My dog has watery diarrhea, still playful. Is it a virus or fever?

These signs are compatible with a severe gastrointestinal infection.Unfortunately a check up would be the ideal solution as antibiotics may be needed to solve the possible infection and before clinical condition becomes critical. You can try to switch her diet to a more digestible one based on boiled chicken and rice but other than that a check up is really essential. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I'm glad to hear that Romeo is playful and eating well! It sounds as though he's on the road to recovery. Don't worry - it's completely normal for dogs to go several days without having a bowel movement after experiencing diarrhea. However, if you see that he's straining to poop but can't go, or if he becomes lethargic, vomits or refuses to eat, those would be signs that he should be re-checked by his vet. The only way to know if he has a fever is by using a thermometer rectally. If he'll tolerate it, you can use any digital thermometer and insert it just half an inch or so into his rectum. A normal body temperature for dogs is 100.5 F to 102.5 F. That said, since he's eating and playing normally, and the diarrhea has subsided, there really isn't a need to check his temperature. I hope that everything continues to go well!

Oh my. Poor guy. If he has a fever this can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection (i.e. Parvovirus if he isn't fully vaccinated). I would have him tested for parvovirus first and if that comes up negative he needs full panel bloodwork and a urinalysis. to fully evaluate him. He should be on antibiotics and fluid therapy to help bring down his fever. He also needs anti-vomit medication to prevent him from becoming dehydrated due to excessive vomiting. If his condition has not improved within 24-48 hrs, then you should consider having him hospitalized so that he can get around the clock care and treatment. Poor guy. I do hope that your pup Shadow is able to make a full and speedy recovery from his illness. For tonight you can try feeding him some slghly warmed up cans of baby food (meat and vegetables or squash) to try to entice him to eat. Only a small amount at a time to hopefully not induce his vomiting. Best wishes and take care.

Thanks for the question. I'm glad to hear that Fenris is still playing and eating, but I am concerned that the stool is so watery. Yes, it is always possible that this is just a dietary issue, however because it has been going on for 4 days, and is so watery, I'm concerned that this is something infectious. At 11 weeks my main concern is parvovirus, however most of these pups act really sick, but it is still possible. Other possibilities are things like giardia, coccidia, or a viral infection. I recommend collecting a sample of the diarrhea in a bag or container and bringing it to a veterinarian for testing. They will be able to determine if there is a specific medication that is needed to fix the problem. Puppies this age don't have a lot of reserves, and can become dehydrated quickly. I'm happy that Fenris seems to be otherwise feeling okay so far, but I would feel better getting the diarrhea under control before it becomes a more serious problem. I hope Fenris is back to normal soon.

Usually dogs with parvovirus or distemper are very lethargic and ill. If your dog is eating and drinking fine and has lots of energy then I don’t think the diarrhea is from either of those diseases. I do recommend a fecal exam soon, perhaps you can drop one off before your appointment to check for intestinal parasites that could cause diarrhea. Also I would monitor what she’s eating and check to make sure she’s not getting into things she shouldn’t in the yard. She’s a puppy and they love to eat anything! Should she become lethargic, stop eating or the diarrhea worsens then don’t wait, take her in to a veterinarian right away for treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.

It sounds like your dog is very uncomfortable or even painful, probably in his belly from your description of his symptoms. The diarrhea could be caused by any number of things; intestinal parasites, a bacterial infection, even being constipated will sometimes manifest as diarrhea because liquid feces is all that will get by the impacted fecal material. It could be as simple as a dietary indiscretion, meaning he might have gotten into the trash and eaten something that didn't agree with him. If he continues to have loose stool, or starts vomiting, loses his appetite, acts lethargic, and/or develops a fever, get him in to be seen by your vet right away as this could indicate a more serious problem.

A fever this high is usually indicative of a bacterial or viral disease going on. Your veterinarian will need to run some tests to try and determine the cause of the fever. Once the cause is identified the proper antibiotics, antifungals, or antipruritic drugs can be prescribed. The tablet given to your dog is basically a fever reducer but will not treat the cause of the fever. I would recommend taking your dog in for a recheck as soon as you’re able to. The exact cause of the fever cannot be determined without further workup and diagnostics. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.