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If your dog has diarrhea at night, you may be wondering what’s going on. Diarrhea can be caused by many things, from dietary changes to parasites. Therefore, it’s important to identify the cause of the diarrhea so that you can treat it appropriately. In this blog post, we will discuss the most common causes of nighttime dog diarrhea and how to deal with them.
Table of Contents
Reasons Why Your Dog Could Be Having Diarrhea At Night
1) Recent Dinnertime Food Change
If you’ve recently changed your dog’s food, it could be the cause of the diarrhea. Dogs have sensitive stomachs, and it can take a while for them to adjust to new foods.
*Remember, when switching foods, do so gradually over the course of a week or two to give your dog’s digestive system time to adjust.
If you’re feeding your dog new food and the diarrhea continues for more than a few days, it’s best to consult your veterinarian. They will be able to help you determine if the food is the cause of the diarrhea and, if so, recommend a different food that may better suit them.
2) New Food Allergy/Intolerance
Like people, some dogs can be allergic or intolerant to certain foods. If your dog has never had a problem with their food before and suddenly starts having diarrhea after eating, it could be a newly developed allergy or intolerance.
There are many different types of food allergies and intolerances, so it’s best to consult your veterinarian if you think your dog may have one. They can recommend a food that is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Or, at the very least, help you determine if the intolerance is severe enough that you need to switch to an entirely new or hypoallergenic diet.
3) Stress/Anxiety
If your dog is experiencing a lot of stress or anxiety at night, it can lead to digestive problems and, as a result, diarrhea.
Many things can cause stress and anxiety in dogs, from changes in their routine to loud noises. If you think stress or anxiety may be the cause of your dog’s diarrhea, try to identify the source of the problem and remove it from their environment. If the stressor is something that can’t be removed (like a loud noise), you’ll have to work on desensitizing them to it.
This simply means helpings them overcome their negative association with the stressor. You can do this by giving them treats and praise whenever they’re around what’s been bothering them. Or practice with the sound that scares them at a low volume, getting them used to that and gradually increasing the volume until it’s not scary to them anymore.
4) Worms Or Parasites
Unfortunately, worms and parasites are common in dogs. If your dog has them, it can cause digestive problems and, as a result, diarrhea.
There are many different types of worms and parasites that can affect dogs. The best way to determine if your dog has them is to take a stool sample to your veterinarian. They will be able to identify the type of worm or parasite and recommend the best course of treatment.
If your dog is diagnosed with worms or parasites, it’s important to follow the recommended treatment plan. This will help eliminate the problem and prevent it from returning.
5) New Medication
If your dog has started a new medication, it could be the cause of the diarrhea. Some medications can upset a dog’s stomach and lead to digestive problems.
If you think the new medication may be causing the diarrhea, talk to your veterinarian. They will be able to determine if the medicine is the problem and, if so, recommend an alternative.
6) Potential Illness Or Disease
Unfortunately, there are many illnesses and diseases that can cause diarrhea in dogs. If your dog has had diarrhea for more than a few days and nothing seems to be helping, it’s best to consult your veterinarian. They will be able to determine if there is an underlying health problem causing the diarrhea and recommend the best course of treatment.
Home Remedies For Dog Diarrhea At Night
1) Less Food Sharing
One of the main reasons dogs get diarrhea is because they eat things they shouldn’t. So if you share your food with your dog, there’s a chance they could get diarrhea from eating something that doesn’t agree with them. To avoid this, limiting the amount of food you share with your dog is best.
If you do share your food with them, make sure it’s something that is safe for them to eat, and that won’t upset their stomach. For example, plain cooked chicken or rice is usually a safe choice.
While they may give you the most convincing puppy-dog pout, it’s in their best interest not to share people food with them. It can be challenging at first to resist the begging, but it’s important to stop sharing food with them, especially if they’re having frequent diarrhea at night.
2) Give Them Some Easily Digestible Food
When your dog has diarrhea, it’s helpful to give them food that is easy to digest. This will help their digestive system recover and reduce the chances of further upset.
There are many commercially available diets that are designed for dogs with digestive problems. These usually contain easily digestible ingredients and are gentle on the stomach.
