Diarrhea in Puppies - American Kennel Club

Digestive issues such as diarrhea are common in young dogs. Diarrhea in puppies can have
multiple causes, but is generally due to medical reasons, nutritional reasons or stress. The
purpose of this article is to review the causes of diarrhea in puppies, and the solutions that can
help minimize the development of diarrhea in puppies.
Medical Causes of Diarrhea in Puppies
and Medical Solutions
Diarrhea
in Puppies
A breeder’s guide to causes
and solutions
Catherine Lenox, DVM, CVA, Diplomate ACVN
Scientific Affairs Manager, Royal Canin USA
Medical causes of diarrhea in puppies include
intestinal parasites and infections such as viral and
bacterial diseases. Poor hygiene can contribute to
the development of these infections and can make
eradication of disease extremely difficult. It is critical
for those raising puppies to know how to manage
their environment, including the basic principles of
degreasing and using the proper disinfectant. Many
disinfectants don’t have the spectrum of activity that we
need for use in kennels. Following the labels directions
on proper dilution ratios and contact time is important
for the disinfectant to do its job.
Intestinal parasites are a very common cause of
gastrointestinal upset in puppies and are often
overlooked as a cause by breeders. In addition to
diarrhea, signs associated with parasites include
straining to defecate, frank blood in the stool, weight
loss, a distended abdomen, anemia and at times
visible worms in the stool. Roundworms, hookworms
and whipworms are still common parasites we see in
puppies. Stomach worms and lung worms are often
overlooked in our puppies. Coccidia, giardia and
cryptosporidia are found commonly in puppies also. It
is important to consult with your veterinarian regarding
frequent fecal exams and a proper protocol to reduce the
incidence of these parasites in your puppies.
Infectious causes of diarrhea in puppies include
bacterial and viral infections. These infections can range
in severity from a minor illness with minimal signs
to parvovirus with life threating signs. In addition to
diarrhea, infections may cause vomiting, blood in the
stool, and loss of appetite.
DAY 1-2
25%
new food
75%
old food
DAY 3-4
50%
50%
new food
old food
Isolating sick puppies, implementing treatment early
on, and proper hygiene are important ways to stop
the spread of an infection. Dogs that have signs of any
illness should be separated from other dogs and should
be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian early in
the course of illness. Proper hygiene includes different
techniques to help prevent the spread of different
conditions and can involve detergent and water and/or
disinfectants in addition to regular kennel cleaning.
Nutritional Causes of Diarrhea in
Puppies and Nutritional Solutions
Nutritional causes of diarrhea in puppies include an
improper diet transition at the time of acquisition by the
new owner and feeding a diet with poor digestibility.
Rapid diet transitions can cause diarrhea in dogs.
When a puppy moves to a new home, a proper diet
transition during this time may help prevent the onset
of diarrhea. In most cases, if the new owner plans on
changing the diet, puppies should be sent home with
an adequate quantity of the current diet to allow for
a seven day transition to the new food. A proper diet
transition involves an increase of the new food in 25%
increments every two to three days and a decrease in
the old food in 25% increments on the same schedule,
with 100% of the new food fed on the last day of the
transition (See Figure 1 below). Instructing new owners
to complete a full seven day dietary transition when the
diet is changed may help minimize digestive issues such
as diarrhea, as rapid diet transitions can contribute to
gastrointestinal upset.
Feeding a poor quality or poorly digestible diet designed
for canine growth can also cause diarrhea in puppies.
Digestibility, simply put, is a reflection of how easily a
DAY 5-6
75%
new food
25%
old food
DAY 7
100%
new food
Figure 1: A seven day transition period is recommended before your dog is eating the new food exclusively.
food or nutrient can be utilized.
of the diet. The goal is to strike
“Feeding a highly
If a food is highly digestible, the
a balance between digestibility
digestible diet designed
majority of the nutrients in the
and providing some fiber for a
diet will be utilized by the animal.
for canine growth can help pet, and the need for dietary
On the other hand, if the food is
fiber can vary in different
limit the development of
not very digestible, the nutrients
animals. As with protein
will not be absorbed into the body
sources, sources of dietary fiber
diarrhea in puppies.”
