My rescue dog has diarrhea. Could she have worms or parasites?

These irregular stools can be from parasites (worms) but you really need to know what type of worms you are treating before giving a dewormer. Not every deworming product treats every type of worm. You can try a general dewormer but I don't know if it will help. It is best to have a fecal sample tested by your vet. Your vet can give you the best idea of a proper deworming schedule based on where you live and your dog's lifestyle. A dog that goes out hiking/running, etc and is around a lot of other dogs needs more frequent deworming than a dog that never leaves it's house/yard. In the meantime, I would suggest you start her on a probiotic. I recommend this one called Fortiflora although you can use any probiotic product made for dogs. No human probiotics or dairy products (ie: yogurt). ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B001650NNW/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all&qid=1531645337&sr=8-1 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

The most common things at a shelter to cause diarrhea would be a parasite or an infection. The shelter could have a stool sample tested for parasites and infections to see if anything can be identified as the cause. Otherwise, all the animals could be dewormed with a broad spectrum dewormer to see if that helps.

If the diarrhoea does not improve with dietary change (boiled chicken and rice) a check up would be required as it can be caused by an inflammation/infection of the gastrointestinal system and antibiotics may be required. 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!

Congratulations on your new puppy! Diarrhea is not uncommon in puppies and there are numerous possible causes, including things like an upset GI tract due to a change in diet or stress, intestinal parasites such as worms or protozoal organisms like Giardia or Coccidia, or more serious causes such as bacterial infection or parvo virus. If Jake is having any vomiting or seems weak/lethargic we would be concerned about parvo virus and he should go to the vet right away for testing and treatment. If Jake is eating normally with no vomiting and a good energy level, he should see a vet for an exam as soon as you can get an appointment but it isn't an emergency situation, and in the meantime you can start a probiotic which you can find at many pet stores or your vet's office. Best of luck to you and Jake!

Diarrhea in dogs can have many causes, including food intolerance or allergies, intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, bacterial or viral infection, stress colitis, among others. Some dogs with sensitive stomachs can get diarrhea from simply changing foods suddenly or having treats. I recommend that you talk with a vet about Arrow's constantly changing stool consistency. They can rule out easy things like intestinal parasites. They may recommend a special diet or have other recommendations on feeding.

Stress, change of diet, parasites, etc can cause diarrhea. It can be normal for a dog that is new to the home. I would recommend giving him bland food for a couple days, such as boiled chicken and rice. If no improvement, contact your vet.

Hi there. If you think that Maggie May might have picked up a parasite, you could take a fecal sample to your vet's office and have it checked. Alternatively, you could try deworming her with a good broad-spectrum dewormer like Panacur or Strongid to see if the diarrhea resolves. If there is no improvement within 2-3 days of giving the dewormer, or if she develops any other symptoms such as vomiting, acting lethargic, or not wanting to eat, then she should be seen by a veterinarian to find out what's wrong.