Why is my dog having loose stool and straining to poop on walks?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Diarrhea resolving can take a few days, so it is normal that it isn't as solid as normal. The straining however isn't normal. I would recommend checking to make sure around her anus looks ok (no bleeding or wounds), and if you can feel under her anus at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions, does it feel like hard marbles are under the skin. If this is the case she could have full anal glands which can be making her uncomfortable in her back end. This would require a vet visit to empty them before they burst. Otherwise, as long as she is eating/playing, I would just monitor her to see if the behaviour continues. If she is still straining tomorrow I would take Riley to the vet to make sure she isn't constipated, but it might just be a one-off episode. If her next poop is normal without straining then I wouldn't worry about it. Best of luck with Riley!

Poor guy. It sounds like your pet Shiro has a bout of colitis (inflammation of the colon) which can often be caused by intestinal parasites. I would highly recommend having him seen by your vet soon for a fecal exam and medications to help resolve his colitis. Only antibiotics can help resolve this in most cases, which has to be prescribed by your vet. Until you can get him seen you can start a probiotic with him, such as Culturelle over the counter or Fortiflora. This can help with some of the inflammation by restoring the good intestinal flora. I hope that your furry friend Shiro feels better soon! Best of luck and take care.

I’m sorry to hear Pompom isn’t feeling well. If she is straining to poop but her stools are soft, it may be that she’s got some colitis (inflammation in her colon). Another concern would be a mass or tumor in her colon. I would recommend that you have your vet examine her. They may recommend a fecal exam, possibly some blood work or X-rays. An abdominal ultrasound (sonogram of the belly) may also help determine what’s going on. Even if you aren’t financially able to approve diagnostics, your vet will probably be able to prescribe some medication to help make her feel better. As far as something soothing for the skin on her bum, I would recommend a wound healing ointment made for dogs, you can likely find at PetCo or another pet store. Another option would be A and D ointment —the brown ointment, NOT the cream as it contains zinc oxide. . DO NOT USE A PRODUCT CONTAINING ZINC OXIDE (often in diaper rash creams). Again, my best recommendation would be to get her in to your vet as soon as you can. Good luck to you and Pompom! She is such a cutie! I hope she’s feeling better soon.

Based on your description, Wade may have a condition called colitis. This is an inflammation in the large intestine most often caused by a change in diet, eating something they are not used to or a stressful event. It can be secondary to many other things. It often results in diarrhea/loose stools and straining to defecate. If he's acting normal otherwise, you can start by withholding food for 12-24 hours, then introducing a bland diet of plain boiled chicken and white rice. You can also add some canned pumpkin puree as the fiber can help to firm up the stools. As long as the stools normalize, you can then start mixing in his regular dog food. If the diarrhea continues despite these things, I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian for an exam. They will most likely recommend a fecal exam to look for parasites and sometimes when colitis doesn't resolve on it's own, they are treated with an antibiotic.

It sounds like Ellie could have diarrhea and that's why she's straining. She could also be constipated but it's not common in dogs. Since she's also vomiting I recommend taking Ellie to the vet to find the cause. They can check for constipation or diarrhea and treat the cause. Good luck and kisses to Ellie!

Hi ! Sorry to hear that Stell is not well. If she is still bright and eating well, she might have a bit of an upset tummy. You can try her on a bland diet of white meat and rice or Hill’ s gastro-intestinal formula for a couple of days, and some probiotics such as Canikur or Protekin Prokolin and see if things settle over the next 3-4 days. If she should still pass soft feaces then it’s best you bring in a feacal sample to your vet to be examined for parasites and bacteria.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diarrhea can be observed with conditions such as colitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications for diarrhea depending on the results. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!