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My dog has watery diarrhea and crate accidents. Time for vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Weimaraner | Female | spayed | 65 lbs

7 year old Weimaraner who is crate trained. She has not had an accident in her crate since she was a puppy. I came home on Wednesday afternoon after being gone for 2 hours and the smell of poop was overwhelming. She had watery poop all over her cage. When I went to get her out of her crate the next morning, she has messed her crate again. This time, the smell was awful. I don't even know how to describe it. We have been feeding her pumpkin and chicken for a day and she's still sick. Vet time?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on August 25th, 2017

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that Layla has been having so much diarrhea! Diarrhea can be caused by a wide variety of underlying health issues, such as parasites, viruses, dietary indiscretion (eating new foods), among many other issues. If Layla is otherwise eating, drinking, and acting normally without vomiting, you can try a bit more home care before going to the vet, such as withholding food for 24 hours, then offering a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice for a few days. Try to avoid giving more pumpkin because too much pumpkin (usually more than a few tablespoons per day) could actually worsen her diarrhea. If the diarrhea improves with the bland diet, gradually mix the bland diet with her normal food over another 5-7 days. Probiotics (such as Proviable or Fortiflora) may also be beneficial. However, if Layla's diarrhea continues despite the bland diet, or if she is lethargic, refuses to eat, begins vomiting, or is not drinking water, she should go to her vet for an exam and diagnostic testing to try to get to the bottom of this issue. I hope this helps and that she feels better soon!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Davis

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Yes it's time for a veterinary exam and fecal test. Then they can give her medication to control the diarrhea. Dogs get diarrhea often from eating things they shouldn't. You did the right thing to give her a bland diet with fiber but she can become dehydrated if this isn't controlled and she is uncomfortable. I know she does want to mess in her crate so this is severe enough that she can't control the diarrhea. With medication the diarrhea should resolve in 12 hours or so. Please take her out often and putting pee pads in the crate will make clean up easier. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Layla.

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