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If your pet is profusely bleeding, this is considered a \u201cRED\u201d \u2013 or true emergency \u2013 on our Fast Track Triage system. We advise you to seek immediate veterinary care. Please call ahead of your arrival so the veterinary team knows to expect you! <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n If your pet has diarrhea paired with vomiting or loss of appetite, this is considered an \u201cORANGE\u201d \u2013 or urgent case \u2013 on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend having your pet see your family veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital within the next 12 hours. Please call ahead of your arrival so the veterinary team knows to expect you! <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n If your pet has acute diarrhea without vomiting, this is considered a \u201cYELLOW\u201d \u2013 or semi-urgent case \u2013 on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend having your pet evaluated by your family veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital within 24 hours. Call ahead of your arrival so the veterinary team knows to expect you, and if your pet\u2019s condition worsens, call the team back to inform them of the status change. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Before we get started, we\u2019re just going to flat out say it: yes, this blog is entirely about your pet\u2019s diarrhea. So, if you\u2019re eating or get squeamish when discussing bodily functions, then please return to this blog if and when you need it, or not at all if you prefer!<\/p>\n Now that we got that out of the way, let\u2019s continue.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ranging from soft to liquid stool, diarrhea can be a messy \u2013 and frustrating \u2013 symptom to manage at home, especially when it means extra bathroom trips outside or even accidents throughout your house. Although diarrhea is a common symptom, pet parents struggle to determine the best course of action. Here\u2019s a breakdown of the main causes of diarrhea in pets and how to decide when to monitor your pet at home versus when to seek veterinary care.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>most common causes <\/span>for your pet\u2019s diarrhea <\/span>include:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you are concerned about your pet\u2019s diarrhea, it can <\/span>be difficult to decide <\/span>on a course of action. Is<\/span> it<\/span> okay to <\/span>monitor<\/span> your pet at home<\/span>? Should you <\/span>schedule an appointment with your family veterinarian in the morning<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span> O<\/span>r <\/span>does your pet <\/span>require<\/span> immediate care a<\/span>t<\/span> an<\/span> animal <\/span>ER<\/span>? <\/span>We get it \u2013 <\/span>there\u2019s<\/span> a lot to consider! <\/span>Every pet and every situation <\/span>is<\/span> different. <\/span>Generally speaking, however<\/span>, <\/span>h<\/span>ere\u2019s<\/span> what we recommend:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While <\/span>monitoring<\/span> your pet at home, you can offer a bland diet for 3-5 days. A bland diet is a highly digestible diet that <\/span>contains<\/span> minimal fat and spices. <\/span>This can be a prescription diet <\/span>you\u2019ve<\/span> previously <\/span>received<\/span> from your family veterinarian or a homemade one. We feed pets such a diet when they are experiencing gastrointestinal illness, disease, or are recovering from surgery.<\/span> Note that bland diets are intended more for dogs than for cats.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It may also be helpful to add water to the food to increase your pet\u2019s water intake.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nCommon Causes<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Causes Inside the GI Tract (Stomach, small intestine, large intestine)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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Causes Outside the GI Tract<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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![\"sick](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2-3.png\")
<\/p>\nWhat to Do Next<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Monitor Your Pet at Home When\u2026<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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![\"puppy](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/5-3.png\")
<\/p>\nBland Diet Instructions<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
Bland diets should consist of one part meat to two parts grain:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n
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![\"dog](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/3-3.png\")
<\/p>\nSchedule an Appointment with Your Family Veterinarian When\u2026<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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![\"animal](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/6-2.png\")
<\/p>\nSeek Immediate Veterinary Care from Your Local Animal ER<\/span> When\u2026<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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