When your pit bull is experiencing diarrhea, you’ll want to understand two things. What caused it, and how to assist them quickly.
This article explains everything about pit bulls with diarrhea so you can safely help your furry friend return to normal without a lot of hassle. Let’s dive in.
7 Reasons Why Pit Bulls Get Diarrhea
Here, we’ll go over the usual reasons why your pit bull may suffer from a bout of diarrhea.
You’ll need to look at your pit bull’s routine, diet, recent behavior, and where they might have been exploring.
1. Eating something unfamiliar, bad, spoiled, or poisonous.
The main cause of diarrhea in pit bulls, like all dogs, is digestive upset.
This can happen when the stomach struggles with something new or unpleasant.
Common causes of digestive upset:
- New food or diet
- Unfamiliar treats
- Spoiled food
- Harmful food or substances
- Human leftovers
Many pit bulls have sensitive stomachs, so even small changes can cause problems.
15% of dog owners worldwide feed their dogs table scraps, says natures protection.
2. Switching food too fast
Choosing to change your pit bull’s food can lead to diarrhea if done too quickly.
Introduce new food, treats, and diets slowly over 7-10 days, while the old food is phased out.
This helps the stomach adjust.
Consider whether you’ve recently tried changing their food? This can also happen if you’ve introduced a new treat too quickly as well.
3. Food allergies
Pit bulls might not like an ingredient in new food. Or they can slowly develop an allergy.
Common allergens include:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Pork
- Lamb
- Gluten
- Soy
- Eggs
- Dairy products
It’s hard to find out if your pit bull has an allergy. Trying different foods and watching closely, or asking a vet, can help.
4. Stress & worry
Pit bulls can get diarrhea from stress or anxiety, which unfortunately can be caused by A LOT of things.
Things that might cause stress in pit bulls:
- Routine changes
- Boredom
- Bad training
- Not enough exercise or attention
- Being left alone too much
- Noisy places
- Harsh training
Look at your pit bull’s routine and behavior to understand their stress.
One in particular that stands out from the rest should be being left alone too much. This is something most owners do on a daily basis.
It’s hard to avoid going to work, but just keep in mind this can have ill-effects on our dogs in more significant ways that we realize.
5. Bacterial infections
Every day, dogs come into contact with a wide variety of bacteria. Usually, this is no cause for concern, as it’s a normal part of their environment.
However, certain harmful bacteria can overpower your Pit Bull’s digestive system and immune defenses.
Whether it’s from their bedding, toys, eating and drinking dishes, or locations they visit like the yard or during walks, bacteria can be found all around.
Despite our best efforts to maintain cleanliness, it’s impossible to eliminate all bacteria.
Should your dog become infected with harmful bacteria, the signs will be clear. They may become seriously sick, displaying symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, noticeable behavioral changes, tiredness, and potentially even crying due to stomach pain.
6. Worms
Intestinal parasites, though less common as a cause, can lead to diarrhea in dogs.
The usual suspects are tapeworms and roundworms.
Tapeworms can develop if your dog swallows an infected flea, its eggs, or even the waste from another infected animal.
Roundworms are often transmitted from a mother to her pups at birth, making worming treatments vital for all newborn puppies.
Should your dog be infested with worms, you might notice them in the stool. Tapeworms look like tiny grains of rice, whereas roundworms can become much larger.
Along with these signs, a dog with worms may experience a change in eating habits, have blood in their stool, or seem to be overly concerned with their rear end.
7. Dehydration & overheating
Keeping your pit bull cool and hydrated is important in hot weather.
Symptoms of dehydration:
- Not eating
- Panting
- Dry nose
- Diarrhea
- Tiredness
Symptoms of heatstroke:
- Heavy panting
- Fast heartbeat
- Throwing up
- Diarrhea
- Bright red gums
- Sticky saliva
- Dry nose
- Feeling dizzy
- Falling down
- Shaking
- Seizures
Heatstroke is very serious. If you think your pit bull has it, call your vet right away.
