Dog has diarrhea at night! What to do. First know that the most common reason dogs have diarrhea is because of changing food and stress. However, there are many diseases that cause diarrhea but not specifically at night. Typically, night diarrhea is a reaction to medicine. The most common medicine being heartworm medicine because it purges the system after we give it to them.
How To Manage A Dog Who Has Diarrhea At Night?
- Diaper
- Confine Them To Hard Floors
- Give Them Lots Of Water
- Turn The Lights Off (Stress Related)
- Turn Off Sounds (Stress Related)
- Feed Them A Bland Diet
- Leash Them To Prevent Poop Eating
When Should I Worry?
- Diarrhea for longer than 24
- Excessive thirst
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Bloating
- Abdominal Pain
- Unusual drooling
- Sunken dyes
- Gums not pink when pushed
Inspect Your Dogs Poopo
By using gloves and a poop bag to inspect your dog’s poop.
Poop should not have a coating or film over them.
There are 3 types of consistency. As dogs get sick the move between these stages.
- Stage One: Rock solid
- Stage Two: Solid
- Stage Three: Solid but squishy
- Stage Four: Half solid half liquid
- Stage Five: Liquid
- Green diarrhea – means the dog was eating grass due to an upset stomach.
- Brown or black diarrhea – means there is bleeding in the upper parts of the GI tract.
- Red diarrhea – means the dog is bleeding in the large intestine.
- White diarrhea – usually indicative of issues with the pancreas.
- Red streaks show the presence of blood.
- Orange diarrhea-this is common when you add pumpkin to your dog’s diet but can be a sign of liver issue.
- White Spots- may be a sign of worms.
- Strings- You do may have eaten toy. Partial blockages can cause a dog to have diarrhea at night. Especially if they play with toys at night.
Is It Normal For Puppies To Have Diarrhea At Night?
Diarrhea is normal in stressed dogs and those changing food brands. But if this is not the case for your dog you should take your dog to a vet.
How To Help A Dog Who Has Diarrhea At Night?
A dog who has diarrhea might have it for various reasons. Later in this article we explain all the reasons a dog has diarrhea at night. However, this check list below is a quick guide to helping your dog. Some of the tips only apply to certain circumstances.
- Get a vet consult if it last longer than 48 hours
- Check your dog’s current medicine for side effects
- Hold off food when symptoms are first noticed for 12-24 hours
- Put your dog on a simple diet with rice, potatoes, and pumpkin
- Reintroduce food groups one at a time
- Change your dog’s food brand to a balanced brand
- Monthly heartworm prevention
- Add probiotics topper to your dog’s food
- Train your dog to not be fearful
- Make environment more calming
- Canine message to help regulate digestive tract
How To Prevent Your Dog From Having Diarrhea?
Not only should you try to prevent your dog from having diarrhea but you should not get mad at them. They can’t control it.
- Don't change food rapidly
- Don't allow your dog outside unsupervised
- Don't let your dog eat poop
- Don't let your dog drink water from rivers & ponds
- Don't be afraid to change food
- Don't yell at the dog
- Don't hurt the dog
Diagnosing Dogs Who Have Diarrhea At Night?
Diarrhea can be dehydrating, and some infections do not go away on their own. It is always best to take your dog to the vet if they are frequently having diarrhea. Here are some of the test a vet will do.
- Medical History
- Physical Exam nation
- Bloodwork
- Fecal test
- Bloating
- Radiographs
- Ultrasounds
The Vet Will Ask You These Questions
- How long has your dog had diarrhea?
- How frequent is the diarrhea?
- What color is the diarrhea?
- Is there any blood in the poop?
- What does the diarrhea look like?
- Are they having a hard time pooping?
- Is your dog on any medications?
- Are they lethargic?
- Do they have an appetite?
- What brand and quantity does your dog eat?
- Have there been any dietary modifications?
- A shift in food brand or flavor?
- Have they been trash scavenging?
- Did they eat people food, new goodies, or chews?
- Is there a chance they might have ingested something they weren't supposed to?
Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea At Night?
- Medicine
- Food
- Environment
- Diseases
- Parasites
- Viral Infection
- Bacterial Infection
MEDICINE
This is the most common reason dogs have diarrhea at night. This is because most people give their dog their pills at dinner time. The medicine purges the system which causes diarrhea at night.
Is your dog on medication? The most common cause of diarrhea in dogs at night is when they have medication in their system. This medicine purges the system at night.
