First, how urgent is this?
Go now
- Bright red blood in the stool.
- Black, tarry stool.
- Diarrhoea with repeated retching and a swollen belly, especially in a deep-chested breed.
- Very low energy, unable to stand.
- A puppy or older dog with diarrhoea that will not drink.
Contact your vet today
- Liquid stool lasting more than 2 days.
- Mucus in the stool.
- Pale, grey or yellow stool.
- Diarrhoea with weight down 5% or more within two weeks.
Record and observe
- One soft stool, then normal shape, with normal energy and appetite.
- Brief soft stool after a food change, improving over a few days.
- Already under vet care: record frequency, shape and colour (photos), and bring the record to the next visit.
Before you set off
- When, how often, and what shape, colour and amount, with photos.
- Whether there was blood, mucus, a worm or a foreign object.
- Any recent food change, trip out, dog park, boarding stay or contact with other dogs.
- Drinking and appetite, and whether there was vomiting.
- Vaccination and worming history, plus a list of medicines and the time of the last dose.
- Do not give anti-diarrhoea drugs or human medicine, and do not withhold food or water on your own.
What your vet may ask and do
- Ask: when it started, how often, and what it looks like.
- Ask: any blood, mucus, vomiting or weight loss.
- Ask: food changes, trips out, contact with other dogs, and vaccination history.
- Do: weight, hydration check and abdominal palpation.
- Do: a stool test (parasites, bacteria, virus).
- Do: blood tests (electrolytes, kidney values, protein).
- Do: fluids for a puppy, an older dog or an ongoing case, with admission for severe ones.
Where to go in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong 24-hour vet list
- 24-hour emergency, Hong Kong Island
- 24-hour emergency, Kowloon
- 24-hour emergency, New Territories
- Clinics with ultrasound
- Clinics with inpatient care
- What emergency and test fees look like
Call the clinic before you drive over, to confirm tonight's arrangements and the location.