Last week, my dog Charlie woke me up at 3 AM whining at the back door. I stumbled outside with him and watched as he had another bout of dog diarrhea—the fourth one that night. I stood there in my pajamas, exhausted and worried, wondering what I’d done wrong.
If you’re reading this because your dog has diarrhea, I get it. It’s stressful, messy, and you just want to help. The good news is that most cases clear up on their own within a day or two. But knowing when it’s serious and what you can safely do at home makes all the difference.
What Is Diarrhea in Dogs?
Diarrhea in dogs is loose or watery stool instead of normal firm poop. Sometimes it’s just softer than usual. Other times it’s completely liquid. You might also notice more frequent bathroom trips or accidents in the house.
It happens when something irritates your dog’s digestive system or speeds up how fast food moves through their intestines. The body doesn’t have enough time to absorb water, so everything comes out loose.
Most dogs get diarrhea at some point. It’s not always a sign of something terrible.
Common Causes of Dog Diarrhea
Sudden diet changes: If you switch your dog’s food too quickly, their stomach freaks out. I learned this when I ran out of Charlie’s regular food and bought a different brand. Within hours, we had problems. Always transition food gradually over 7-10 days.
Eating something they shouldn’t: Dogs eat weird stuff. Garbage, roadkill, sticks, grass, your kid’s candy—if it’s there, some dogs will try it. Charlie once ate half a pizza off the counter. That was not a fun evening.
Stress and anxiety: Big changes stress dogs out. Moving houses, new family members, boarding at a kennel, even fireworks can trigger stress-related stomach issues. Some dogs just have sensitive stomachs when anxious.
Food intolerance: Some dogs can’t handle certain ingredients. Dairy is a common culprit. So are fatty foods. If your dog gets into something rich and greasy, expect consequences.
Parasites: Worms, giardia, and other parasites mess with your dog’s digestive system. Puppies especially get parasites easily. If your dog goes to dog parks or drinks from puddles, parasites are always a possibility.
Infections: Bacterial or viral infections can cause problems. Parvovirus is serious and common in unvaccinated puppies. Bacterial infections happen when dogs eat contaminated food or water.
Other causes:
- Medications (especially antibiotics)
- Allergies
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Other health conditions
My Dog Has Diarrhea: When It’s Mild vs Serious
Not all diarrhea is the same. Here’s how to tell if you’re dealing with something mild or if you need to worry.
| Mild (Watch at Home) | Serious (Call Vet) |
| One or two episodes | More than 3-4 episodes in 24 hours |
| Dog acts normal | Lethargic or weak |
| Still eating and drinking | Won’t eat or drink |
| No other symptoms | Vomiting, fever, or pain |
| Soft but formed stool | Watery or bloody stool |
Mild diarrhea usually:
- Happens once or twice
- Clears up within 24 hours
- Doesn’t stop your dog from being normal
- Comes with no other symptoms
Serious diarrhea includes:
- Multiple episodes throughout the day
- Blood in the stool
- Extreme lethargy or weakness
- Refusing food and water
- Signs of pain
- Vomiting at the same time
When Charlie had his episode, he was still bouncing around, drinking water, and begging for food. That told me it wasn’t an emergency. But I still watched him closely.
Dog Diarrhea Treatment at Home (Safe Steps)
If your dog has diarrhea but seems otherwise fine, here’s what you can safely do.
Give their stomach a break: Skip one meal. Let their digestive system rest for 12-24 hours. Always keep water available though—dehydration is the real danger.
Keep them hydrated: Water is crucial. Make sure your dog drinks regularly. If they won’t drink much, try adding a tiny bit of low-sodium chicken broth. Watch their gums—they should be moist, not dry and sticky.
Bland diet: After the fast, start with small amounts of bland food. The classic combo is boiled chicken (no skin, no seasoning) and plain white rice. Mix it 50/50. Feed small portions every few hours.
Other bland options:
- Plain boiled ground turkey
- Plain pumpkin (not pie filling)
- Boiled sweet potato
Go slow getting back to normal: Once symptoms stop, don’t immediately switch back to regular food. Gradually mix their normal food into the bland diet over 3-4 days.
