Diarrhea is a natural part of life â all pets (and pet owners) have had it at some point.
While diarrhea can be smelly, messy and potentially embarrassing, Dr. Michael Hung, a small animal internal medicine resident at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explains what causes it and when a pet owner should be worried.
Diarrhea is defined as loose, watery and more frequent bowel movements, and simply indicates that something is irritating the GI tract, Hung said.
âIt occurs when something either impairs the intestineâs ability to absorb water or causes the intestine to secrete more water,â he said. âThis can be from a problem originating within the intestines â such as parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, a sudden change in diet or even stress.â