Diarrhea is no fun and there can be many reasons your dog is experiencing this uncomfortable ailment. Common symptoms of diarrhea in dogs include watery stool, increased volume of feces, straining to defecate, mucus or blood in the feces, and fecal accidents. It’s bad enough your dog experiences diarrhea during the day but do they get diarrhea every night? Keep reading to find out why this is happening and what you can do to stop it.
Why is my dog having diarrhea at night?
Diarrhea is a sign your dog’s digestive system is not balanced which is leading to loose bowels. The most common reason for nighttime diarrhea is a sudden change in food. Sometimes life gets busy and you run out of your dog’s favorite kibble or the delivery is late and it’s going to take a few more days to arrive.
Whatever the reason you find yourself desperate to feed your dog so you run to the nearest store to grab a bag of what looks best. The only problem is your dog’s digestive system is familiar with a specific ratio of protein, nutrients, and fat. The shock of a different ratio often causes diarrhea that can spark up at night.
Here are other important reasons your dog gets diarrhea at night:
Allergies and food sensitivities
Food allergies are common in dogs but pinpointing the exact ingredient in their diet is a bit of an adventure. Diarrhea in dogs at night is often activated by food allergies that originate from their latest meal. There is a chance your dog might have a sensitivity or allergy to ingredients in their kibble or wet dog food. Another cause is feeding your dog a few table scraps of human food that doesn’t agree with their system. Gradually switching the dog food to an allergy-friendly option helps to reduce the risk of nighttime diarrhea in dogs.
Medications
Prescription medications provided to your dog by the veterinarian come along with a few possible side effects. Diarrhea is one of the symptoms caused by medications such as a dewormer. This medication often causes nighttime diarrhea for a few days as your dog’s body adjusts. Discuss side effects from medication with the veterinarian before giving it to your dog.
Emotional stress and anxiety
A dog’s body responds to emotional stress and anxiety by producing physical symptoms such as diarrhea. If your dog has diarrhea at night, there is a possibility they are anxious about something like a sudden move to a new home, traveling, and the family environment. Sometimes dogs just want to sleep in the same bed with their pet parents so they get emotional and stressed until you finally give in and let them in the bed. Pinpoint the source of your dog’s stress and help eliminate the problem to see if it improves their digestive system.
Illness and parasites
As a pet parent, the first thought in your mind when you see your dog has diarrhea is sickness. This is a normal response and it could be possible because parasites can cause a variety of problems in the digestive tract including explosive dog diarrhea. The most common illnesses that cause nighttime diarrhea at night are giardia, roundworm, and coccidian. If you suspect your dog is suffering from an illness or parasite, contact a veterinarian immediately for further assistance.
What you should do if your dog has diarrhea at night
No matter the cause, there is something you can do to help prevent the problem in the future – consider give your dog Bernie’s Perfect Poop. Perfect Poop is a digestion support supplement that is an excellent addition to a healthy diet. It’s made with natural ingredients and contains premium probiotics, fiber, prebiotics, and enzymes for a healthy gut. Aside from helping with night-time diarrhea, the benefits of Perfect Poop include improved stool quality, reduction of stool odor, gas, and bad breath. Plus it enhances the immune system and overall health of your dog! Overall it can help 30+ digestive related conditions. If your dog has diarrhea at night you can help put a stop to it with Bernie’s Perfect Poop. Read more about how to deal with dog diarrhea here.
