If your puppy is vomiting and having diarrhea this summer, you’re probably at your wits’ end. What’s wrong with your sweet little pup? When will the torrent of bodily fluids end? How can you help your furry family member stay hydrated?
The team at Sky Canyon Animal Hospital has tips to share for anyone who needs help with doggy diarrhea issues.
Why Does My Puppy Have Diarrhea?
There are many potential causes of puppy diarrhea during the summer: dietary indiscretions, abrupt changes in diet, infections, stress, parasites, and even summer heat can all play a role. Let’s take a closer look at each general category.
Heat-Related Causes
Hot summer weather can take a heavy toll on young dogs, and this is because puppies are more at risk of overheating than their adult counterparts. Loose stools can be a signal of heat stress, and can develop when puppies’ bodies have a hard time regulating their temperature.
Puppies can even experience vomiting alongside their diarrhea, along with lethargy, excessive panting, or drooling. If your puppy is experiencing diarrhea after spending time outside, heat exposure could be a major contributing factor.
This is why it’s essential to keep your puppy cool, hydrated, and indoors during peak heat in these brutally hot Murrieta summers.
Dietary Indiscretions
Puppies are naturally curious little creatures, and their mouths are their primary vehicle for exploration. This makes diet-related issues one of the top reasons for puppy diarrhea in the summer.
All it takes is switching to a different food, letting your pup drink from a puddle, or accidentally giving her access to picnic scraps. Just like that, the runs can overtake your afternoon.
Is it Something More Serious?
Sometimes, diarrhea can be a sign of a more serious condition—especially if it persists for more than a few days. If your pup hasn’t spent time outside recently, hasn’t had any dietary indiscretions, and hasn’t drunk from any suspicious puddles, something else could be at play, including an infection or toxin exposure.
But with diarrhea of any kind comes a risk for dehydration. Without prompt care, puppy diarrhea and dehydration can quickly get serious.
How to Help a Puppy with Diarrhea
If your puppy has mild diarrhea but is otherwise acting like his normal self, you can offer supportive care at home. This includes:
- Giving your pup plenty of fresh water and making sure he drinks it
- Keeping your pup out of the sun and heat during the hottest hours of the day (between about 11 am and 6 pm)
- Offer a bland diet that’s easy for Pup to digest, and familiar too
- Make sure your dog doesn’t have any access to trash, puddles, or other, unknown substances
Make sure you touch base with a veterinarian if your pup has more than one or two loose stools, especially if they are accompanied by vomiting, appetite loss, or lethargy.
The skilled team at Sky Canyon Animal Hospital is always here to help with diarrhea of any kind. Nothing grosses us out, so always call—and take a picture of the poo if you can. It helps us make an accurate diagnosis.
Call us at (951) 461-4100 to schedule an appointment for doggy diarrhea disasters today.