My small dog has diarrhea for days. Should I use OTC or see a vet?

Question

My dog Golia (4 year old chihuahua about 4 pounds) has had diarrhea for the past few days. The stool is very soft, if not liquid. It is light color and sometimes seems to have a mucus film. I've given him some plain white rice mixed with a little plain chicken. However, I would like to know if you would recommend an over the counter medicine or should I see a vet. Since he is so small, I'm concerned with him becoming dehydrated. Plus, I am concerned that our other dog will catch the same. Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Male | unneutered | 3 years and 9 months old | 4.2 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

I would recommend having Golia get checked out by a vet. I always recommend a quick checkup for any diarrhea that lasts longer than 24 hours. Sometimes it is just a simple upset stomach that will respond to a round of prescription medications. It could also be caused by intestinal parasites. Or it could be an indicator of other illness, such as bacterial or viral infections or IBD. Some dogs will respond to adding 1/2 a tablespoon of canned pumpkin (for fiber) in their food twice a day, but if Golia isn't better tomorrow, it is best to be evaluated by a vet. Since the diarrhea has been going on for a while, I do not recommend OTC medications like Pepto-Bismol ( https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/pepto-bismol/ )

My small dog has diarrhea for days. Should I use OTC or see a vet?

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