The vast majority of dog owners have experienced an animal’s unusual bowel movements, namely diarrhea.  Although some causes of diarrhea are easily fixed, some cases require immediate medical attention.

Although diarrhea is more common in puppies than adults, irregular bowel movements in adult dogs need to be addressed as soon as they arise.  When combined with other symptoms, diarrhea can be a sign of very serious problems, especially if it is ongoing. 

Adult dogs, however, can experience occasional diarrhea.  Common causes for occasional diarrhea in adult dogs include: 

• Sudden changes in diet or food (can cause diarrhea for days)
• The dog chewed and ingested outside material such as grass and twigs
• Rawhides
• Rich treats
• Change of owners
• New people or places that cause stress
• Irritable bowel syndrome (causes chronic diarrhea)

If the dog is always outside, he or she may have access to dropping of other animals.  Besides keeping the dog fully vaccinated annually for disease, you should also deworm the dog every year as well.  Annual dewormers kill intestinal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms.  All of these parasites can cause diarrhea if your dog has a severe infestation. 

Puppies usually have worms and get regular doses of dewormer when they are young.  Puppies that have a lot of worms in their intestines usually have a very swollen abdomen and bouts of diarrhea. 

Beware of blood in the feces.  Although blood can be a result of a irritated intestine and resolve on its own, bloody feces should always be addressed by a veterinarian immediately.  Blood in diarrhea can be a sign of injury to the intestine, disease, parvovirus, or a high infestation of worms.

Keep your dog vaccinated annually with a DHPPV vaccine to keep him or her safe from parvovirus – a deadly virus that causes bloody diarrhea.  You can also protect your dog by monitoring his or her rawhide intake and gradually switching to new foods over a long period of time (7-10 days).

Also, if your dog is prone to chewing, keep any small objects out of reach.  Even ingesting spare change can result in severe diarrhea and an expensive surgical bill. 

Always consult a veterinarian if you have questions or concerns regarding your dog’s health.