If your dog develops diarrhea after a stressful event, it may be stress colitis. Signs include straining to poop, passing loose stools, and urgency to poop. Sometimes the stool may contain mucus or small amounts of fresh blood.
Symptoms of Stress Colitis in Dogs
Soft and loose stool. A change in stool color. Stool with bright specks of blood. Increased pooping.
Anxiety pooping (or peeing) is a common problem for dogs with separation anxiety, so don't get mad at your pooch the next time this happens - it might be that they couldn't help themselves.
Dog diarrhea is caused for numerous reasons including stress. Common stressful situations that can trigger gastrointestinal (GI) upset in a dog include adoption, boarding, separation anxiety from their owner, changes in the household or environment and introduction of a new pet or family member.
Stress signs to look for include whale eye (when dogs reveal the whites of their eyes), tucked ears, tucked tail, raised hackles, lip-licking, yawning, and panting. Your dog might also avoid eye contact or look away.
Stress colitis is one of the leading causes of large bowel diarrhea in all dogs. Whatever the cause, the inflammation in the colon results in reduced water absorption and decreased ability to store feces in the colon. This causes the classic symptom of frequent small amounts of diarrhea, often with mucus or blood.
How Long Does Stress Diarrhea Last? Most episodes of diarrhea are harmless and should last less than two days2. Stress-induced diarrhea typically goes away once the stressful event has passed. If you have severe or persistent diarrhea, visit a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
If your dog develops diarrhea after a stressful event, it may be stress colitis. Signs include straining to poop, passing loose stools, and urgency to poop. Sometimes the stool may contain mucus or small amounts of fresh blood.
Anxiety: Dogs with anxiety problems—namely separation anxiety—may poop inside the house when they are feeling stressed. When under duress, many dogs are unable to control their urge to urinate or defecate, leading even the best house-trained pup to have accidents indoors.
Many people report experiencing more yellow stools as a symptom of anxiety. Anxiety does not specifically affect the color of stool, but it can affect how food moves through the digestive tract. There are several ways that anxiety affects digestion, increasing the risk of yellow feces.
For instance, watery stools may indicate an intestinal problem, while small pellet-like poops can mean your dog is dehydrated. More serious issues that warrant a veterinary visit include mucus (possible inflamed colon), blood, white bits (may be tapeworm), or black, coffee-like stool (possible internal bleeding.)
Abnormal color patterns that should catch your eye include: Black stool: bleeding high up in the digestive tract may result in tar-colored stool. Red streaks: this indicates bleeding in the lower digestive tract. Grey or yellow stools: may indicate issues with the pancreas, liver, or gallbladder.
The intensity of these panic/anxiety attacks tends to have an immediate impact, and most of those with panic attacks will experience diarrhea either during or soon after an episode. However, because those with panic attacks often also experience persistent or chronic anxiety, diarrhea can still occur at any time.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), when a person is anxious, the body releases hormones and chemicals. These can enter the digestive tract and disrupt the gut flora, which can result in a chemical imbalance that leads to diarrhea.
If the diarrhea doesn't resolve by holding back on food and then re-introducing a bland diet, though, then it's time to call your veterinarian. Pets that have chronic soft stool or chronic full-blown diarrhea should definitely be examined by a veterinarian, even if they are otherwise behaving normally.
Dogs can become stressed because they are bored, frustrated, scared or anxious. You may also be feeling a bit stressed by the coronavirus restrictions in place. For many dogs, being around a stressed family member will be enough to affect them, as dogs can sense when things aren't quite right.
The dog breeds that are more likely to have this problem are the German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Jack Russell Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Toy Poodle, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, and German Shorthaired Pointer.
Excessive Sleeping
Lethargy is usual one of the first and most common symptoms of stress and anxiety in dogs.