My dog has bloody diarrhea. How long until anti-diarrhea meds work?

Sometimes a dog will not "go" for 24 - 48 hours after anti-diarrheal medications have been started. Think of it like this: the system was essentially empty due to the [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/diarrhea-1/), and if the medication is effective, it will slow down the transit time of food through the GI tract and it will take a couple of days for him to actually need to poop again. As long as he is eating and drinking and feeling good, I would not immediately panic. I do often see dogs recovering from diarrhea go as much as 48 - 72 hours before having a bowel movement. If it's longer than this, or if he's not feeling well, get him rechecked immediately.

I usually recommend follow up if the blood in the diarrhea has not resolved in 48 hours, or if there are any new symptoms like vomiting or a decrease in appetite. It can take several days for the diarrhea to resolve completely. If you are still seeing blood tomorrow you should contact your vet.

Hi there. In my experience, it often takes 48 hours or so to see improvement in diarrhea after starting metronidazole. Full resolution of the problem may take another 2-3 days from there. So if Jake's diarrhea seems to be improving and his appetite is better, this is a good sign. I would continue with the current treatment plan prescribed by your veterinarian. If his diarrhea has not resolved in another 2-3 days, then I would recommend taking him back in for a recheck to see if some other type of treatment is needed.

Bloody diarrhea can be caused by intestinal parasites, a parvo virus infection, severe intestinal infection, an injury in the colon or rectum, or have an idiopathic reason (ie , we can't find a cause). You will need to take your dog back to the vet for a recheck as he likely will need antibiotic treatment to prevent him from getting sepsis. The medicine against parasites takes at least two to three days to work before the bleeding stops so if your dog only started receiving it yesterday or today I suggest you wait another day before going back to the vet as it may kick in before then.

Oh no poor guy. As long as he isn't lethargic, doesn't have pale gums or is otherwise stable, you can wait the 5 hrs to get him seen. He may be having a stress colitis, in which case antibiotics and probiotics along with a bland diet are the treatment recommendations. However the vet will want to examine him thoroughly so that he is treated appropriately. I hope Boone feels better soon. Best wishes and take care.

Aw poor Jacky Gill! I'm very concerned about the blood in the vomit as this can indicate serve Gastrointestinal inflammation or ulcer formation. Jacky should see a veterinarian right away as he likely needs prescription medication to stop the vomiting and diarrhea. He may need fluids to help rehydrate him. It may also be a good idea to have X-rays done to ensure there is no intestinal blockage. Once he has received medical care a bland diet of boiled chicken and sweet potato or rice may also help him recover. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Jacky is feeling better soon!

If he is acting normal then you can withhold food for 12 hours and then offer him a small amount of a bland diet, like boiled chicken and white rice, and see how he does with that. You could also add a probiotic to his food. If the diarrhea continues, he starts vomiting, and/or becomes lethargic then he needs to be examined by a vet for treatment. He could have an infection, parasite, colitis, HGE, etc. and your vet can run lab-work to help diagnose and treat. Hope he feels better soon!