If someone asked me the thing that I watch the most in my puppies, it would shock them to know that it is their poo. Seriously, a dog breeder gets so excited about firm, solid, dark poo. We want it to look like a tootsie roll. Loose stools happen in all dogs. Even dogs from the cleanest facility, home, and vet. We do all that we can to prevent it but it can contaminate your dog so easily.
It is something to notice but not panic about. If loose stools persist for 48 hours and you have tried every non-prescription trick (listed below) please call your vet and ask if you can take in a stool sample. If your pet is acting, sick, dehydrated, lethargic, or “off” please call your vet immediately to be seen. If your dog has loose stools but is not acting sick in any way and is still eating, and drinking than wait 48 hours to see if it clears up on its own.
If it is the first loose stool noticed, we start sprinkling Firm Up! on the dog’s food. We purchase this dried pureed pumpkin miracle on Amazon. It really works. We also keep Benebac tubes on hand from Amazon. Benebac is a beneficial bacterial probiotic. Sometimes using these two tricks, will settle a puppy’s tummy. Our next step is to only feed cooked white rice with a bit of sprinkled dog food on top. In a pinch, I am known to purchase a quart of cooked rice at the nearest Chinese restaurant.
If on day 3, we are still seeing loose stools than I call the vet. Giardia can be picked up anywhere but is always from another canine. It is a myth that humans can get it from dogs. It is only transferred from species to species. Not to be gross but if you ever get giardia, you did not get it from a dog’s feces but another human’s. The key with giardia is to treat appropriately with the right medication (normally panacur) and then to keep the area clean. If your dog is getting it in your yard… have your pet poo on concrete and then bleach down that location after you pick up the poo and dispose. They can re-infect themselves with their own feces.
Coccidia is literally the bane of my existence. Vets say that 90% of all dogs carry coccidia at all times but it is only during stress do they shed the cysts which in turn causes diarrhea. It is diagnosed by a vet or vet lab under a microscope and it is so easy to get and spread. It is important to pick up each poo each time a dog lays it down or they will re-infect themselves. I would recommend trying to get your pet to poo on concrete so you can pick up the poo and then bleach and hose the area to clean so that it does not re-infect.
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