What Is Stress Colitis?

Has your dog ever developed diarrhea during a stressful situation? Maybe you were traveling, had visitors staying at the house, boarded your dog, or changed the normal routine. Stress may be the reason.

Stress colitis happens when stress upsets the digestive system and causes irritation in the colon. Some dogs may have diarrhea, mucus in the stool, or need to go outside much more often than usual.

Finding what is causing the stress is important, but I also look at the diet and overall digestive health. What you feed can make a difference in how well your dog handles these episodes and how quickly the digestive system gets back to normal.

Signs of Stress Colitis

Symptoms of stress colitis may come on suddenly, especially after your dog has been anxious, excited, or had a change in routine.

Some common signs include:

• Diarrhea 
• Mucus in the stool 
• Small amounts of blood in the stool 
• Needing to go outside more often 
• Straining to have a bowel movement 
• Gas 
• Stomach discomfort 
• Loss of appetite 

Some dogs may have only one or two symptoms. Others may have digestive problems every time they are in a stressful situation.

What Can Trigger Stress Colitis?

Dogs can become stressed by situations that may not seem stressful to us. Even excitement can upset the digestive system in some dogs.

Triggers may include:

• Boarding 
• Traveling 
• Guests visiting
• New pet or person in the household 
• Moving to a new home 
• Changes in daily routine 
• Being left alone 
• Grooming or veterinary visits 
• Thunderstorms, fireworks, and other loud noises
• Too much excitement 

How Stress Affects the Digestive System

Stress can affect your dog's digestive system very quickly. When a dog becomes anxious, nervous, or overly excited, the digestive system may react quickly.

This can cause the intestines to move food through too fast, leading to diarrhea, mucus, gas, or frequent bowel movements.

Some dogs have a more sensitive digestive system than others. A stressful event that does not bother one dog may cause another dog to have diarrhea for several days.

If this happens often, I recommend looking at more than just the stress. Diet, digestive health, and other health problems may also be contributing to the problem.

What to Feed a Dog With Stress Colitis

When your dog has stress colitis, I recommend keeping the diet simple and easy to digest. Too many different foods and treats can make the digestive system even more upset.

Some dogs do well with a simple homemade diet using a lean protein, such as chicken or turkey, along with rice. Other dogs may do better with a high-quality canned or dry food.

I recommend feeding several small meals throughout the day rather than one or two large meals. Smaller meals may be easier for your dog to digest while the digestive system settles down.

Probiotics and Digestive Support

Probiotics may be helpful for dogs with stress colitis because stress can upset the balance of good bacteria in the digestive system.

I do not recommend choosing a probiotic simply because the label says it is for digestive health. Some products contain a lot of fillers and very little of the ingredients you are actually looking for. To learn more about the importance of probiotics and how to choose a high-quality one, read my article, “Probiotics for Dogs and Cats.”

The probiotic I recommend depends on your dog's diet, symptoms, health history, and how often the digestive problems occur. During a consultation, I will look at these factors before deciding which probiotic or other digestive supplements may be helpful.

Reducing Stress and Preventing Future Episodes

Pay attention to what is happening when your dog develops digestive problems. Is it after boarding, traveling, having company, or a change in the household? You may start to see a pattern.

Dogs that are easily stressed usually do better with a regular routine. Try to keep meals and exercise on a schedule and give your dog a quiet place to rest.

Before boarding, traveling, or another stressful event, I would not start changing foods or adding a lot of new treats. This is a good time to keep the diet simple.

When to See Your Veterinarian

Do not assume that diarrhea is always caused by stress. Parasites, food sensitivities, infections, and other health problems can cause many of the same symptoms.

If the diarrhea does not improve or keeps coming back, or you notice blood in the stool, vomiting, loss of appetite, or unusual tiredness, have your veterinarian check your dog.

After other health problems have been ruled out, I look more closely at the diet and what was happening when the episodes occurred.

An Individualized Approach to Stress Colitis

Every dog with stress colitis is different. Some dogs have an occasional episode, while others have digestive problems every time they become stressed or excited.

During a consultation, I look at your dog's diet, symptoms, health history, medications, and what may be triggering the episodes. I then develop a nutritional and holistic program based on your dog's individual needs.

If your dog continues to have diarrhea or digestive problems during stressful situations, contact For Pet Health to schedule a consultation.