My dog ate chocolate ice cream, now has soft poop. Should I worry?

Fortunately, neither malitol nor aspartame are toxic to dogs unless ingested in huge quantities. However, they can cause some mild gastrointestinal upset, as Bentley is now experiencing. I'm glad that you're giving him small, frequent volumes of water because this will help to maintain his hydration despite the fluid loss from his diarrhea. Since he is acting fairly normally, you can try withholding food for the next 12-24 hours, then offer him a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice (1 cup divided into 3-4 smaller meals) for the next few days. After a few days of the bland diet, gradually mix the bland diet with his normal food over another 5-7 days. If Bentley vomits more, if the diarrhea continues in another day or two, or if he becomes lethargic, he will need to go to his vet and may need additional supportive medications and fluids. I hope that he feels better soon!

You could try feeding Coco a bland diet as long as she doesn't have any food sensitivities - plain, boiled chicken breast and white rice is a good choice. If you notice more shaking or she seems agitated or hyperactive you should see a vet right away since these could be signs of chocolate toxicity (it would be pretty unlikely from a small bite of chocolate ice cream). If the decreased appetite and loose stool continues despite the bland diet you should see your vet.

Poor Brady! Fortunately, he's a pretty big dog, so a small amount of milk chocolate is unlikely to cause more harm than the stomach upset that he's currently experiencing. However, if the chocolate in your trash can was baker's chocolate, cocoa powder, or other dark chocolates, it could be a bit more problematic. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which can cause heart and/or neurologic issues. If Brady consumed any of these forms of dark chocolate, I recommend calling the ASPCA animal poison control line (888-426-4435) to determine if the amount he ingested is enough to cause toxicity. It's possible that Brady's watery diarrhea is due to stomach upset from ingestion of the chocolate, as well as anything else in the trash can. Dr. Orioles gave you some good advice regarding a bland diet. I agree that if the diarrhea continues for more than a day, or if he also starts to vomit, refuses to eat or drink, or becomes lethargic, that you should take him to his veterinarian for treatment. I hope that everything goes well!

Poor Barney. Feed him then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If the diarrhea continues on the bland diet, he refuses to eat the bland diet, he starts vomiting food, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, he will need to see a vet right away. I hope this helps!

It could be the M&Ms have upset Tyson's stomach. I can give you a home remedy for him to see if that helps. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If the vomiting continues in the absence of food, he vomits the bland diet, develops diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, he will need to see a vet right away. I hope this helps!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Scooter. One ferrero rocher shouldn't cause serious problems, but it can cause stomach upset. I can give you a home remedy for him to see if that helps. Withhold food tonight, then in the morning feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If the vomiting continues in the absence of food, he refuses to eat the bland diet, he vomits the bland diet, develops diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, he will need to see a vet right away. I hope this helps!

There's not much to be done but treat the symptoms after more than 12 hours. A visit to your vet would be prudent if your dog ate a large quantity and is having tremors/twitches or an irregular/fast heartbeat. If he is acting normally otherwise, withhold food for 12-24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet (boiled boneless, skinless chicken breasts and plain white rice) in small, frequent amounts. Feed until the stool is normal, then transition slowly to the regular diet. If the diarrhea doesn't resolve, see your veterinarian.