internal bleeding, organ failure, seizures and more. 

The ASPCA Poison Control app is a handy way to make sure you always have the info. you need to keep Rascal safe at the touch of a button.

If your puppy has diarrhea and/or other symptoms and you have even the slightest suspicion that he may have ingested something toxic, it's absolutely vital to get him veterinary help right away.

Meanwhile call the ASPCA Animal Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 or 1-800-548-2423  or the International Animal Poison Control Center Hotline at 1-88-232-8870 for help/advice.

This is always an emergency situation.