and utilized for important body
vary and fibers are frequently
processes, and poor stool quality will result. Because of
combined to create a blend in order to best help improve
the varying digestibility of different ingredients used
an animal’s stool quality and other aspects of health.
in pet foods, the composition of the diet in terms of
There are different types of fibers including insoluble and
protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as the sources
soluble fibers, which have different properties. Different
of these nutrients, can significantly impact a puppy’s
types of fibers can help an animal in different ways.
digestive health. Protein and carbohydrate sources can
vary significantly in pet foods, and digestibility varies
Feeding a highly digestible diet designed for canine
among these nutrients sources.
growth can help limit the development of diarrhea in
puppies. However, other factors affect digestive health
in addition to digestibility. Providing a diet with a blend
of fibers including prebiotics may help minimize the
development of diarrhea in puppies. Similar to humans,
pets have bacteria in their gastrointestinal tract called
the “microflora” or “microbiome.” The bacteria in the
intestinal tract can change, and one factor in disease is a
change in the bacterial population in the gastrointestinal
tract. Prebiotics are dietary fibers that can help manage
the bacterial flora by promoting the growth of “good”
bacteria and managing the “bad” bacteria. Promoting
good bacteria and keeping low numbers of bad bacteria
can help manage gastrointestinal health and minimize
diarrhea in puppies.
Protein sources can vary significantly in terms of
digestibility. Proteins provide amino acids, some of
which are required by animals and must be consumed
in the diet. Digestibility is assessed independently of
the amino acid profile of food, although both contribute
to protein quality. A protein source can have a large
number of essential amino acids, but without good
digestibility, the amino acid profile is irrelevant. This
means not only that the protein source provides what
the animal needs in terms of amino acids, but that the
animal can digest, absorb, and utilize those amino
acids. When a protein is highly digestible, the animal
is utilizing it for body functions. There are a number
of protein sources in pet food that provide highly
digestible protein.
The other nutrient that significantly affects digestibility
is dietary carbohydrate. Carbohydrates include both
soluble carbohydrates such as starch as well as dietary
fiber. Soluble carbohydrates are more highly digestible
than fiber. Digestibility correlates with the fiber content
Conditions that cause diarrhea in adult dogs such
as food allergies are less common in puppies. While
providing a high quality puppy food from a reputable
company that takes digestibility of nutrients into
account when formulating and producing a diet can
help minimize diarrhea in puppies, there are also
gastrointestinal diets that are formulated
specifically for puppies, including
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY
DIET® Canine Gastrointestinal
Puppy™ dry dog food. This
product uses special
technology to create
rehydratable kibble,
which allows for
different textures
for puppies with
picky appetites.
Stress and Diarrhea in Puppies
Summary
Abrupt changes in environment and other causes of
stress may also play a role in the development of diarrhea
in puppies. When a puppy is acquired by an owner,
the puppy may experience digestive issues at the time
of transfer. Stress can plan a role in the development
of diarrhea during this time. Frequently, puppies are
introduced to a new home with children, existing pets,
and other changes or stressors. Medical and nutritional
problems can exacerbate these issues. Ways to reduce
stress in puppies include gradual introductions to
children and other pets, and providing them with
comforting blankets or toys. A slow diet transition,
as discussed previously, can also
aid in the development of
diarrhea associated
with stress.
There are numerous causes of diarrhea in puppies, most
of which can be classified as medical, nutritional, or
stress. If a puppy develops diarrhea, the most important
thing is to rule out medical causes with veterinary
visits and fecal examinations. If there is no medical
cause, looking for nutritional causes should be the
next step. Diarrhea should not be attributed to stress
until more serious causes are ruled out. When puppies
develop diarrhea due to nutritional causes, a slower diet
transition, the use of a highly digestible diet, and the use
of prebiotics can be beneficial for a puppy.
About The Author
Dr. Catherine Lenox received her BS from
Duke University and her DVM from the
University of Missouri. After graduating from
veterinary school in 2007, she completed
a small animal rotating internship at
Colorado State University and a residency in
veterinary nutrition at the Virginia-Maryland
Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.
She was board certified by the American
College of Veterinary Nutrition in 2011. After
completing her residency, she spent three
years in clinical practice prior to joining the
Royal Canin team in August 2014. She is also
certified in veterinary acupuncture. Dr. Lenox
currently lives in Houston, TX.
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