In this veterinary discussion, Dr. Conor Brady, Ben, and a third speaker examine acute, explosive diarrhea in dogs. They outline how to recognize whether the problem originates in the small or large intestine, describe red‑flag signs that demand immediate veterinary attention (abdominal pain, significant blood in the stool, vomiting, or suspicion of an intestinal obstruction), and stress that such cases can be life‑threatening. For the majority of cases—about 80%—they explain that the diarrhea is usually a transient response to a dietary transgression and can be managed at home by ensuring hydration, allowing the gut to rest, and slowly re‑introducing food. They strongly advise against routine antibiotic use for uncomplicated diarrhea and emphasize that any concerning signs should prompt a vet visit.
Diarrhea in a dog. What's the first thing you're thinking with a dog that is suddenly explosive diarrhea?
You haven't really touched on about as well where it might be affecting. And, you know, if they're straining a lot and there's lots of mucus, is that because it's the large intestine? Or if it's small intestine and there's just like loads of watery diarrhea? If it's okay to treat diarrhea at home, but on caveats of certain things. And that is, if there's any abdominal pain, go see your vet. If there's any blood, significant amounts of blood, I would be saying—
and that could be just that the stool is watery red— but I would say please go and see your vet.
What does stomach pain look like, Ben?
So they may be praying position, they may just hurt if you touch their stomach, okay, and they go, ah, you know, that's stomach pain.
Don't mess. It's just a case of if they've got really serious colic, we need them out of pain. Okay, so, and then the last thing is if they're vomiting as well as got diarrhea, you need to check the one of the differentials for that is an obstruction. And so if they've got an obstruction, you need to see your vet. You can't be giving them something and hoping that in 24 hours Well, if it's not got better, I can go and see my vet then. If it's got an obstruction, that could kill the gut off. That could be a really serious situation.
So those are just my caveats.
The majority, by far the majority of diarrheas, 80% plus, will resolve with some home treatments. Okay. Keeping them hydrated, probably from a dietary transgression. They've gone and eaten something. They probably shouldn't have.
Okay. And that is by far the commonest.
After 30 years of being in practice, that's what you come across, is they've gone and eaten something, they've got a transient diarrhea. Pretty much these days, we're trying desperately to tell people, do not treat these diarrheas with antibiotics.
