Diarrhoea is very common in dogs and cats and can be caused by a range of conditions, and often resolves itself before the exact cause is identified. But it still means you have a poorly pet that's needs a little TLC, and a bland diet.

To help when it comes to upset stomachs, it's good to know as a pet owner what to do and recognise when it's time to go to the vet.

What is Diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea (watery or loose faeces) is usually the result of a problem with the large bowel. The large bowel absorbs water from the gut, and if this doesn’t happen, the result is diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea is described as being acute (sudden onset) or chronic (long-standing). It can come from the small bowel as well as large bowel. Acute diarrhoea is diarrhoea that has been present for less than 7 days and can be classed as being mild, self-limiting or severe. Chronic diarrhoea is diarrhoea that has been present for longer than 2 weeks (and can be episodic or intermittent).

What are Common Causes of Diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea in cats and dogs is often down to a something they’ve eaten – a change in diet, a dietary intolerance or dietary indiscretion (bin diving or scavenging). A gut infection caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections can also be responsible.

Other causes of diarrhoea include worms, stress or excitement, a food allergy, poisons, blockages (like foreign bodies), inflammation of the intestines, the list goes on. There are a lot of possible causes for your vet to investigate!

Does My Cat or Dog have Diarrhoea?

You may notice your dog needing to go to the toilet more often, has softer bowel movements than usual or has accidents in the house. It may be less obvious if your cat goes outside to the toilet and covers it up with soil, but you should be able to spot the signs of diarrhoea in their litter tray. Cats may also have accidents in the house, and long-haired cats may have their back end matted with faeces.

Home Treatment for Diarrhoea in Dogs and Cats

In most cases, diarrhoea only last 1-2 days due to a mild upset stomach and your cat or dog will then be back to their usual selves before you know it. Always make sure that your dog or cat has access to fresh water so they don’t become dehydrated. If they don’t appear to be in distress and aren’t losing weight, you can usually manage them at home.

Withhold food for a day and then begin feeding your dog or cat small amounts of some bland food like cooked white fish, chicken, white rice or another food that they can easily digest. Keeping their feed small will help while their stomach settles. Don’t give your cat milk to drink.

If your dog or cat has constant diarrhoea or the problem continues longer than a couple of days without clearing up or there's weight loss take them to see the vet. Your vet will need to find out the cause and start treatment as soon as possible. The symptoms could be a clinical sign of an underlying health condition, inflammatory bowel disease or a blockage in their intestinal tract.

Giving your vet the exact details on your pet's history, will help them decide if the diarrhoea is due to something more serious than just a mild stomach upset. It will also help them decide if more investigations and treatment are needed.

Should I Take My Pet to the Vets?

If diarrhoea continues for longer than a day, your cat or dog could become dehydrated – especially if they’re vomiting too. If this happens, make an appointment with your vet. Remember that kittens and puppies can become dehydrated much quicker than adults, so they’ll need veterinary attention sooner.

Check if your dog or cat has a painful stomach as this can indicate a more severe problem. Check the colour of the diarrhoea too. If your cat or dog has diarrhoea with blood in it or if the faeces have black or tarry material (a sign of possible internal bleeding), contact your vet.

Yellow diarrhoea can be due to various conditions, while diarrhoea with blood in it can indicate a serious issue that needs to be investigated. Bloody diarrhoea accompanied by vomiting in dogs can be caused by a condition called Acute Haemorrhagic Diarrhoea Syndrome (AHDS) and this needs urgent treatment.

How's Diarrhoea in Cats and Dogs Treated?

In most cases, diarrhoea can be managed at home by fasting your dog and no further treatment will be needed. If your pet does become dehydrated, fluid therapy and replacement electrolytes may be given at the veterinary surgery.

Your vet will ask you questions like:

• Foods your pet has eaten
• The colour of the diarrhoea
• If other pets in the household have been affected
• If your pet has been hunting or scavenging
• If your cat or dog has had any medical treatment recently
• Have been exposed to any potential poisons.

Arriving at the surgery with the answers to all these questions written down will save time and will be a massive help to your vet.

If diarrhoea persists, your vet will do some tests to find out the cause. A small sample of faeces may be taken and analysed for a bacterial infection or to identify any parasites that might be causing the diarrhoea. Your vet might also want to carry out an endoscopic examination to examine the inside of the stomach and intestines. Blood tests and X-rays or a biopsy or small sample of the intestinal tissue might also be taken during this procedure.

All of these investigations will help your vet decide if your pet needs medication to resolve the problem. Your vet may also recommend probiotics or a change in diet and anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive medication may be given. Your vet is unlikely to prescribe antibiotics as antibiotics kill the good bacteria in the gut as well as any bad bacteria. The test results will also help vet determine if surgical treatment is needed.

Diarrhoea can be very unpleasant for everyone! In most cases, it gets better in a couple of days, and you'll have a healthy cat or dog in no time. But if the symptoms don’t improve after 24 hours, make an appointment with your vet. 

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis - https://www.vetlexicon.com/treat/canis AND Felis - https://www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis 

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.