Puppies and Diarrhea: Every breeders nightmare

Here you are one day, with a healthy happy litter of puppies, when all of a sudden your worst nightmare begins; DIARRHEA! 

Why, what caused it, how to fix it, will they be ok, how can I help them, can they still go to their new homes on time; these are all questions that come to mind. 

First we need to evaluate the severity of the diarrhea; is it semi formed like a cow patty or is it straight shooting like a firehose, is there blood or mucus in it, are there worms in it, is the odour more foul than usual. 

Then we need to look at the other symptoms:

• Is the puppy still eating/drinking

• Is the puppy still bright/happy

• Is it just one puppy or a whole litter

• Is there any vomiting alongside the diarrhea

• Is there any weight loss or lack of weight gain

• Are there any other symptoms to be noted

Then we need to understand that diarrhea can happen from several factors:

• Overfeeding: One of the biggest causes of diarrhea in young puppies is usually overfeeding. As we know puppies are happy to eat until the food is no longer in front of them, so it is up to us to moderate their volume intake. 

• Stress: inflammation of the colon can be triggered by anxiety, fear, and stress which will often trigger an upset belly, diarrhea, and/or vomiting. This often can be seen when the puppies go through a change of events such as a car ride, vet visit, change of housing, change of scenery (first time outside), or meeting new people/animals. 

• Food change or intolerance: Puppies often go through several food changes in their first few months of life; from milk, to mush, to kibble/raw, followed by diet changes and new treats from their new families upon leaving the breeder. These sudden changes often cause some level of GI upset, some worse than others, which is why it is always advised to make any diet change slowly over the course of a week and to add treats gradually instead of suddenly. 

• Internal Parasites: Often referred to as “worms” but they are not always visible to the naked eye like typical “worms”. This list includes roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms, giardia, and coccidia. 

• Bacterial infections: This includes things like E.Coli, Salmonella, and Clostridium. Some of these naturally exist in the intestines but when our puppies get compromised immune systems it can cause an overgrowth and thus severe infections. 

• Viral infections: These are the bad ones, the ones we vaccinate for, such as Parvovirus, Distemper virus, Coronavirus, and Adenovirus. 

• Toxin or foreign body ingestion: puppies are well known for putting everything in their mouth, it's how they experience the world. These ingestions can cause problems at times if they are bad in nature or even toxic/poisonous. Things to be aware of would be toys and stuffing, sand, pharmaceuticals, rocks/gravel, and many more. 

So, how do we decipher what caused the diarrhea and more importantly, how do we FIX it. 

The treatment for diarrhea caused by stress, overfeeding, food changes, and general GI upset is typically supportive. This means we help give the body fluids, electrolytes, and stool firmers. The top products for supportive care are as follows:

Nuture flora: designed specifically for puppies and helps support the GI by replacing the beneficial bacteria needed to support good gut health, prevent digestive upset, and promote a healthy immune system. 

Puppy support: This blend contains prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, colostrum, glucose, electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals to support puppies in times of stress. 

Puppy Lyte: This helps to maintain hydration and replenish electrolytes. These electrolytes contain fast absorbing dextrose to help support energy production and also provide a source of animo acids and minerals. 

Firm up: This fiber supplement helps when transitioning to a new or different food and aids in digestion and in the prevention of diarrhea. 

Slippery elm: Slippery elm bark has been used in holistic medicine for a long time. It is known clinically to protect the dogs intestines and stomach from inflammation and irritation. 

Dogzymes probiotic paste: This paste can be used for any age animal and works by bringing in healthy bacteria and prebiotics to support a healthy digestive system. 

Sub Q fluids: Lastly we do also stock SQ fluids in the case of dehydrating diarrhea. These can be administered at home but should always be done under the supervision of a veterinarian. 

Here at TBC we have some easy at home tests for Parvo, Giardia, and Coccidia. 

Parvo                                        Giardia                                        Coccidia 

** We always suggest that anytime there is blood within the diarrhea, or any other symptoms such as inappetance, vomiting, or lethargy that the puppy be taken to the veterinarian for a full evaluation. Additionally, if the diarrhea is present for 3 days or longer, consult a veterinarian. **

Here at TBC we are always happy to talk with you about your breeding program and your needs. Feel free to reach out to us directly to discuss your needs and how we can help assist you. 

Written by Susan H, RVT