This article was updated on May 5th, 2023
While there’s never a great time for your dog to have diarrhea, having it at nighttime presents its own special challenges. If you get woken up by a messy bout of diarrhea from your dog in the middle of the night, know that you are not alone.
The signs are obvious. Your dog is running around in circles. Panting heavily. Or maybe even scratching at the door. One thing is for sure – this dog needs to go outside for a potty break, NOW! Otherwise, you will be cleaning up a smelly mess inside the house…
Even though this won’t help the cleanup process, it may ease your mind to know that occasional diarrhea in dogs is completely normal. However, diarrhea at night, or any other time, can be due to more serious issues.
Let’s break those causes of diarrhea at night down to help you know when it’s a big deal, and review tips to STOP your dog’s diarrhea fast.
Related article: If your dog also vomits in addition to diarrhea, read our article: 4 Proven Vet Tips to Help a Dog who Vomits and Has Diarrhea
How Serious is Diarrhea in Dogs?
Again, occasional diarrhea is completely normal in dogs. It’s just the body’s way of getting rid of something irritating. Having diarrhea that lasts a night or two with no other signs usually isn’t a cause for concern.
When you need to be worried is if the diarrhea is lasting longer than two nights or if your dog is showing other signs of vomiting, lethargy, not eating, or stomach pain.
WATCH: 3 Important Tips To Care For an Old Dog [VET VIDEO]
Why is My Dog Having Diarrhea in the Middle of the Night?
Dogs are more likely to have accidents at night since they usually aren’t allowed the freedom to go outdoors as frequently at night as they are any other time.
Diarrhea at night may also be more common due to the timing of their meals or medications. Dogs usually take 6-10 hours to digest a meal, meaning if your dog ate something they shouldn’t have during the day, the problems are more likely to come out at night.
Top Causes of Diarrhea at Night
The causes of dogs having diarrhea at night are very similar to those that cause diarrhea during the day. Top causes are the following:
1. Eating something they shouldn’t have: some dogs will eat anything and everything that will fit in their mouth, even things that may upset their digestive tract. Eating trash, rotten food, toxic plants, dirt, rocks, or table scraps can all throw a dog’s gut into a turmoil resulting in diarrhea. Those dogs that have more of an iron gut may only show up with diarrhea, while others may experience vomiting, lethargy, not wanting to eat, and stomach pain.
2. Change in diet: a dog’s digestive system contains a finely tuned microbiome that is there to efficiently digest their normal diet. Any changes in that diet, even just a switch in brand or flavor, can disrupt that important microbiome and leave a dog with a case of diarrhea. Vomiting may also be a part of it.
3. Illness: bacteria, viruses and parasites are everywhere in your dog’s world, making it easy for him to pick up a diarrhea-causing culprit from contact with other dogs, feces, or contaminated water. This cause of diarrhea at night is more common in puppies, older dogs, or those with other health issues as healthy dogs can better fight these infections before they cause a problem. Vomiting, lethargy, not eating, fever, stomach pain, and bloody diarrhea may also be seen.
4. Medications: medications, such as dewormers or antibiotics, can cause temporary diarrhea. You may notice the diarrhea more at night due to timing of when you gave the medication. Most of the time you won’t notice any other signs and the diarrhea will go away within a couple of nights.
5. Food allergies and others: dogs may develop allergies to certain types of food, mainly a protein source like chicken, beef, or egg. Diarrhea, along with vomiting, gas and stomach pain may result.
Pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and stress may also contribute to diarrhea at night. You may notice vomiting and stomach pain with IBD and pancreatitis and increased panting, hiding, or anxiety with stress-related causes.
5 Home Remedies To Help Your Dog Fast with Diarrhea at Night
If you’re noticing that your dog has diarrhea at night, it may be time to get to the bottom of it.
1. Adjust the feeding schedule. If he seems otherwise healthy, you may adjust his feeding schedule. Most of the time you can figure out a dog’s digestive transit time and either feed them earlier in the morning to make sure that breakfast meals move through before nighttime or wait to feed until later in the evening so that it will be morning by the time your dog is ready to go.
Disclaimer: This content is not a substitute for veterinary care. Always consult with your vet for health decisions. Learn more.
