Puppy Diarrhea
Causes of Puppy Diarrhea
Like adult dog diarrhea, puppy diarrhea can be caused by many different things. But puppies are especially susceptible to diarrhea because their digestive system and gut microbiome are still developing.
Here are some common causes of diarrhea in puppies:
stress
diet change
antibiotic use
intestinal parasites (e.g., roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Coccidia, Giardia)
bacterial infection (e.g., C. diff, Campylobacter)
viral infection (e.g., parvo, canine coronavirus [CCoV], norovirus, rotavirus, distemper)
ingestion of toxins, poisons, foreign objects, compost, or garbage (aka “dietary indiscretion”)
food sensitivity (food intolerance) or food allergies
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or colitis
liver or kidney disease
Learn more about Parvo or Distemper
The puppy’s immature digestive system is a big factor in many cases of diarrhea. In a puppy transitioning from nursing to eating solid food, for example, diarrhea might be a normal reaction to new substances that the gastrointestinal tract is still learning to process. Even puppies who are accustomed to solid food may have diarrhea in response to a change in their diet.
Another big factor is the gut microbiome—the community of thousands of different kinds of bacteria and other microbes that live in your puppy's gastrointestinal tract. This unique microbial community influences almost every aspect of your puppy's health, including nutrient absorption, weight gain, immune functions, longevity, and mental health. As a dog grows, the gut microbiome even helps determine whether the nutrients in their food contribute to fat accumulation or lean muscle mass.
Gut microbiome imbalances are especially likely in puppies who didn’t have a nursing mother. A mother dog’s milk provides her puppies with the thousands of different kinds of dog-specific bacteria that will make up their gut microbiomes. A puppy who doesn’t get all of those beneficial microbes may not develop a well-balanced gut microbiome and may be at greater risk of digestive problems.
And because 70%–80% of the body’s immune cells live in the gut, an imbalanced gut microbiome can also mean an immune system that isn’t able to fight off pathogens and parasites effectively.
Antibiotics often cause diarrhea as a side effect. That's because they kill off a lot of beneficial gut bacteria along with the bad bacteria they're meant to target. The resulting imbalance among the populations of gut microbes can lead to chronic inflammation and other issues. If your puppy is prescribed antibiotics and develops diarrhea, some extra support can help them feel better during and after the treatment.
Why Diarrhea Can Be Dangerous for Puppies
Even when it doesn’t signal an infection or other disease, diarrhea can be a threat to your puppy’s health. Because their little bodies have a higher ratio of surface area to weight than adult dogs, puppies can quickly become dehydrated. And dehydration can lead to electrolyte imbalances.
Electrolytes (like sodium and potassium) are vital for multiple functions of the body, including heartbeat (both the muscle contraction and electrical aspects), so trouble with your puppy’s electrolytes can quickly become a life-threatening emergency. In addition, ongoing diarrhea that leads to dehydration can eventually cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and heart.
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your puppy’s diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, fever, lethargy, distress, or any other additional symptoms.
Puppy Diarrhea and Vomiting
If your puppy has both diarrhea and vomiting, see your veterinarian immediately. For one thing, diarrhea and vomiting together can lead quickly to life-threatening dehydration. In addition, the combination of these two symptoms may indicate parvo or another serious infection. Or it may be a sign that that your puppy has ingested something toxic or that a foreign object or other indigestible material is causing a blockage in the digestive tract.
In addition to the many cleaning products and other common household chemicals that are toxic to pets, many human foods are bad for dogs, such as cherries, avocado, mushrooms, and onions. And a few are downright poisonous, even in small quantities, like raisins, grapes, and Xylitol.
What Your Veterinarian Might Do
Your veterinarian can run a number of tests that may help determine the cause of your puppy’s diarrhea. Checking for parasites (like Giardia) and pathogens (like C. diff) is often the first step. An ELISA antigen test and white blood cell count can be used to check for parvo. If your puppy has a bacterial infection, your veterinarian will likely recommend antibiotics. If the tests don’t find any parasites or pathogens, your veterinarian might recommend transitioning your puppy to a different diet.
What You Can Do to Support Your Puppy
If your veterinarian has determined that your puppy does not need to be treated for a viral or bacterial infection, you can focus on helping your puppy feel better. After an episode of diarrhea, it can take up to a week for your puppy’s gut lining to regenerate and their stool to return to a normal consistency. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to support your puppy’s developing digestive and immune systems.
Here are some tips:
Never fast a puppy!
Feed a bland diet that’s low in fat and easily digested (such as cooked white rice and chicken).
Always provide plenty of fresh water. A puppy should drink about 1.5 cups of water per 10 pounds of body weight per day. If your puppy won’t drink enough water, offer a little dilute (unsalted) chicken broth.
Mix a little fiber into their food to help firm up your puppy's stool: try a teaspoon of Fiber One cereal, or add a little unflavored psyllium powder (start with ¼ tsp per meal and, over a few days, work up to 1 tsp per meal).
Add a probiotic and prebiotic supplement, like S. boulardii + FOS Powder for dogs.
Test your puppy’s gut microbiome. Microbiome testing can tell you whether your puppy's gut contains all the different kinds of bacteria we would expect to find in a healthy dog. Our noninvasive, at-home Gut Health Test detects any missing bacterial groups, identifies harmful groups that might be causing symptoms, and gives you personalized tips for adjusting your puppy's diet to promote the right gut flora.
Keep up with the vaccination schedule recommended by your veterinarian. When to begin vaccinating will depend on whether your puppy had a nursing mother for the first few days of their life. (Some of the mother’s antibodies are passed along to the puppies in that first milk, called colostrum.)
Preventing Puppy Diarrhea
Any puppy can have an episode of diarrhea from time to time. But you can help lower the chances. Here are some tips for preventing diarrhea in puppies:
Always supervise puppies to make sure they don’t eat anything they shouldn’t.
Puppies should be crated whenever they’re unsupervised.
Always introduce new foods gradually over the course of 7–10 days.
Use proper, pet-safe disinfectants to clean surfaces.
Keep up with the vaccination schedule prescribed by your veterinarian.
Until puppies are fully vaccinated, they should be kept away from unvaccinated dogs and public spaces.
Talk to your veterinarian about parasite prevention and deworming.
Clean up after your puppy and any other pets to make sure there’s no poop lying around.
Your puppy’s well-being depends on a lot of factors, and not all of them are under your control. But there’s a lot you can do to help your puppy grow up healthy and happy.