Newly adopted dog - diarrhea

[Anonymous]

We adopted a 3 year old dog 2 months ago. He’s been adjusting slowly, and behaviorally things have seemed much better in the last few weeks, but he suddenly had explosive diarrhea a few days ago. Before that he had nice solid poop once or twice a day. We let his gut rest for a day after that and got him started on probiotics, but he’s not been eating much over the past few days and he’s mostly having liquid poop with an occasional solid-ish one. He has plenty of energy, is happy to go on walks, behaving pretty normal, and drinking/peeing just fine.

We were feeding him Science Diet since we got him, which was different than the food he ate before, but he seemed to adjust fine to it for the first few weeks so it doesn’t seem like the food is the culprit. He only goes out on walks with us, no running around the yard on his own so we know he hasn’t eaten anything bad or drank standing water. He got a bravecto about 2 weeks before this all started - not sure if that’s relevant but it was the first time he had that medication.

We have a vet appointment scheduled, but any ideas on what this could be or what could help now? The diarrhea is awful for us and the poor dog. We were going to try pumpkin but he’s not interested and we’d have to force it down, I think.

[Anonymous]

I'd call the vet and ask if the appointment can be moved forward and tell them why. If they can't fit him in sooner, ask if there's anything you should do meanwhile. Maybe they'll say chicken and rice or something.

Are you watching his mouth while you walk him? Dogs can be really quick to eat something on the ground while they're walking.

[Anonymous]

Probably the food.

[Anonymous]

Our puppy has sensitive stomach has had diarrhea many time for different reasons ( parasite, eating/licking soil, grass, rocks or other animals poop, change of diet, after neuter due to anesthesia). Our vet doesn’t want to prescribe us diarrhea medicine in case, she wanted us to always see her but it’s really hard when it’s like happening after midnight and couldn’t stop. The last time he had explosive diarrhea after neutering over the weekend was terrible, over counter dog diarrhea medication didn’t work at all, so we used Imodium and used less than suggested amount on google, and it worked right after one dose, then it pretty much cleared after 2 dose. You can ask your vet then decide if you are allowed or want to use it since there could be a risk.

https://dogtime.com/dog-health/55595-imodium-dogs-uses-dosage-side-effects

[Anonymous]

SEE THE VET

[Anonymous]

Any update op?

[Anonymous]

Yes, see the vet first
Too late now, but I usually stop feeding kibble and switch to rice/pumpkin/boiled chicken/broth immediately, and wait a day or two (I foster puppies on regular basis, this is my go-to scenario discussed with rescue vet tech). Then probiotics and testing if nothing else helps.
It might be food, might be a fluke, might be something else (like recently my dog and foster pup was diagnosed with Giardia)

[Anonymous]

I've had many pups with gastro issues. Like PP said, chicken/rice for a few days to calm the stomach. Adding a bit of pumpkin works for many too. My current puppy consistently threw food back up if it had pumpkin in it. I don't know if this is common.

I finally took the pup to the vet and she put him on a prescription gastro diet. It is a bit more expensive than what i was paying but my pup's stomach issues have disappeared

[Anonymous]

I'd worry he got into something and has a blockage. Vet now.

[Anonymous]

Could be anything, OP. Giardia comes to mind. Parasites. Allergies. Bring a poop sample with you to the vet, to the extent you can.