Study Reveals Some Dog Breeds Are More Likely to Get Diarrhea

Few things are as awful as diarrhea and seeing your pooch in gastrointestinal distress. Unfortunately, most dogs are diagnosed with diarrhea at least once in their lifetime. 

Like in people, diarrhea in dogs is loose or unformed stool. Dogs suffering from diarrhea usually pass large amounts of loose stool more often than usual. Diarrhea by itself isn’t a disease, but rather a symptom of many different conditions. 

Loose stool caused by minor health problems is often resolved quickly with a simple treatment and a change of diet. However, diarrhea can also be a sign of serious, life-threatening conditions like organ failure or cancer, so it’s important to take your pooch to be examined by a vet. Even diarrhea caused by a minor illness can get out of hand if not treated in time. 

A new study, published in the open journal PLOS One, suggests that some breeds may be more prone to diarrhea than others. Researchers from the United Kingdom’s Royal Veterinary College analyzed the health records of more than two million dogs brought to the vet in the U.K. in 2019. Researchers estimate that one in 12, or 8,18%, dogs were diagnosed with diarrhea at some point during the year. 

The study found six breeds - Maltese, miniature poodle, German shepherd, cavapoo, cockapoo, and Yorkshire terrier - were considerably more likely to be diagnosed with diarrhea. Only two breeds - Jack Russel terrier and Chihuahua - were less likely to be diagnosed with diarrhea. 

Researchers believe these breeds may have higher and lower susceptibility to diarrhea. However, they can’t rule out the fact that different breeds have different diets, and even owners with different likelihoods of taking their dog to the vet in case the dog gets diarrhea. 

The study also showed that dogs who were three years and younger, as well as pooches aged nine and over, were more likely to be diagnosed with diarrhea than four or five-year-old dogs.

Researchers weren’t surprised by these results, considering that older dogs are more likely to get diarrhea from complications related to aging, and younger dogs are extremely curious and more likely to eat something they shouldn’t, resulting in diarrhea and other digestive issues. 

Moreover, many dogs with diarrhea were also diagnosed with other issues at the same time. About 44% experienced vomiting, 28% had reduced appetite, and 24% were lethargic. Of all the cases analyzed, 29% were classified as hemorrhagic, meaning those dogs suffered from bloody diarrhea. 

The good news is that most dogs recover quickly from diarrhea. Over 80% of dogs in the study only needed one visit to the vet. However, researchers also found that 38% of dogs with diarrhea were treated with antibiotics, even though experts advise against using antibiotics in dogs with mild and moderate cases of diarrhea. 

“Experiencing the dreaded ‘poonami’ with your dog is one of those events any dog owner fears. This new study shows that diarrhea events are very common in dogs but that owners should not panic - no matter how bad the deluge, most dogs will recover in a few days after veterinary treatment,” said Dr. Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor of Companion Animal Epidemiology at RVC and co-author of the study.

In most cases, diarrhea isn’t a medical emergency, although it may start to feel like it after you had to take your dog outside to poop for a third time in less than an hour. Even if your dog seems like their usual self, minus the diarrhea, book an appointment with your vet. With a simple treatment, your pup will be back to its usual pooping schedule before you know it. 

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