Causes of diarrhoea in dogs

Diarrhoea is defined as frequent, loose or watery poos. Unfortunately, this can be quite a common problem in dogs. If your pet is poorly, it is likely that you will see a drop in faeces quality alongside, or instead of, other symptoms. You may also notice other differences in your dog’s toileting habits which can include a lot of flatulence, mucus in the faeces, and increased volume and frequency of stools.

What causes diarrhoea?

So, what are the main causes of diarrhoea? Faeces can loosen from over-excitement, nervousness, or it could be a sign that something is physically wrong with your dog. The cause can vary greatly, from minor issues to more severe, for example:

• Food intolerance or an allergy
• Consumption of gone-off food or a toxic substance
• Consumption of poorly cooked starches
• Ingestion of a foreign body (for example sticks and toys)
• Stress
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Worms
• Intestinal infections
• Sudden changes in diet

Diarrhoea could also be a sign of tumours in the digestive tract, however this is considerably less likely than the possible causes listed above.  

When to consult your vet

As diarrhoea is so common, a single bout of poor faeces is probably nothing to worry about. Nevertheless, it is important to note down any occurrences – if the problem continues you should consult your vet about the issue. Here are some indicators of when the problem might be more serious:

• Poor faeces for several days in a row
• Really dark stools – if the faeces are black this could be a sign of some internal bleeding
• Pale gums
• Evidence of straining or pain when defecating

Always make sure that your dog has access to plenty of fresh water as diarrhoea is very dehydrating.  

James Wellbeloved promotes good stool quality

James Wellbeloved is renowned for promoting good stool quality via the provision of a good balance of insoluble and soluble fibres that promote a healthy digestion. We include select high quality, highly digestible ingredients. Not only that, the hypoallergenic recipes that we use limit the possibility of your dog having an adverse reaction to its food. We also include selected ingredients which naturally promote good gut health, via their prebiotic action, including yucca extract and chicory pulp. Furthermore we review our products on the degree of starch cook regularly throughout production to ensure all products meet our high standards.