You’re looking down at a runny mess of dog poo, and the dog is looking up at you with a sad look on his face. At some point, it’s a gross fact of life for all dog owners: your dog has diarrhea. Relax, plug your nose, and let’s take a look at what causes dog diarrhea and how to get your dog’s gut back in order.

Your dog probably has diarrhea if his poop is loose or softer than normal. According to PetMD, symptoms that indicate or accompany diarrhea include:

• Accidents
• Watery feces
• Increased volume of poop
• Blood or mucus in the poop
• Straining to defecate
• Change in mood
• Fever, fatigue, or weakness

How does normal dog poop look? A healthy dog poop is chocolate brown, log-shaped, solid but not hard, and moist enough to squish when touched.

A lot of different issues can cause dog diarrhea:

• Overeating
• Eating rotten food or ingesting a harmful substance
• Eating non-food items like socks or toys
• A sudden change in diet
• Allergies
• Illness caused by a bacteria, parasites, or worms
• Underlying medical conditions like cancer, colitis, or kidney and liver disease
• Medications
• Stress or a change in routine

If your dog has diarrhea, do a quick visual analysis before you clean up the poop. How it looks can help you or a vet figure out what might be wrong. Grey or orange dog poop might mean organ trouble. Black poop might indicate a more serious issue like internal bleeding. Poop with white bits might mean worms. Finally, watery or shapeless dog poop might mean an intestinal problem.

The big pooper-scooper question: How do you stop dog diarrhea? Thankfully, there are steps you can take to get dog diarrhea under control.

1. Put your dog on a 12-24 hour fast.

Fasting helps a dog’s digestive system rest and can allow the cause of diarrhea to clear out. Always offer your dog water, even if it is on a temporary fast from food.

2. Give your dog a probiotic.

Giving your dog a probiotic can establish healthy bacteria in the gut and could speed recovery. Probiotics can be purchased from pet stores or through your veterinarian. Try mixing probiotics into the water your dog is drinking during its fast.

3. Serve simple, bland food after diarrhea and fasting.

Finally, consider giving your dog a mix of rice, water and small amounts of protein after a bout of diarrhea. Plain boiled chicken with cooked rice or pasta and probiotics mixed in is a good option, and gradually add more protein.

When should you go to the vet for dog diarrhea? If the diarrhea is severe, bloody, or is accompanied by extreme weakness or fever, you should go to the vet to rule out more serious medical issues.

There are some easy ways to prevent dog diarrhea:

• Make sure your dog can’t access food scraps or garbage.
• Avoid changing your dog’s food suddenly, and make a food transition gradually.
• Avoid very stressful activities.

If you have a dog, your pet is likely going to get a case of the runs at some point. With a little time and a temporary bland diet, the diarrhea will likely clear up and your dog will be up and at ’em again in no time.

With lots of beautiful big dogs ready for new homes, we’re sharing some of the many reasons why these jumbo canines make wonderful pets.

Looking for a new dog? Here are five reasons why you should adopt a big dog.

1. Their personalities are just as big as their bodies
From the goofy clowns to the gentle sweethearts, big dogs are full of personality. Their extra-large character will fill their home with fun and love.

2. The cuteness is amplified
Brace yourself for big puppy dog eyes, big head tilts, and big tail wags. Big dogs are adorable on a grand scale.

3. Two words: cuddle buddy
Big dog equals big cuddles. Whether you’re watching a movie on the couch or having a snooze in bed, you’ll always have a cuddle buddy to keep you cosy.

4. They’ll motivate you
Lost your motivation to exercise this winter? A big dog will help you find it. They’ll have you out and about for walks, seeing new places and meeting new people (fellow dog-lovers like you!).

5. They deserve a home too
We have so many big dogs available for adoption. Every one of them is special in their own way, and every one of them is deserving of a caring forever home. Adopt a big dog and you’ll be rewarded with gigantic hugs and colossal kisses.

Cats really don’t like the cold temperatures in winter months so we need to do our best to help keep them warm. The following are some tips for keeping your cat warm, safe and happy during the colder winter months.

• Keep your cat inside if possible. If they are an outdoor cat make sure that you provide them with a warm bed in a sheltered area.
• Your cat’s bed should be located in a warm, draft free place and if possible of the floor. A nice cosy bed is best or a soft blanket inside their bed is nice for them.
• Groom your cat’s coat on a regular basis as matted fur is not the best insulation from the cold.
• Give your cat a heat pack to snuggle up to or lie on.
• Please be mindful that elderly cats often feel the cold more.
• Cats like to get close to heat sources like heaters and blankets. Be sure to keep them away from open fires by securely fencing/blocking the area off.

Also be aware that cold weather can often aggravate joint conditions like arthritis. If your cat appears to be showing signs of pain, joint discomfort or arthritis please take them to your veterinarian for a check-up.

It’s tempting to sneak a couple of extra treats to your pets, but there are some foods that your pet should definitely avoid at all times. Whilst this list isn’t exhaustive, it’s a great place to start to know what you should avoid feeding to your pet!

Chocolate & Caffeine

When ingested by pets chocolate and caffeine can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, panting, excessive thirst, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures and can be potentially fatal.

Alcohol

Alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, decreased coordination, difficulty breathing, tremors, coma and can be potentially fatal.

Avocado

Avocados contain persin which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs. Birds and rodents can develop congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart.

Macadamias

Ingestion of macadamias can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs.

Grapes & Sultanas

Grapes and sultanas contain a toxic substance which can cause kidney failure in animals.

Cooked bones

Cooked bones can splinter when ingested. Bones should only ever be fed raw to pets.

Onions & Garlic

These can cause gastrointestinal upsets and cats are more sensitive to these than dogs. May only cause issues if ingested in large quantities.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a common sweetener and can lead to hypoglycaemia, vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination.

If your pet does consume any of these foods it’s best to contact your vet as soon as possible or the nearest vet emergency centre.