You can also make your own easily digestible food for your dog. A simple recipe is boiled chicken and rice. Just cook the chicken and rice until they’re soft, then mash them together. You can also add a little bit of plain yogurt to help with digestion.
Plain canned pumpkin is also an easily digestible food and can help settle their stomach to prevent them from continuing to have diarrhea.
Feeding your dog small meals of easily digestible food will help their stomach recover from diarrhea and reduce the chances of it happening again. Unless an underlying health issue is causing it or they keep eating food they’re intolerant to.
3) Diet Switch
Sometimes, the food your dog is eating can be the cause of the problem. Switching to a different type of food as their primary source of calories may help resolve the issue.
Most food allergies in dogs come from the protein source of their food. For example, a study found that 34% of dogs were allergic to beef (in the study), 15% were allergic to chicken, and 5% were allergic to lamb. Other protein sources produced much fewer allergic reactions.
With that being said, if your dog is currently eating food that’s mina protein source is chicken, you might want to try changing their food to beef, fish, or lamb. Of course, you should have your dog looked at by a vet to ensure it’s actually an allergy problem before switching their diet.
But once it’s confirmed that your pup is having an allergic reaction, you’ll want to do an elimination diet focusing on the protein source of their food.
4) 24-Hour Fast
When your dog has diarrhea, something you can do is fast them for 24 hours. This will give their digestive system a chance to rest and recover.
You should only fast your dog if they’re otherwise healthy and not vomiting. If they’re vomiting, it’s important to seek professional medical help as they could be dehydrated.
During the fast, make sure to have fresh water available for your dog at all times. It’s also important to monitor them closely during this time to ensure they’re not showing any other signs of illness.
If you have a puppy, you’ll want to limit the fast to 12 hours.
5) Keep Them Hydrated
Dehydration is a common complication of diarrhea. When your dog has diarrhea, they lose a lot of fluid and can become dehydrated quickly.
Symptoms of dehydration in dogs include lethargy, sunken eyes, dry nose, and mouth, and decreased skin elasticity.
To prevent dehydration, make sure your dog has access to fresh water at all times. You can also give them small amounts of an electrolyte solution to help replenish the fluids they’re losing.
If they’re not showing any interest in their water, you can try adding chicken broth to their water bowl to give it added flavor.
Other Tips To Help Stop Your Dog From Having Diarrhea At Night
1) Probiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria that are good for gut health. They can help improve digestion and reduce diarrhea.
You can find probiotics for dogs in powder form that you can add to their food. You can also find them in canine probiotic chews.
You can try giving your dog probiotics every day for at least two weeks to see if they help improve their diarrhea and overall digestion.
2) Medication
There are several different types of diarrhea medication for dogs. Loperamide is one of the more common ones, also known as Imodium AD. It’s best to speak with your veterinarian before giving your dog any kind of medication to discuss possible side effects and whether it’s best for your dog’s situation.
If your dog is still having diarrhea after trying the home remedy tips, you should take them to the vet to rule out any underlying health issues. The vet may also prescribe medication to help stop the diarrhea.
How To Know When It’s Time To See The Vet
If your dog has diarrhea for more than 24-48 hours, is vomiting, or is showing signs of dehydration, you should take them to see the vet. These are all signs that your dog may need some professional help.
It also depends on the severity of the situation. If they have blood in their diarrhea, their gums are pale, greyish, or purple, they’re lethargic, or clearly not themselves, they should be taken to the vet immediately.
If they’re still happy-go-lucky and everything else seems fine, but they have diarrhea at night, they might simply be having a few rough days digestion-wise. Although, if it keeps up for a few days, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with your vet to make sure everything is, in fact, alright.
At the end of the day, if you’re unsure whether or not your dog needs to see the vet, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and make an appointment. The sooner you can get your dog seen by a professional, the quicker you can have peace of mind with the situation.
At the vet, they will likely do a physical examination and may also run some tests to rule out any underlying health issues. If your dog is dehydrated, they may need to be hospitalized and given fluids intravenously.
What To Do If My Puppy Is Having Diarrhea At Night?
