Senior Terrier With Small, Soft, Dark Stools and Drinking a Lot
by Lorna
(Carmichael, Calif.USA)
He has never had large solid bowel movements from day one and we always have to wipe him after a bowel movement. His stools are small, usually very dark in color and soft. He squats in several places before he is finished.
He is active, very loving, eats well. (We feed him ground beef or chicken mixed with his dry kibble. He has bone shaped dog biscuits and duck treats every day.
We took in a stray Soft Coated Wheaten terrier three years ago and Blu welcomed him into our home. We have been told for two male terriers to get along immediately is a rarity. We also adopted a female Kerry Blue Terrier who was rescued from a puppy mill six years ago. All three dogs love each other.
Now that Blu is a senior dog, should we be concerned about his unusual bowel movements? Also, he drinks a lot of water and tends to throw some up afterwards.
He has always had separation anxiety and gets upset when anyone leaves the house so if we have to go anywhere, we take all three dogs to day care but don't leave them overnight.
Small, soft stools and squatting in several spots suggest irritation of the large bowel (colitis) or a problem in the rectum or anal area. As he has had this since you adopted him, a long-term diet intolerance is possible, and the ground beef and daily treats may play a part.
What concerns us more is that he now drinks a lot of water and sometimes throws it up. Increased thirst in an older dog can be a sign of kidney disease, diabetes, Cushing's disease or other illness. Please ask your vet to examine him and run blood and urine tests, along with a stool test and a rectal exam. Very dark or black stools are worth mentioning, because black poop can mean bleeding higher in the gut.
See our dog poop chart.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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