VomitingIf vomiting is frequent, is accompanied by blood or a foreign body is suspected, it is important that you seek veterinary advice.
Traditionally, starving was recommended for dogs that are vomiting, but studies have since shown that this can hinder recovery. The nutrients in food helps your dog to recover, and the fluid intake slows the progression of dehydration. Dehydration is a major concern, as fluid losses with vomiting can be severe. Therefore, small and easily digestible meals should be offered throughout the day.
Hunger VomitHunger vomit is a slightly different thing, and occurs because of excess bile irritating the stomach lining. It often happens in the morning, as overnight is the longest period of time without food for your dog. Hunger vomit may be accompanied by borborygmi, the medical term for rumbling or gurgling abdominal noises. Luckily, hunger vomiting is easily resolved by:
RegurgitationRegurgitation is slight different again, and is associated with feeding. Regurgitated material is often just undigested food, with no bile content and minimal abdominal effort. Eating too fast or gulping food can trigger regurgitation of undigested food. However, regurgitation can also be indicative of some oesophageal conditions; so if you have a puppy who is regurgitating their food, it may be worth seeking veterinary advice.
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Diarrhoea & Loose StoolsIf diarrhoea is a frequent occurrence, or is accompanied by blood or excessive quantities of mucous, it is important that you seek veterinary advice.
Traditionally, starving was recommended for dogs with diarrhoea, but studies have since shown that prolonged starvation can reduce the functionality of the intestinal epithelium and enterocytes as they become malnourished. The nutrients in food helps your dog to recover, and the fluid intake slows the progression of dehydration. Therefore, small and easily digestible meals should be offered throughout the day.
ConstipationIf your dog fails to produce a bowel movement within 2-3 days, or the constipation is accompanied with vomiting, it is important that you seek veterinary advice.
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Pale Yellow or Yellow StoolsPaler stools may be present if poultry meats or eggs have been given; as an infrequent occurrence, it is nothing to worry about. Very pale, greasy and loose stools could be caused by high fat meals. If these stools occur more frequently, it could be indicative of a food intolerance or digestive issue and veterinary advice should be sought.
Ensure you are incorporating a variety of meats into the diet. Consult a veterinary surgeon if the consistency and frequency of these stools change, or they are accompanied with other symptoms. |
Dark Brown StoolsDark brown stools typically follow a meal that is rich in myoglobin, originating from red meats and organ meats. They may be slightly softer in consistency, but shouldn't be loose.
They are generally nothing to worry about. If stools become too loose, reducing the quantity of organ meat in the diet should help. |
Green StoolsStools could appear green if grass or leafy green vegetables have been consumed, as a result of the chlorophyll pigments found in the plant matter. If stools are slimy and green, this could be indicative of a intestinal or gallbladder disorder, and veterinary advice should be sought.
Reduce the amount of plant matter in the diet to assess whether this eliminates vegetables as a cause of green stools. If still present, seek veterinary advice. |
White StoolsPale, white and crumbly stools are all indicative of too much calcium in the diet- this may be from bone content, kefir, yogurt, milk etc. White stools may also be accompanied with fresh blood streaks on the surface of the stools, caused by trauma from constipation. They should not be a frequent occurrence. However, stools do turn white as they begin to break down, so this only concerns fresh stools.
Reduce the amount of calcium in the diet, either by reducing bone content through extra boneless meat, or by reducing the number of calcium rich additions in the diet. |
Black, Tarry and Soft StoolsThese stools should not be confused with dark brown stools. True melaena (the medical term for black, sticky stools) is soft, tar-like diarrhoea and indicates the presence of digested blood, either from the intestines or internal bleeding that has passed into the intestines.
Seek veterinary advice immediately. |
White Confetti StoolsSmall, white segments present in the stools could be indicative of tapeworms. Roundworms would be present in the stools as long worms, rather than segments. On a less worrisome note, undigested rice grains could also have a similar appearance.
Perform a faecal egg count, through a facility such as WormCount, to determine whether there is a parasite burden. Use a chemical treatment when neccessary. |
Blood Streaked StoolsThe presence of small quantity of bright red, fresh blood in the stool (haematochezia) could indicate minor irritation of the lower intestines, colon or rectum. Polyps, rectal injuries or trauma could cause fresh blood to be present on the surface of the stools. In contrast, large amounts of blood in diarrhoea is more severe and requires veterinary attention.
Seek veterinary advice, especially of other symptoms accompany blood in stools. |
Mucous in StoolsMucous is produced by glands in the intestinal tract to keep the colon lubricated, so can be a normal and infrequent occurrence. Excessive quantities of mucous in the stools indicates intestinal irritation, either through dietary changes, food intolerances or gastrointestinal issues, such as colitis.
A small amount of mucous in the stools should resolve in a few days with a bland diet, such as that described above. If these stools accompany other symptoms, such as bloody stools, lethargy, abdominal discomfort and lack of appetite, then seek veterinary advice. |
Bone Fragments in StoolsStools may feel gritty or have fragments of whole bone present in them. This could be a result of your dog 'gulping' bones and failing to chew them properly. This bone is then only partially digested and passes through into the stools.
Encourage chewing of bones by holding one end or serve larger edible bones. |