When Should You Consult a Vet? Addressing Health Concerns
Sometimes, diarrhea isn’t just a minor issue but a sign of a more serious underlying health problem.
Veterinarians typically recommend reaching out to them if the diarrhea persists without improvement for more than 24 hours. If you have a puppy (under one year) or an older dog (over eight years), it’s wise to contact the vet right away.
Early detection can make a big difference in treating health issues. So, the sooner you can get professional help, the better the chances are for your vet to find a solution.
If other symptoms accompany the diarrhea, or if you just feel that something doesn’t seem right, don’t hesitate to call your vet. Your intuition, combined with your vet’s expertise, can be vital in ensuring your pet’s well-being.
Helping Your Pit Bull With Diarrhea
When your Pit Bull is dealing with diarrhea, there are a few proven methods you can try at home to help. But remember, if there’s no improvement within 24 hours of trying these strategies, it’s essential to contact your veterinarian.
Withhold Food (step one)
The initial step is to stop giving food and treats for 12-18 hours.
Water should still be available, and you should encourage your Pit Bull to drink as much as possible.
Fasting isn’t suitable for puppies, senior dogs, or those with existing health problems.
This break from food often helps with diarrhea right away. It gives the digestive system time to rest and bounce back.
Most of the time, the diarrhea should improve within 24 hours after beginning the fast. This method is safe and usually recommended by vets for otherwise healthy adult dogs.
Bland Food Diet (step two)
If fasting isn’t an option for your Pit Bull, a bland food diet is the next step.
A common bland diet includes 3 small meals of plain boiled rice with boiled chicken breast. No salt or seasonings, just plain.
This gentle diet helps your Pit Bull’s digestive system recover while still providing some nutrients.
Vets often recommend this easy-to-digest diet for diarrhea, and it’s safe to continue for 5-7 days.
Once the stool is firm again, slowly reintroduce their regular diet (assuming it wasn’t the cause of the problem).
Please note: The bland food diet should not be used long-term, as it lacks essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
Probiotics (step three)
Along with a bland diet, you can use a simple probiotic to help with gut recovery.
Make sure the probiotic is designed for dogs and comes from a reputable brand. Though available in pet stores, it’s wise to consult your vet first.
Probiotics, packed with beneficial bacteria, aid in restoring gut balance and boosting the immune system.
They are often a great first step before considering antidiarrheal medication.
Antidiarrheal Medication (step four)
In some cases, it might be necessary to give your Pit Bull antidiarrheal medication right away.
The decision to do this will depend on factors like age, overall health, the cause, and the severity of the diarrhea.
However, it’s crucial to talk to your veterinarian before giving your Pit Bull any medication. They can provide the best advice tailored to your dog’s specific situation.
Preventing Future Diarrhea in Pit Bulls
Though you can’t prevent all occurrences of diarrhea, adopting the following healthy habits and tips can lower the chance of this problem arising with your Pit Bull:
- Avoid Giving Table Scraps: Human food isn’t suitable for dogs and may upset their stomachs.
- Secure the Garbage Can: This keeps tempting but harmful items out of reach.
- Store Food Properly: Keep your dog’s food out of reach to avoid overeating.
- Monitor Walks: Watch them closely on walks and be ready to stop them from eating anything they shouldn’t.
- Maintain a Clean Yard: Keep your yard free from pests and other animals’ waste.
- Choose Quality Food: Avoid low-grade kibble, diets, or treats that might lead to digestive issues.
- Change Diets Gradually: If you need to switch their food, do it slowly to let their system adjust.
- Meet Basic Needs: Ensure proper exercise, training, stimulation, diet, and social interaction.
- Keep Items Clean: Regularly wash their bed, toys, and bowls to remove harmful bacteria.
- Regular Vet Visits: Stay current on vet check-ups, vaccinations, and boosters to ensure overall health.
- Be Careful with Playmates: If possible, avoid letting your Pit Bull play with dogs that are unvaccinated.
By following these guidelines and making them part of your daily routine, you can prevent many instances of diarrhea in your Pit Bull.
These practices contribute to a happy and healthy life for your beloved pet.