My 4-year-old Bichon strains, has loose stools. Is it obstruction?

That praying posture is usually a sign of stomach pain. Since he’s so small and showing signs of discomfort I would bring him in soon for a veterinary exam, abdominal X-ray and urinalysis. If there is a piece of plastic in his stomach it may need to be surgically removed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Toby.

It doesn't sound like an obstruction - not impossible, but usually they won't be able to keep their food or water down. So, I think it is less likely. He is probably drinking a lot because of the diarrhea. If you are worried about an obstruction though, you need to get him back to your vet for a follow-up and x-rays. If you want to try something else at home I would suggest this: 1. Give ONE dose of Immodium. They come in 2mg tablets. Give him one tablet. Please, ONE dose only or you will cause other issues. You can use generic - loperamide. 2. No food for 6-8 hours. Nothing. Water is OK. 3. After 6-8 hours then start feeding small amounts of a bland diet every few hours. Bland foods like: scrambled eggs, plain rice, plain pasta, boiled chicken or turkey, human baby foods (meat flavors). No butter, oil or spices on the food. If all if going well do this for a few days and then slowly transition him back to his regular food. 4. Continue the Proviable as directed. If he starts vomiting at any time he needs to see the vet ASAP. Otherwise, try this and see how he responds. Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Diarrhea is typically not a sign of an obstruction of the intestines. GI obstructions cause severe vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite. It is possible that whatever toy Ben ate caused some irritation or trauma to the lining of his intestines/colon that is now manifesting as diarrhea. The diarrhea could also be unrelated to the toy, and could be due to eating any other type of new food, stress, or GI parasites. I recommend feeding Ben strictly his usual diet - no treats or other humans foods - for at least 5 days to see if this helps resolve his softer stools. I hope this is helpful!

Dogs that have been vomiting and not eating well won't have much stool to produce. However, I am a little concerned that Finley vomited after receiving the antiemetic shot and that he was gagging after the water. Whenever a dog that has received Cerenia continues to be nauseous or has a poor appetite, then it leaves me concerned about a possible GI foreign body or obstruction. If he continues to do this for another 12-24 hours or does not produce a bowel movement in 24 hours, then I would recommend that Finley be re-evaluated for a possible obstruction. The vet may recommend x-rays or an ultrasound to see if this is a possibility.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach about your concerns with Fiddle! There could be a couple of reasons why his stools have changed recently. It certainly is possible that he has a blockage from the bully stick and/or beef esophagus. Intestinal blockages can and do cause a reduction in stools and diarrhea. It could also be that he has intestinal worms or a GI illness causing these symptoms among other causes. Given that it's been almost a week now, I do recommend taking him into a vet. I would feel comfortable trying a home remedy if this problem had been going on for around 24 hours, but problems occurring this length in time do require a vet visit. In addition, because there is a concern his problems could be due to a blockage, that makes it even more important he sees a vet. I would take him into a vet today if possible; otherwise, get him into one first thing in the morning. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Oh no, it's not good that David ate that bone! Diarrhea can be a sign of obstruction, and it is likely that the steak bone can lead to an obstruction. I would take him into a vet immediately for x-rays. There's nothing you can do at home from him, if he does have an obstruction from the bone, he needs surgery to remove it. Please take him into a vet right away.

Vomiting and diarrhea can be seen with an intestinal blockage OR a quick change in diet, but they can also be caused by food allergy, intestinal parasites, gastroenteritis, bacterial or viral infection, IBD, pancreatitis, among others. Dogs with diarrhea will often APPEAR constipated because they have the urge to defecate but there is nothing there to get out. I would recommend that Tikari get checked out by a vet, as dogs with both vomiting and diarrhea can get dehydrated easily. After an exam, the vet may recommend bloodwork, intestinal parasite screening, x-rays or ultrasound. Costs can vary drastically from clinic to clinic, so you might call your clinic ahead of time to inquire about the costs of diagnostics.