My Dog has Watery Stools(2)

My Dog has Watery Stools – What Should I Do ?
Because there are so many possible causes of watery stool and diarrhea in dogs, it is up to the owner to be vigilant in both caring for and watching the dog, and making a decision when a veterinarian’s care might be needed. 

In mild cases of diarrhea, where stools are soft but do not contain blood or mucous, and the dog appears otherwise normal (energetic, eating and drinking normally, bright and responsive) it may be possible to treat an episode of diarrhea at home by using a bland diet. 

If the diarrhea progresses to being more watery (more water than fecal matter), contains blood or mucus, or if the dog is acting in any other way ill, a veterinarian should examine your dog to help diagnose and treat him before he becomes seriously ill. 

At the vets office, fecal screening may be recommend to determine if internal parasites are the cause of the diarrhea. If a dog has eaten, or is suspected to have eaten a foreign object or a large amount of food, radiographs may be performed to check the contents of the stomach, and ensure everything will be able to pass uneventfully through the intestines. 

Depending on the severity of your dogs illness, a full blood panel may be recommended to determine the level of dehydration in your dog (their pack-cell volume, or PCV), to check for an elevated white blood cell count (that may indicate an infection as the cause of illness), as well as full chemistries to check on the status of the bodies major organs (liver, kidneys, etc) and make sure they are all functioning correctly. 

As dehydration is the most common side effect of diarrhea, your vet may opt to administer IV or sub-cutaneous (under the skin) fluids to help correct the dehydration. 

While some episodes of diarrhea can be treated uneventfully at home, it is never a bad idea to have your vet examine your dog if it has had watery stools. Your veterinarian will be able to help figure out why your dog is experiencing diarrhea, and more importantly, how to treat it.