It is not unusual for your recently adopted/fostered greyhound to suffer from an upset tummy/diarrhoea in the early days as they settle into their new life. There are two likely causes. Read more below.
One reason your greyhound might be experiencing diarrhoea is that they may be a little stressed about the recent change in their living environment; the other being a result of your greyhound adjusting to a change in diet. Or it could be a combination of both.
Whilst this is far from ideal, it is not necessarily a cause for panic.
What To Look Out For
Assuming that aside from the diarrhoea your greyhound is well (ie they are eating, drinking, urinating as usual, not vomiting or overly lethargic or dehydrated), a couple of days of loose stools is not a huge cause for concern. If your greyhound’s stools contain blood or are very dark and of a tar-like consistency, please contact your Application Coordinator who will likely advise an urgent vet check to rule out anything more serious.
What Can I Do?
Generally speaking, feeding your greyhound a very bland diet for a few days will see the diarrhoea resolve. Greyhound Rescue advises feeding boiled chicken breast (fat and skin removed), plain boiled white rice, and potentially a probiotic such as Prokolin. You may need to feed a few small portions a day rather than two normal size meals, until your greyhound’s health improves. At that point you can slowly reintroduce your hound’s regular diet over 2-3 days.
Also ensure that your greyhound has ready access to drinking water. If your hound is hesitant to drink water, adding water to the chicken/rice may help to ensure your hound remains hydrated.
If your greyhound’s diarrhoea does not resolve after 3-5 days of following a bland diet and taking a probiotic, or if their condition worsens or you are concerned, please reach out to your Application Coordinator for advice. In an emergency, please follow our vet protocol and take your hound to your nearest vet asap.