At home visiting my family one winter, I heard my mother say to my dogs, “Come on, girls, Grandma will get you some roast beef.”

Now, at the time, as a new vet, I was religious about ensuring that my pets’ lips never touched even the smallest amounts of “people food”. (This stage lasted until the fifth consecutive walk through the river valley which resulted in the dogs coming out of the underbrush with random unidentifiable bits of rotting food that I was unable to pry away from them. I gave up at that point and softened on the occasional table scrap.)

In any case, I loudly reprimanded my mother for the roast beef violation of our table rules. As any good grandmother would, she scoffed at me and fed them several large handfuls of prime rib, claiming that roast beef was a “natural food for dogs”.

Three hours later in the car on the way home, one of the dogs began panting heavily and turning in circles in the back seat. This was quickly followed by a stream of the foulest diarrhea ever produced by a canine which, in combination with the spinning, produced something of a sprinkler effect. Fortunately, the weather was cold enough that most of the “product” froze to the windows, upholstery and doors. The rest of the trip was spent with the windows partially rolled down and trying to breathe through my mouth as much as possible.

Everyone who has owned a dog has had an experience similar to mine on that ill fated trip home. While a single episode of explosive bowels is not usually life threatening, there is always the question as to when exactly one should consult their veterinarian regarding their pet’s diarrhea.

Well, the short answer is: as soon as possible. Your veterinarian may not need to see your pet in order to give you direction on their care, especially if you have had regular veterinary check ups and they are well acquainted with you and your pet, but they may need to see Fido in order to appropriately evaluate his or her condition. The fastest way to reach a conclusion to your dog’s upset bowel is a complete medical history, a physical examination by your veterinarian, a series of routine tests and standard treatment protocols.

It will be helpful to your veterinarian if you have compiled as much information about your dog’s illness by the time you visit or talk to them. Make sure you know how long this episode has been going on for. Has this happened before, or does your pet normally have the intestinal fortitude of a garbage disposal? If you can, watch your pet while they are actually going to the bathroom. Make note of whether your pet is producing a large amount of stool, or a small amount more frequently. Is there any blood or foreign materials in the stool, and is your dog straining when they are defecating? You should be able to inform your vet of any recent food changes, introduction of new treats, or possible access to bones or garbage. If you will not be seeing you regular veterinarian, remember that the vaccine history for your pet may be important.

Your veterinarian will likely take a complete history and do a physical examination on your pet. During this exam, they will check your pet’s general condition, and examine their gums for signs of dehydration or anemia. They will likely listen to your pet’s heart and feel their abdomen for signs of pain, changes in the size of their organs and for foreign bodies trapped in the intestines. In addition to taking your dog’s temperature, your vet may do a rectal exam. (While possibly insulting to your dog, this should not be painful.)

Depending on the results of the exam, your vet may recommend some tests. Often, the first test done is blood work to check for signs of dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, problems with any internal organs, anemia or infection. This is usually followed by radiographs of your dog’s abdomen to check for thickening of the intestines, obstructions, changes to the organs or tumors. Your vet may recommend giving a special dye to make any foreign objects show up on the x-rays. An ultrasound may demonstrate any abnormalities in the abdomen with more clarity and detail. A fecal test may show parasites which can also cause diarrhea. A complete testing protocol will help your veterinarian to choose the treatments that will be most effective for your dog.

Sometimes these tests will give an answer as to the source of your dog’s bowel upset, but often we cannot find an underlying reason for the diarrhea. In these situations, our goal is to treat the symptoms. One of the most important treatments is a special feeding protocol. Your vet may have you withhold food for a set amount of time, then reintroduce eating with a very bland, easy to digest food. Intravenous fluids are often employed to keep your pet hydrated and electrolytes balanced during the time when food is withheld. Antibiotics are given to rebalance the bacteria which normally live in the intestinal tract. These can be given by injection or by mouth depending on how serious your dog’s condition is. Your vet may want to give pain control medications to make your pet more comfortable during their recovery. Finally, medications which calm or protect the intestines can also be given to aid in your dog’s recovery.

The keys to the quickest possible recovery for your dog when he or she has diarrhea are a complete medical history, a physical examination by your veterinarian, a standard set of routine tests and a well thought out treatment protocol. Diarrhea in your dog will usually run its course in 24-48 hours leaving your carpet (or your car’s upholstery!) with more long term problems than your dog. Knowing what to expect when you do consult with your veterinarian will hopefully make the experience less stressful and speed your dog’s recovery.