If your pup is showing other signs along with diarrhea and you haven’t recently changed their diet or started a new medication, here are some other options:
2. Feed a bland diet. Sometimes the gut just needs a break. Feeding an easily digestible, bland diet is a way to give your dog nutrition without putting a lot of strain on the digestive system. Boiled chicken and rice for 2-3 days with a gradual return to their regular diet can help clear up mild cases of diarrhea.
3. Probiotics. The microbiome is made up of bacteria that lead to a healthy digestive system. When things get out of whack, repopulating that microbiome with probiotics can help right the digestive ship and help mild diarrhea.
4. Fiber. Fiber is an important part of a dog’s diet. It helps to regulate digestive time and bulk up watery bowel movements. You can up your dog’s fiber by giving low-calorie dog foods, feeding a little canned pumpkin, or other approved fiber supplements.
5. Feed smaller portions. You also may opt to give your dog smaller meals more frequently. This will just help prevent the gut from being overloaded with a large meal and may keep dogs satiated for longer to reduce stress.
And Finally – call your vet. If your pup has diarrhea that lasts more than a couple of nights or if he is showing any other signs, it’s time to call your vet.
When Should I Call the Vet If my Dog Has Diarrhea at Night?
Depending on the cause of your dog’s nighttime diarrhea, you may need to get a veterinarian involved. For changes in food or eating something that they shouldn’t have, diarrhea should only last a night or two. Most of the time with these mild cases, a dog will still be eating and may vomit once or twice but not have any other really serious symptoms.
On the other hand, if his diarrhea is lasting longer than a couple of nights or if he’s also not eating, vomiting frequently, is lethargic, has a fever, or stomach pain, it’s time to see your vet. You may also consider getting your vet involved if your dog has recurrent cases of nighttime diarrhea that come and go with or without other symptoms.
Emergency situations would include when your dog is dehydrated due to diarrhea or vomiting or if he is in severe discomfort.
What Will a Vet Do for Diarrhea in Dogs?
Your veterinarian will want to get to the bottom of your dog’s diarrhea at night. This will depend on the examination and history of your pup’s issues. If his diarrhea is related to dietary changes or eating something bad, they will focus on getting him on a suitable diet, which may include prescription food. They may also prescribe anti-vomiting medications, give fluids, or take x-rays to check for foreign objects.
If possible, bringing a fecal sample may aid in your dog’s diagnosis. The vet will be able to check for parasites and digestive abnormalities that could be the culprit. The fresher the sample the better, so be sure to get the most recent.
Infections may need fluids, antibiotics, anti-vomiting medications, and anti-inflammatories along with a special diet.
Look to spend anywhere from $200 for mild cases of nighttime diarrhea to $1,000 or more for cases that require hospitalization.
The prognosis for nighttime diarrhea in dogs is good for mild cases and good to guarded depending on the cause for more severe cases. Having your dog up-to-date on their vaccinations, providing a high-quality diet, and not feeding table scraps or allowing him to eat things that he shouldn’t can all help prevent diarrhea at night from recurring.
FAQ
Can the causes of nighttime diarrhea be different for puppies, adults, and senior dogs?
Puppies are more likely to eat things that they shouldn’t just due to their curious nature and propensity to chew. Puppies are also highly susceptible to infections since their immune systems are still developing. Senior dogs are also more susceptible to infections due to a decline in immune function with age and other underlying health conditions. Senior dogs may also be more likely to have stress-related diarrhea because their cognitive health is declining and they are less accepting of change.
What if my dog has diarrhea at night but everything else seems normal?
If your dog isn’t showing any other signs besides nighttime diarrhea, check their diet. If you have recently changed food without gradually transitioning him or have started a new medication, that is the most likely culprit. If your pup likes to inhale everything in his environment, that may be another likely cause.
What if my dog has diarrhea at night and also vomiting?
Vomiting and diarrhea at the same time often indicate that something is wrong with the digestive tract. This could be anything from eating something he shouldn’t have to a change in diet to an illness. If a dog isn’t showing lethargy and is still eating normally, monitoring for a day or two is usually fine. However, if he is showing any other signs, he should be seen by a vet.
For more ideas on how to stop dog diarrhea at night, check out these 8 Easy Tips from a Vet.
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