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Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea But Is Acting Normal?

From time to time, dogs may experience diarrhea. It’s possible that the pooch has ingested a foreign matter or that its meal didn’t sit well with its gut flora.

But why does my dog have diarrhea but is acting normal? Your pooch might be experiencing an isolated bout of stomach upset. However, diarrhea can also point to underlying conditions that are just waiting to unravel themselves over the next days.

Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea But Is Acting Normal

Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea But Is Acting Normal? 6 Possible Reasons 

Any changes in your dog’s regular elimination should be a cause of concern. Diarrhea, for one, shouldn’t be dismissed. If your dog’s diarrhea doesn’t stop within 12 hours, your pooch will experience dehydration and eventual death.

Remember that canine diarrhea can either be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea will cause tolerable discomfort among dogs. Also, the symptom will start out of nowhere. Your dog may even act normal in between explosive elimination.

why does my dog have diarrhea but is acting normal

Most cases of acute diarrhea among dogs tend to go away on their own, but you should still watch out if it doesn’t subside in the next hours. In that case, your pet will need immediate vet care.

On the other hand, chronic diarrhea is much worse. A doggo with chronic diarrhea will suffer from frequent and more ‘explosive’ bouts. Also, diarrhea will not ease no matter what you give your dog to appease its gut flora. In this case, you should take your dog to the veterinarian right away.

If your dog is having diarrhea but acting normal, you should consider these potential reasons:

  • Food allergies/intolerances

One of the most common reasons behind canine diarrhea is food allergies or intolerances. Remember that these two things are different.

Food allergies/intolerances

Allergies are an immune response wherein the immune system wrongfully tags a substance as harmful even if it’s not. Meanwhile, intolerances are a digestive response. Your pooch doesn’t have the mechanism on its gut to break down and process certain food ingredients.

The common denominator of these two conditions is that both cause diarrhea. It could be acute or chronic, depending on the amount or the specific food ingredient your dog ingested. Also, each dog has different levels of reaction or tolerance to certain food items.

  • Reaction to new food

If your dog doesn’t have allergies or intolerances, one reason could be the introduction of new food. Many dogs tend to have mild diarrhea when they are switched to a new dog food haphazardly. It’s also possible that you gave a new treat that didn’t sit well on their tummy.

Most dogs will act normally after expelling the irritant in their tummy. However, you should re-assess the new dog food and ask the veterinarian if you should push through in changing your dog’s diet.

Dogs that have eaten the same dog food for years are more prone to this reaction.

  • Accidental poisoning

Diarrhea is also a hallmark sign of poisoning among canines. It’s your dog’s body’s way of expelling the harmful substance. Take note that this can be pretty dangerous because the toxin may damage your pet’s organs, and diarrhea will speed up dehydration.

Accidental poisoning happens a lot among household pets. Your dog might have snacked on a bag of raisins or chocolate. While poisoning will not result in death right away, you have to act fast. Bring your dog to the vet right away and take note of the possible poison the pooch has ingested.

  • Parasites

Parasites like roundworms, ringworms, and tapeworms will latch on your dog’s intestinal tract and feed off on its blood. This will lead to nutritional deprivation in your dog. Over time, the presence of the parasite will irritate the gut flora, which will lead to diarrhea and other adverse symptoms. If you notice parasites, learn how to clean the house from parasites?

Parasites are easy to treat. Vets can prescribe a medication that will help expel the worms naturally without causing too much harm to your dog. Remember that you have to eliminate the parasite in your dog’s tummy to stop diarrhea. Also, if you let the parasites prosper, your dog will soon lose excessive weight and become lethargic. There are many cases of canines dying from parasites that are left untreated.

  • Infections

Some dogs have a higher tolerance to discomfort than other canines. This is the reason why your pooch may act normal, even if it’s experiencing intense discomfort or pain. Bacterial infections, for one, can be difficult to diagnose since many dogs can tolerate the uneasiness. However, their diarrhea will always give them away.

Bacterial infections due to contaminated food or water will wreak havoc on your dog’s intestinal tract. This will cause acute to chronic diarrhea.

Infections

Aside from diarrhea, bacterial infections on your dog’s tummy can also affect absorption rates due to weakened cells. This will lead to weight loss, lethargy, and deficiencies.

  • Medication-induced diarrhea

Some medications may have adverse side effects on a dog. If diarrhea persists after giving your dog the drug, you should stop administering it and call the vet right away. The veterinarian may give an alternative that your dog can handle.

My dog has diarrhea, should I be worried?

Diarrhea among dogs isn’t normal even if your pooch seems to act just fine. You should observe your dog and see if its condition will worsen or improve in the next 12 hours. If the dog doesn’t show any signs of progress and diarrhea is happening consistently, it’s best to bring it to the vet right away.

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Also, try weaning your dog off its food and give it steamed rice and chicken instead. This bland food will help solidify the dog’s stool while giving it energy for the day. You can also add canned pumpkin to ease the discomfort on your dog’s tummy.

Why does my dog have yellow diarrhea?

Yellow diarrhea among dogs might be due to a liver issue. You should raise this concern to the vet, especially if the yellow color is lingering on its poop for days.

Another possible reason for the yellow diarrhea is eating non-edible items. Also, gastroenteritis will cause your dog’s poop to become yellowish and loose. Gastroenteritis can be due to a bacterial infection, virus, or reaction to a new food.

Why my dog has diarrhea with mucus?

Diarrhea with mucus among dogs can be due to various reasons. One of the most common is stress. When your dog is suffering from intense anxiety or extreme stress, its digestive tract may release more mucus than normal.

You should also consider food intolerance as mucus is the body’s way of flushing out an unwanted substance. Poisoning is another thing, which would be accompanied by vomiting, and diarrhea would be chronic.

On a more serious note, mucus in diarrhea could be a sign of Crohn’s Disease among canines. Dogs with this condition often suffer from loose stools with bloody mucus. If the disease is left untreated, your dog will suffer from weight loss and poor appetite.

Both my dog and I have diarrhea

Have you experienced diarrhea at the same time as your dog? For the most part, this could be a coincidence. However, if it keeps recurring at the same time, you should check your drinking water. If you and your dog drink from the same supply, it could be the culprit.

Both my dog and I have diarrhea

Also, if you give the same meat supply to your dog as the one you eat for yourself, you could be dealing with contamination.

You should also make it a habit to wash your hands carefully before preparing your and your dog’s meals. Also, stop sharing human food with your dog because mild contamination could have an adverse effect on the pooch.

Conclusion

Why does my dog have diarrhea but is acting normal? It could be just a typical case of stomach upset. This can also be due to parasites or some poisoning. 

However, if diarrhea doesn’t abate or go away within 12 hours, you must phone the vet right away. Your dog might be suffering from a serious health problem that requires immediate medical attention.

Never ignore your dog’s diarrhea. It can lead to severe weakness and may lead to death if left untreated. 

Thank you for reading and take care of your dog!

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