Overnight diarrhoea

[Workhomework]

6mths old cocker spaniel

Anyone else experienced diarrhoea in their dog but only at night? Happened last week on one night so we assumed he'd eaten something he shouldn't, it was resolved within 12 hrs and he only has 2 bouts.

Then last two nights we've had diarrhoea overnight, again a couple of bouts and normal poo in the day. Eating, drinking and behaviour is normal.

I wonder if he's over eating (vet said he was ok weight but she wouldn't want to see him get any rounder!) He's having just the amount he should, but he could have more according to the instructions. He has tummy issues as a young puppy whenever we increased his food. It took a long time to get him settled on the food he is on, he's been on it for months.

We are seeing the vet today but just looking for others experiences. I need a sleep! Two nights of no sleep for me (he's a good boy and made it outside) but he was unsettled and fidgeting all night.

Any thoughts gratefully received

Bless him - he's clearly trying if he's making it outside!

Experience tells me that if a vet says 'you don't want him to put on weight' that's usually a nice way of saying he's a bit fat (even if they say they're okay). If your instinct is that it's overeating, I would try and cut back his food a bit to start with.

I'd also try and give him a walk later at night (8pm or so). It could well be that he's desperately trying to hold it in - lots of dogs don't like to toilet in their own garden - and then he just can't contain it anymore (and that can, often, result in diarrhoea).

Try to two things in combination for a few days, and then if it persists I'd look at perhaps considering if he's snaffling something he shouldn't etc or other triggers. If he's otherwise happy in himself, it's probably nothing serious - although not pleasant for you or him!

Thank you. He tends to poo at 8, the again at 11 just before I go to bed. He's on a lead in the garden as he's a bugger for trying to eat things.

I'll cut down his food a bit and see. He's such a lovely boy and definitely doesn't want to mess in the house, he's been very good since day one so we got lucky there.

He just seems to have a very sensitive stomach, which I know is a bread thing too.

Over anxious puppy motherhood wasn't something I expected!

If he's getting the 'recommended amount' per the packet, he is almost certainly getting too much - esp if he's a bit round. You should be able to easily feel your dog's ribs, not have to poke about in search of them. I run my dogs lean as it is better for them: being obese takes about 10% off a dog's lifespan.

If he has tummy issues, probiotics might help to settle him. You can gets tubs of the stuff for dogs, and it really helped one of my dogs who had an unsettled stomach when she was young.

Thank you. The vet today said he was fine weight wise but my gut feeling is he has a bit too much and that's upsetting him. I've cut it down a bit. She did prescribe probiotics to help (just a day or so as cheaper to buy myself) - I'd already got some in as I intended to start him as he is a sensitive boy.

Health wise he is fine she said. We'll see how we go.

Thanks for posting

Both my dogs have had upset tummies in the last few weeks so I wonder if there are bugs doing the rounds.

OP, how many meals a day does your puppy get and what time is his last meal? Might be worth bringing everything earlier in the day (and for instance making breakfast the main meal of the day and any afternoon meal just a light “tea” / snack.

He still gets 3 meals a day, he was having a later snack as suggested by the vet as we had some bile sick in the early hours a few weeks back and she thought it was because his stomach was empty. We have stopped that as I would actually rather the occasional sick than the diarrhoea.

Could be a bug, but he's having normal day poos, would that be the case? Sorry, all new to me!