What NOT to do:
- Don’t give human anti-diarrhea meds without asking a vet
- Don’t ignore it if it lasts more than 24 hours
- Don’t wait if your dog seems sick in other ways
When Dog Diarrhea Needs a Vet Visit
Sometimes you can’t handle it at home. Here’s when you need to call your vet.
Call your vet if:
- Symptoms last more than 24-48 hours
- Your dog won’t eat or drink
- They’re vomiting too
- You see blood in the stool
- Your dog seems painful
- They’re very young or very old
- They have other health conditions
Go to emergency vet if:
- Your dog collapses or can’t stand
- Gums are white, gray, or blue
- Extreme lethargy—won’t lift their head
- Constant vomiting and diarrhea
- Signs of shock
- You suspect they ate something toxic
Don’t feel bad about calling your vet. That’s what they’re there for. According to the American Kennel Club, persistent symptoms always warrant professional evaluation.
Special Situations
Diarrhea with Vomiting
When your dog has diarrhea and vomiting at the same time, that’s more concerning. It means both ends of the digestive system are upset. This combo leads to dehydration fast.
Common causes include:
- Eating something toxic or spoiled
- Viral infections
- Pancreatitis
- Kidney or liver problems
Don’t try to treat this one at home. If vomiting and diarrhea happen together more than once or twice, call your vet. Puppies especially can’t afford to lose fluids like this.
Diarrhea at Night
Some dogs only have problems at night. It’s frustrating because it disrupts everyone’s sleep. Usually caused by:
- Eating late in the evening
- Stress or anxiety
- Medications given in the evening
- Digestive issues that get worse lying down
If your dog consistently has issues only at night, mention this pattern to your vet. They might adjust feeding times or check for specific problems.
Bloody Diarrhea
Blood in your dog’s stool is scary. There are two types:
Bright red blood means bleeding in the lower intestines or rectum. Often caused by:
- Stress colitis
- Parasites
- Anal gland issues
Dark, tarry stool means bleeding higher up in the digestive tract. This is more serious and needs immediate vet attention.
Don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either. Take a photo if you can and head to the vet. VCA Hospitals notes that any blood in stool warrants veterinary examination.
How to Prevent Diarrhea in Dogs
You can’t prevent every case, but you can reduce how often it happens.
Stick to a consistent diet: Find a food that works for your dog and stick with it. Don’t keep switching brands. If you need to change foods, do it gradually over 7-10 days.
Watch what they eat:
- No table scraps
- Keep garbage secure
- Watch them at the dog park
- Don’t let them drink from puddles
- Monitor what they pick up on walks
Regular vet checkups: Annual exams catch problems early. Keep up with vaccines and parasite prevention.
Reduce stress: Anxious dogs get upset stomachs more easily. Create a calm environment. Use routines.
Fresh water always: Clean water bowl daily. Don’t let them drink from stagnant water sources.
FAQs
Why does my dog have diarrhea?
Common causes include diet changes, eating inappropriate foods, stress, parasites, or infections.
Why does my dog have diarrhea and throwing up?
Vomiting plus diarrhea often indicates food poisoning, viral infection, or serious illness requiring vet care.
Why does my dog have diarrhea at night?
Late meals, evening medications, anxiety, or digestive issues that worsen when lying down can cause nighttime problems.
Why does my dog have diarrhea with blood?
Blood indicates inflammation, parasites, colitis, or more serious intestinal problems needing immediate veterinary attention.
Why does my dog have bloody diarrhea?
Bloody diarrhea requires vet examination to determine cause—could be parasites, infections, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Conclusion
My dog has diarrhea isn’t a sentence any of us want to say, but it happens. Most of the time, it’s not an emergency. A day of bland food and rest usually fixes things. But knowing when to act fast—like when you see blood or your dog won’t drink—can save your dog from getting really sick.
Pay attention to what’s normal for your dog. That way, when something’s off, you’ll notice right away. Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, call your vet.
Charlie’s 3 AM episode turned out to be from eating something sketchy at the dog park. Two days of bland chicken and rice, and he was back to his normal self. Now I watch him like a hawk at the park.
