My dog is 2 weeks pregnant and has loose stools. Is this normal?

Hormonal changes can sometimes cause minor GI upset or diarrhea, however if the diarrhea continues or Mia seems in discomfort or is showing other signs of illness such as loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, etc, it would be best to have her examined by your vet to rule out any more serious issues.

Hello. While the stool is not altogether abnormal, I can see your concerns. The first thing to do is take a sample to your veterinarian for a parasite analysis. You want to make sure Soska is not harboring intestinal worms that can be transmitted to her puppies. In the meantime, switch her to a bland diet for a few days. I use 75% white rice & 25% white chicken breast. A little low fat cottage cheese is OK. I would also start her on a good probiotic like Purina's FortiFlora. This is available over the counter. Hopefully, this will help normalize her bowel movements. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is not uncommon for bitches to take a touch of gastroenteritis during pregnancy, this leads to an upset tummy with loose motions and sometimes blood, another possibility is worms. It is best not to starve a pregnant bitch so I would try feeding her rice and chicken. If she is dull or has not returned to normal faeces in 24 hours take her to the vet because pregnant animals are more at risk than non pregnant.

Hello. As long as Lola is eating & drinking fairly well, nursing the puppies & seeming to be contented, she should be well. If you have not wormed her in the past few months, I would definitely take a stool sample to your veterinarian now to make sure she will not be passing any parasites to her puppies. Because some parasites are inevitable in puppies, & based on what & if your vet sees anything in the stool, you will need to start administering a wormer to the puppies starting at 2 weeks of age. We use pyrantel pamoate every 2 weeks until 8 weeks, then monthly until the pups are 6 months of age. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diarrhea is never 'normal.' In a pregnant dog it could be due to hormones, impending labor, from worms or diet change (most put pregnant dogs on puppy food). I would contact your vet for medications since she is pregnant, start a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice and add in a probiotic like Purina Fortiflora. If Lucy is not fully vaccinated I would worry about viral infections as well. I wish you and Lucy the best!

Hello, congratulations on your future puppies. It may be indicative of the changes she is undergoing from her pregnancy. It may also be a sign that she could be a little stressed or that she may have gotten into something she was not supposed to (new food, trash, table food, etc.). At this time, you should continue to monitor her at home, if you see any changes in her appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or a painful abdomen, then you should have Misty evaluated immediately. Hope this helps and best of luck.

It could be caused by hormonal changes but if it continues than she should be examined by a vet, especially if she becomes lethargic and starts vomiting. She could also have a parasite or infection and your vet can run lab-work to look for potential causes and determine if treatment is needed.