Diarrhea in shelter dogs and cats is almost always either preventable or treatable, usually easily and inexpensively.
While loose or frequent stool may be a sign of serious illness, most shelter veterinarians find treatable conditions such as parasites, stress, diet change or minor illness are the real culprits behind canine and feline diarrhea in animal shelters.
In compiling the resources below, Maddie’s InstituteSM reached out to shelter medical experts, foster caregivers, and adopters for their experiences, protocols and outcomes working with cats and dogs with diarrhea.
What we found is that diarrhea can often be prevented or treated in its earliest stages by focusing on simple steps and protocols. Check out what we learned!
In this overview of shelter dog and cat diarrhea, Dr. Barbara Hanek of PAWS Chicago, Dr. Heather Budgin of Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek, CA, and Dr. Elizabeth Berliner, Director of Clinical Programs for Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University, share their experiences of beating diarrhea while still moving pets as quickly as possible from intake to adoption.
A Protocoled Response to Dog and Cat Diarrhea in a Shelter Setting
Dr. Ellen Jefferson on how a “herd medicine” approach of standardized protocols helped make Austin, TX, the nation’s largest no-kill community.
The Role of Nutrition and Diet in Shelter Dog and Cat Diarrhea
What role do diet change and nutritional problems play in shelter pet diarrhea? Dr. Justin Schmalberg gives the perspective of a veterinarian board-certified in small animal nutrition. His conclusions and advice may surprise you!
Video: The ABCs of Treating Shelter Pet Diarrhea
How tough is it to fight diarrhea in shelter cats and dogs? For most pets, it’s not tough at all, as long as you keep it simple. Dr. Elizabeth Berliner outlines the basics in this short video.