Antibiotics kills good and bad bacteria. If your dog is coming off antibiotics, they may not have the proper stomach flora to fight off bacteria. Therefore, vets prescribe probiotics with antibiotics.
FOOD
Changing your dog’s food brand can cause diarrhea. A change in the dog’s diet can influence their digestion. Make gradual changes to your dog’s diet and not switch foods all at once. This helps the dog’s digestive system adjust. It reduces the likelihood of your dog having diarrhea. If you would like to change food brands, it is best to do so over 7 – 10 days.
Food containing high protein causes diarrhea. Some dogs do not digest foods with high amounts of protein very well.
Food intolerances is when a dog cannot digest certain foods. Certain foods like dairy, beef, and eggs can cause dogs to have diarrhea at night. Some dogs are even intolerant to gluten. Are you feeding your dog any cow’s milk based dairy products? This can include treats. If you do feed the dog dairy products, stop giving and see if it improves. If it does get better your dog is could be lactose intolerant.
Food allergies are an immune response to food. The most common food allergy is chicken. You will notice some type of tick or skin condition if your dog has an allergy to chicken. Symptoms for this may include hair loss and red rashes.
Many of the food we eat daily are not healthy. This is because the human body has not adapted to the amount of sugar and carbs we consume daily. This is true for dogs as well. Giving your dog something as small as pizza crust can cause diarrhea.
Toxic substances can cause nighttime diarrhea. Watch out for chocolate, grapes, avocado, medications, detergents, antifreeze, and plants.
Dogs can get food poisoning. Eating raw or undercooked animal products can cause infection by parasites or bacteria. Check to see if your food brand has had a recent recall at this website.
ENVIROMENT
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Stress is one of the most common reasons for diarrhea in dogs. When a dog is stressed, it can lead to an upset stomach and cause your dog to have diarrhea. Common causes of stress include loud noises, changes in schedule, new animals, and separation anxiety.
A dog who had the ability to regulate their bowel motions before may begin having unwanted ones. This occurs late at night when their body has not digested their food completely. While it isn’t an emergency, it is something to keep an eye on since it might be something more serious.
Does your dog tend to eat his toys or bones whole? You might think this is causing his diarrhea. But this is rarely the case. Bowel obstruction prevent food or liquid from flowing through the gastrointestinal tract. You would see vomiting before you would see diarrhea. Foreign objects like string, rope, and carpet fibers can cause the intestines to bunch up. Partial obstructions can cause diarrhea, but it is unlikely.
DISEASE
If your dog has diarrhea at night, the cause of it may not be food related. A change in diet can impact a dogs digestive system, but illness can also lead to diarrhea.
- This is when your dog is unable to absorb nutrients from their food. The food will run through their system faster causing diarrhea. These dogs are always hungry.
This is the inflammation of the large intestine. This is more common in older dogs than younger ones
This is a sudden disorder of dogs. It is characterized by vomiting and bloody diarrhea. According to the VCA, there is no exact cause of this.
This is the inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Usually caused from bacterial or viral infection
This disorder is a condition in which the bowel doesn’t function normally.
Cancer of the bowels or spread of cancer to this area from other parts of the body
Kidney disease is common in older dogs.
There are many causes to this. One is from cysts or gallstones, which can obstruct the bile duct. Endocrine diseases including diabetes, Cushing’s Disease, or hyperthyroidism. Trauma to the liver due to an accident or heatstroke. Lastly, ingestion of a toxic substance.
This is the swelling of the pancreas caused from an array of diseases.
PARASITES
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How Do They Get It: They are commonly found in puppies, very young animals, and outdoor dogs. This is because they are exposed to eggs in their environment. They can come in through the mouth or through ingestion of an infected animal.
Prevention: Use a monthly heartworm preventative for your dog year-round.
Symptoms: Diarrhea (which may contain blood), vomiting, lack of appetite, coughing, wheezing, stunted growth, weight loss.
Treatment: Dewormed medicine
How They Get It: Dogs can become infected by ingesting hookworm eggs in their environment
Prevention: Use a monthly heartworm preventative for your dog year-round.
Symptoms: Diarrhea, appetite loss, poor energy level
Treatment: Dewormed medicine
How Do They Get It: These worms are found in moist soil
Symptoms: Chronic diarrhea with blood
Prevention: Use a monthly heartworm preventative for your dog year-round.
Treatment: Dewormed medicine
How Do They Get It: This can occur through ingesting another infected animal.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss.
