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Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 11 months old | 13 lbs
Can heartgard cause a dog to do diarrhea? Look at the pics please!! I gave him heartgard at 10 am at the vet when we got home at 11:50!he did the restroom like this? Is this normal?! I called his vet and sent him picture he said it was normal but I want to make sure..
2 Answers

Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on August 29th, 2017
Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 3rd, 2020
I suggest you give him the Heartgard. The benefits of him ingesting the Heartgard far outweigh the risks (some loose stools). If you give it this time and it happens again then you can pretty much assume the Heartgard is the cause and then you can speak to your vet about using a different product like a topical (Revolution or Advantage Multi).
You can sometimes minimize GI upset by giving the Heartgard with a full meal.
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