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My dog has diarrhea for 24 hours. When should I take her to the vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | spayed | 75 lbs

Nala has had diahrea for 24 hours. I withheld food for 12 hours then fed her boiled chicken. She is active but isn't really interested in water. She had no problem eating..... when should i consider taking her to the vet?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Amber W

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on August 3rd, 2017

Diarrhea lasting longer than 24-48 hours may cause dehydration and other problems so it is a good idea to have Nala seen soon. You can consider making her a bland diet of boiled chicken and sweet potato or rice (with added water) to see if this helps, but it sounds like Nala may need some medication to help her feel better.

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    Answered By Rebeccah Wood

    Licensed Veterinary Technician, Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist

    Published on

    Hello! I'm sorry to hear that Nala has been sick. You should take her to the vet in the morning if the diarrhea continues. I worry about dehydration with diarrhea for more than 24 hours, and the fact that she hasn't improved with supportive care concerns me. I'm very glad she's eating, however! If anything changes, such as she starts vomiting or becomes lethargic, I recommend bringing her to an emergency vet. The diarrhea may be caused by a virus that will pass with additional care, but there is always the possibility of something more serious going on, like an obstruction. At the vet's office, you can expect that they will give Nala a full physical exam. They will most likely want to check a stool sample for parasites, as this is a very common cause of diarrhea. They may also recommend an x-ray and/or bloodwork. I can almost guarantee that they will give Nala some fluids under her skin to help with dehydration, and this works wonders for starting the healing process. In case you aren't familiar with your area, here is a local 24-hour emergency hospital, just in case: Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency 2338 NW Amberbrook Dr, Beaverton, OR 97006 (503) 629-5800 Good luck, and I sure do hope that Nala feels better soon!

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