For puppies, it’s more common for them to get diarrhea, regardless of the time of day, because they’re being introduced to so many new things. It could be a new treat they’re eating, new things in their environment that are stressing them out, etc.
All the potential reasons listed above apply to puppies as well. Based on how they’re acting and whether you’re seeing any other symptoms will determine what you should do.
They should see a vet if they’re showing other symptoms and clearly not behaving normally.
If everything else seems fine, they may recover on their own. However, if it lasts more than a few days in a row, you should schedule an appointment with their vet to make sure nothing’s going on.
The vet will likely do a physical examination and may also run some tests to rule out any underlying health issues.
What To Do If My Senior Dog Is Having Diarrhea At Night?
As dog’s age, they can start to experience different health issues. One of those issues could be diarrhea at night.
Diarrhea for senior dogs can be a little more serious and should be looked at by a vet sooner than younger dogs. This is because they have an increased chance of having an underlying health issue due to their age.
It doesn’t mean there’s definitely something serious causing their diarrhea, but there’s a higher likelihood than when they’re an adult or puppy.
Because of this, they should see a vet if their diarrhea persists longer than 24-48 hours.
Other Nighttime Dog Diarrhea FAQs
When Is Dog Diarrhea An Emergency?
If your dog is showing any other symptoms along with their diarrhea, such as vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc., it could be a sign of something more serious and warrants a vet visit.
If your dog is also showing signs of dehydration, such as sunken eyes, dry or tacky gums, excessive panting, etc., this is a sign of an emergency, and you should take them to the vet immediately.
Essentially when their diarrhea is paired with other symptoms is when it’s something that needs to be taken more seriously and be looked at by a vet.
What Do I Feed a Puppy With Diarrhea?
When a puppy has diarrhea, you want to ensure they’re staying hydrated. The best way to do this is with plain water or an electrolyte solution you can get from your vet.
In terms of food, you want to stick to a bland diet. This means limiting the variety they have in what they eat for the time being. You can also try feeding them boiled chicken and rice.
In general, avoid anything high in fat or fiber as it can make their diarrhea worse. Once they’re feeling better, you can slowly start to introduce their regular food back in.
You may find that your puppy needs a dog food change if their diarrhea is persistent.
What To Do If My Dog Keeps Getting Diarrhea Every Few Weeks?
If your dog gets diarrhea every few weeks, it’s important to take them to the vet to rule out any underlying health issues. This is especially true if they show any other symptoms or if the diarrhea is severe.
Sometimes, a diet change may be all that’s needed. If that’s the case, your vet will likely recommend a specific food or type of food.
It’s also possible that you may only need to remove a single food they’re eating. Pay close attention to what they eat on the days their diarrhea shows up. The solution might simply be to remove the treats or people food they’re eating on those days.
What To Do If My Dog Has Diarrhea For 3 Days?
If your dog has diarrhea for more than a few days, it’s a good idea to take them to the vet. This is especially true if they’re showing other symptoms or if the diarrhea is severe.
What To Do If My Dog Has Diarrhea Every 2 to 3 Hours At Night?
If this happens for 1 night, they likely ate something they shouldn’t have. If they continue to have diarrhea every few hours after the first night it started, they should see a vet ASAP.
Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea At Night But Not During The Day?
There could be a few reasons why your dog has diarrhea at night but not during the day. It could be something they’re eating, drinking, or playing with later in the day that’s upsetting their stomach.
Also, do your best to pay closer attention to what goes in their mouth later in the afternoons and if there are potential environmental changes that could upset them. For example, if your boyfriend/girlfriend comes over later in the day and this is the only time they seem to be having diarrhea, this could be the culprit. The environmental change might be unsettling to them, causing them to have diarrhea at night.
Final Thoughts
Dog diarrhea at night can be a frustrating and messy situation. But with some detective work, you should be able to get to the bottom of what’s causing it. And in most cases, a few simple dietary or lifestyle changes can help keep it from happening again. Just be sure to contact your vet if the diarrhea persists, is severe, or if they’re showing other symptoms as well. They’ll be able to give you specific advice for your dog’s situation.
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