Yesterday, on our mid day walk, Storm had diarrhea. For Storm, this is huge because he usually can eat just about anything without any tummy upset. I thought maybe it was because I started to mix in THK Fish again but since he has had it in the past, I didn't think he'd go soft. So I just gave him his dry food and when I checked outside, he had a normal BM at some point yesterday afternoon/evening.

He hadn't had one since until I took him for a walk around 2:15pm and it was normal with just a little (very little) mucous, and it was a little big since he usually would go in the morning and he didn't this morning. Right after he went, not even 5 minutes, he went again but this time it was diarrhea. We got home about 10 minutes later and he want in the back yard and it was a little more diarrhea. I noticed some white pieces which I think came from a ball he was chewing on yesterday and I took it away because there was a small piece of it missing out of the ball. Then he went to the other end of the yard and squatted but nothing came out.

About 10 minutes later, he went outside again and nothing came out.

I don't think he ate anything else....

Now I'm wondering if he's constipated? (But how could he be when he just went...) Or does he have a blockage? (But how could it be when he just went...)

Any ideas or advice?

Hubby wants to take him to the vet to check for a blockage, but I believe that would mean he'd have to go under for an x-ray, yes? And I don't think it is a blockage because he just pooped...or could it still be blockage?

I wouldn't rush to the vet yet. Take it from someone whose dog is having chronic diarrhea issues right now, squatting with nothing coming out is definitely diarrhea and not constipation. It often gets confused for constipation, and rightfully so. Mila does this daily. She'll squat and nothing will come out, she'll move a few steps and a little will come out, she'll half assedly squat while sniffing something because she still has to go but isn't interested in it anymore and would rather sniff a flower and a little will come out, I'll snap her out of it and she'll trot around and find another good spot, squat some more with nothing, move a few steps and a little something, squat some more with nothing until I get tired of standing there staring at my dog squat to no avail while also sniffing a flower and trying to bite a bee and I deem her finished and drag her inside.

If you think he ate part of the ball I would obviously allow plenty of water and just let his body rid itself of the foreign object. You'll know if there's a blockage. If it's bad I would withhold food for 12-24 hours, if not I would keep feeding him normally and just let him get rid of the pieces of ball himself. I wouldn't worry just yet

I also just noticed this happened yesterday. How is he doing today?

He had diarrhea yesterday, then 2 regular BMs between yesterday afternoon and today at around 2:15pm then right after his last BM (2:15pm) which was diarrhea (It's in my original post).

He eats and drinks and acts as usual.

Oh yeah you're right I'm sorry I'm losing my mind today. If he's acting normally and drinking I wouldn't worry. Xrays are $140, just by the way. Had some done this morning. So unless you think it's necessary to find out what's in there I would wait and give it a chance to work itself out first. If he still has diarrhea in a few days I would take him in.

Yeah, I've dealt with diarrhea issues with Ginger so I know the drill...I just never had Storm go soft for anything which concerns me because it's unlike him.

We'll monitor him and make sure he has another BM by tomorrow afternoon...

Not to scare you, but dogs can still have a blockage even if they have diarrhea.
 
http://www.helium.com/items/1592107-symptoms-of-an-intestinal-blockage-or-bowel-obstruction-in-a-dog
 
Hopefully he just ate something this time around that didn't agree with him.
 
Keep us posted and I hope Storm starts feeling better soon.

Ok, so the only symptoms Storm has is intermittent diarrhea (as far as I can tell) or difficulty in defecating....and the only thing I noticed that he ate that he wasn't supposed to is a pea size piece of that ball, which looked like he already passed...

I'll see what his BMs are like tomorrow....

Today, I only know of one BM in the middle of the afternoon and hubby said it was soft-formed which will smear if you tried to pick up...

He usually goes about 3 times a day, but now only goes once maybe twice.

He's acting, eating and drinking as usual...

I wouldn't worry too much Claudia. Cato had a diarrhea issue the other day from veal heart (too rich for him) and literally had explosive diarrhea. he didn't poop for another 32 hours, but the had a formed stool when he did. I freaked out and called the vet because he had horrible diarrhea and they said to relax and just keep an eye on it.

However, if you want piece of mind do the Xray.

Thanks Megan.
If he still has very soft (but formed) BMs today, I might make him some eggs and green beans and see if he firms up.

Hubby said Storm had one BM today and it was normal. So I think we're on the mend...