Why is my senior German Shepherd's poop foul, loose, and watery?

Chronic diarrhea can be a frustrating issue! In a young German Shepherd, my main concerns for Charlie are that he may have intestinal parasites, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or inflammatory bowel disease. If he has not recently had a stool sample checked for parasites, this is a good starting point. If no parasites are seen, consider discussing blood work (CBC, chemistry, B12, TLI, folate) and an abdominal ultrasound to try to get to the bottom of this situation. Probiotics (Fortiflora and Proviable are two brands) may be beneficial. I hope that all goes well!

I am sorry Chingo is not feeling well. With Chingo being older I would recommend taking him to the vet for a good exam and some basic testing like blood work. IT is possible that parasites, gastric upset or even infection has caused the diarrhea. However with his older age I would be concerned about possibly a more sever underlying disease. You can try an over the counter probiotic with a bland diet for 24-48 hours of boiled chicken and white rice. However if the diarrhea does not improve Chingo really needs to go to a vet. I hope that helps

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Cesar. This is not a normal consistency of feces. The stool should be formed and solid. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian for fecal testing. An infection should be ruled out. A diet change can help to improve stool quality if those tests are negative. Finally, there is a condition known as Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) that is common in his breed. I recommend discussing these possibilities with his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

She may have eaten something she shouldn't have, it could be infection or possibly intestinal parasites. You can submit a stool sample to your vet to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. In the meantime, withhold food for 12 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet in small, frequent amounts until the stool is normal before transitioning slowly to Jedda's regular diet. See your vet if Jedda becomes lethargic, begins vomiting, loses her appetite or exhibits signs of abdominal pain. A bland diet can be plain white rice mixed with one of the following: cottage cheese, boneless/skinless chicken breast, cooked/drained ground turkey or cooked/drained ground beef.

There very well could be something else going on based on his age and the frequency of his episodes. Your vet can start with another fecal exam to make sure there are no parasite or bacteria. You may want to try a food trial of a hypoallergenic diet incase it is due to a food allergy. Older pets can get an inflammatory bowel or pancreatic problem and a diet change is a good test. They can also do bloodwork to check for any endocrine diseases such as Addison's. An ultrasound is also an option to look at the intestines and measure the thickness or look for a mass to see if a biopsy is warranted.

Finding the cause of the diarrhea is the most important thing right now as the treatment will depend on the cause. If you haven't already, having a fecal exam done as well as possible bloodwork or X-rays is best. This can help rule out common issues such as parasites, infections, etc that can cause diarrhea. German Shepherds are also prone to some issues that can cause malabsorption, which can lead to diarrhea, discolored stool, weight loss, etc. Bloodwork can help to rule these out, and in most cases the issue is resolved with a daily medication. If no major issues can be found, then a food trial may be helpful for finding any food allergies causing the GI upset.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor guy! Causes of vomiting are: intestinal parasites, viral or bacterial infections, dietary indiscretion, foreign body, food allergy/intolerance, new food/treat.human food, intestinal disease (inflammatory bowel disease) or pancreatic disease. I am in agreement with you about your dog. German Shepherds, at least in the US have a lot of intestinal and pancreatic disease, specifically Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). Sometimes they have both conditions. Symptoms of IBD are weight loss with or with out vomiting or diarrhea. Signs of EPI are weight loss and diarrhea. I recommend deworming him 3 weeks apart with Drontal plus to cover parasites: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=1459 Then I would start him on a prescription hydrolyzed diet, you will need a prescription from a Vet. I like Royal Canin Ultimino or HP or Purina HA: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/royal-canin-veterinary-diet-hydrolyzed-protein-adult-dry-dog-food If there is no improvement in weight or vomiting in 2 months then consider a trial of pancreazyme (supplement for EPI), again you will need a Vet to prescribe it for you: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11245 I know there isn't a Vet close by but I highly encourage you to find one and have them examine your dog. It is best to figure out what is wrong with someone who can help you along the way. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best!