My dog gets diarrhea after swimming in the river. Is it normal?

Poor Hendrix. Definitely keep your appointment with the vet. He may have ingested something he shouldn't have while swimming or playing, and dogs can often get skin infection or dermatitis from swimming. Diarrhea can also come about from parasites or stress/excitement. The vet may check a still sample for parasites or abnormal bacterial growth. I hope Hendrix feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is not uncommon for dogs to try to go more frequently during long walks and is likely related to a territory marking instinct. As long as this does not persist to cover every bowel movement or any increasing frequency at home I wold continue to monitor for any additional signs or weight loss. Consider adding a probiotic/fiber supplement such as fortiflora as a natural gut conditioner if stool quality is generally soft

Since she still has diarrhea even though she was on a bland diet, it is likely that she has an intestinal infection, and it could indeed be something she ingested with the lake water. I suggest you take her to your vet for an exam. She will likely need prescription antibiotics and/or anti-parasitic medications.

I am sorry to hear about Sam! If he is otherwise acting normally (normal energy, normal appetite, no vomiting) I would just monitor him and watch his next few bowel movements. Sometimes exercise can increase gastrointestinal activity, and stress can also sometimes cause some diarrhea (being out of town can be stressful). If he continues to have loose stool then seeing his vet is recommended.

If Dakota is still experiencing vomiting and/or diarrhea, she should be evaluated by her veterinarian. If a dog gets excited or worked up with play time or exercise, a small amount of diarrhea is common. However, it should resolve and there typically isn't vomiting. Good job on holding her off on dinner. Sometimes resting the GI tract can help resolve the vomiting and diarrhea. It is fine for a dog her size to go up to 24 hours without food, but always provide water so she doesn't get dehydrated. She may need fecal testing to rule out intestinal parasite or potentially bloodwork if the doctor suspects a more systemic problem. If she has abdominal pain, then x-rays will likely be warranted. Good luck!

Poor pup! Diarrhea with no obvious cause can definitely be frustrating. If no parasites were seen on her fecal exam and she's acting normal otherwise, then it may be a food allergy or intolerance issue - I have seen this a number of times in puppies with diarrhea who tested negative for all the usual suspects, but did very well with a diet change. You can try feeding her plain boiled chicken and white rice for the next 3-5 days to see if the diarrhea resolves - if so, then she may need to stay on a special, easily digestible diet such as Hills i/d or Royal Canin GI diet.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to a contact dermatitis, possibly caused by seawater and sand. Severe gastrointestinal impaction and constipation or diarrhoea can result from the ingestion of sand. A check up is needed to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!