Prevention: Doggy flea and tick preventative
Treatment: Treatment is difficult because it involves flushing out the intestines. This flushing out is uncomfortable. The tapeworm segments will sometimes go through a bowel movement.
How Do They Get It: Dogs get coccidia from contact with the feces of an infected dog. Dogs in areas with poor sanitation or hygiene are most at risk for contracting coccidia. This is common in shelters, rescues, and puppy mills.
Prevention: It is important to always clean up after your dog. Prevent them from eating poop and vaccinate them against intestinal parasites like coccidia. The vaccines protect the dog from coccidia for a period of six months to a year.
Symptoms: Chronic diarrhea with blood or mucus in it, loss of appetite, weight loss, dehydration, and vomiting
Treatment: Antibiotics
How Do They Get It: Contaminated water
Prevention: Don’t let your dog drink dirty water
Symptoms: diarrhea, fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and dehydration
Treatment: Antibiotics
VIRAL INFECTION
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How Do They Get It: Weak immune systems, overcrowding, poor hygiene.
Prevention: Vaccination
Symptoms: Watery diarrhea, Mucus in the feces, Low-grade fever, Nausea or vomiting, Poor appetite, Low energy.
Treatment: Resolves on its own in 8-10 days. Antibiotics are not effective because its a virus.
How Do They Get It: Dogs get parvovirus by ingesting the virus through feces of an infected animal.
Prevention: Vaccination
Symptoms: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Loss of appetite, Lethargy, Depression.
Treatment: Intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration. Its a virus so antibiotics are not helpful
How Do They Get It: Through contact or ingestion of feces and vomit from another infected animal. This is very common in shelters, rescues, and puppy mills.
Prevention: Vaccines
Symptoms: Diarrhea, Fever, Vomiting, Lethargy.
Treatment: Coronavirus does not have a cure and most dogs recover on their own.
How Do They Get It: Dogs get distemper by encountering another infected dog. like another dog. The virus can be present in the air or on a surface like soil or grass. The dog can also get it by eating food or drinking contaminated water.
Prevention: Vaccination
Symptoms: Early symptoms include fever, runny nose, and a hacking cough. In some cases, the dog will vomit or have diarrhea early on as well
Treatment: There is no treatment for distemper. It is a very serious disease and most dogs who get it die from complications of the virus. It can take up to 2 months to recover.
How Do They Get It: Dogs can get herpesvirus by encountering another dog that has it. It spreads through saliva and respiratory secretions. A dog can also get it from a person who has been in contact with an infected dog.
Prevention: Vaccination
Symptoms: Herpesvirus symptoms in dogs can include fever, lack of appetite, and lethargy. The virus can also cause sores in or around the dog’s mouth, and lesions on the genitals.
Treatment: Antibiotics and probiotics
BACTERIAL INFECTION
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How Do They Get It: Dogs can get salmonella infections from eating contaminated food. They can also get it by encountering feces from infected animal (reptiles, birds, and cats). Dogs that eat raw meat or eggs are more likely to have a salmonella infection because these types of foods
Prevention: Prevent poop eating
Symptoms: Diarrhea, Fever, Loss of appetite, Dehydration
Treatment: Antibiotics
How Do They Get It: Listeria is in contaminated food and feces from animals that carry the bacteria.
Prevention: Prevent poop eating
Symptoms: Diarrhea, Fever, Loss of appetite
Treatment: Antibiotics
How Do They Get It: Dogs can get Clostridium from ingesting it. They can also get it by encountering contaminated objects.
Prevention: Prevent poop eating. Wash hands after handling pet food and stool, and thaw and wash vegetables before feeding
Symptoms: Diarrhea, Loss of appetite, Vomiting, Lethargy, Fever
Treatment: Antibiotics if the infection is severe
How Do They Get It: Dogs can get Campylobacter from eating raw meat, eggs, and poop
Prevention: Prevent poop eating
Symptoms: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Fever. Last: 1-7 days
Treatment: Ginger for upset stomach. Imodium (over-the-counter medication for diarrhea). Chicken and rice diet. Avoid raw meat, eggs, and poop during treatment.
Dog Has Diarrhea At Night-Don't Panic
If your dog has diarrhea at night, it will most likely go away after 24 hours. However, if it does not, take your dog to the vet. If no medical issues are found then it is most likely stress. Hire a professional trainer who uses positive training to help your dog. In addition, you can hire a canine massage therapist. Massage not only helps digestive tract functionality but it also activates the calming hormones.
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Most puppies that have diarrhea end up having worms. Is that normal?
Thank you so much Colby