After the stay
What if my dog comes home from boarding with an upset stomach?
You collect a happy, tired dog, and by the evening the yard tells a different story. It is a familiar story after a stay, and usually not a serious one. Here is why it happens, what is normal over the first 48 hours, and the signs that mean your vet should see your dog today.
The short version
A loose stool after a stay is usually stress or excitement, and it usually settles within two days
VCA's veterinary guidance on diarrhea names stress, especially following travel, boarding or other changes in the environment, as one of its causes, alongside changes in diet. A stay brings plenty of change: days of play in a group, a suite at night, a car ride home, and a joyful reunion at the end. None of that is a sign that anything went wrong, and VCA's list makes clear that a change of scene alone can be enough.
VCA also notes that diarrhea from minor causes often settles quickly with simple care, and that frequent liquid or semi-liquid stools lasting more than two days are the point to consult your veterinarian. That two-day line is the most useful number on this page. Inside it, watch and keep things calm; past it, or sooner if anything else looks wrong, call your vet.
- Common: softer stool or a few loose ones in the first day or two
- Common: a big drink and a long sleep on the first evening
- Call your vet: frequent liquid stools for more than two days
- Call your vet now: severe or bloody diarrhea, or signs of illness
Excitement colitis
Stress colitis is one of the leading causes of this kind of diarrhea, whatever the stress was about
Colitis is inflammation of the large intestine, the colon. VCA calls stress colitis one of the leading causes of large bowel diarrhea in all dogs, and owners often call it excitement colitis because the trigger can be a happy one: a week of new friends and a front door that finally opens. The typical picture VCA describes is frequent, small amounts of soft or liquid stool, often with straining during and after.
VCA adds that small amounts of bright red blood near the end of a bowel movement are often seen with colitis, and that most dogs with stress colitis are back to normal within three to five days. Do not use that to wait out blood at home. Any blood is worth a call to your vet, who can tell colitis from something more serious and decide whether your dog needs to be seen.
Water and food
Water gets the blame, but food changes and welcome-home treats are easier to control
Owners often blame the water at the place their dog stayed. A change of water may play a part for some dogs, but the causes VCA names directly, stress following boarding and a change in diet, are the ones you can act on. That is why Dogtown invites you to send your dog's own food, pre-portioned: the bowl at night holds the same food it eats at home, and the meals stay predictable.
The first meal home deserves the most care. A celebratory plate of leftovers, a new chew or a pile of treats lands on a stomach that has had a busy week. Feed the usual food in the usual amount, and keep fresh water easy to reach, since VCA stresses that a dog with diarrhea can quickly become dehydrated. If your dog's stomach is sensitive, say so before booking food-based extras such as the homemade pupsicle.
- Send your dog's own food for the stay, pre-portioned by meal
- No new foods or rich treats in the week before the stay or the day after it
- Fresh water within easy reach at home
- Mention a sensitive stomach before booking food-based add-ons
The first 48 hours
Two quiet days at home, with normal meals and close watching, is the plan for most dogs
Treat the first two days as recovery. A dog who has played in a group of 7 to 10 for days needs sleep more than a long hike on Dogtown Common, so keep walks short and easy. Feed the normal food on the normal schedule. Note when each stool happens and what it looks like, because if you do call your vet, a short, specific record is far more useful than a general worry.
Message the front desk through the Dogtown app as well. The report cards and photos from the stay, and what the team saw of your dog's appetite, help your vet build the picture. Do not withhold food or reach for home remedies on your own; VCA says your veterinarian may advise withholding food for a short time or feeding a gastrointestinal diet, and that call belongs to your vet.
- 01
Offer water and let your dog sleep on the first evening home
- 02
Feed the usual food in the usual portion at the usual time
- 03
Keep walks short and calm for a day or two
- 04
Note the time and look of each stool
- 05
Message the front desk in the Dogtown app about what you are seeing
- 06
Call your vet if it lasts past two days, or at once if warning signs appear
When to see a vet
Severe or bloody diarrhea and signs of illness mean a vet today, not after the weekend
VCA's guidance is that severe, bloody diarrhea, or diarrhea with more general signs of illness, may have a serious cause and needs medical attention as soon as possible. The signs it lists are weakness, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, loss of appetite and weight loss. VCA also notes that diarrhea is one of the first signs of parvovirus, which can be life-threatening in susceptible dogs, so do not wait with a young puppy.
Call your own vet first during office hours. The City of Gloucester keeps a list of local veterinary practices and emergency options, and one of the emergency hospitals on it, Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital at 20 Cabot Rd in Woburn, is open 24 hours every day, on (781) 932-5802. Call ahead so they are expecting you, and bring your notes and the stay's report cards.
- Severe or bloody diarrhea
- Vomiting, weakness, fever or abdominal pain
- Signs of dehydration, or refusing food
- A young puppy with diarrhea of any kind
At Dogtown
Plan the next stay
Overnight stays with your own food and a daycare day built in, and the Pup Van to make the trip home easy.
Pick-up & drop-off
The Pup Van comes to you.
Pup Van pick-up and drop-off is available for $10 each way in the Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea area. Not in the area? Ask us for pricing.
- Rockport
- Gloucester
- Essex
- Manchester-by-the-Sea
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Does diarrhea after boarding mean something went wrong at the stay?
Should I stop feeding my dog until the diarrhea clears?
Can I give my dog pumpkin, rice or a probiotic?
How can I make the next stay easier on my dog's stomach?
My dog seems fine but the stool is soft. Do I need to do anything?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
- VCA: diarrhea in dogs
- VCA: colitis in dogs
- Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
- City of Gloucester: local emergency veterinary offices
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
Make the next stay feel familiar.
Book a trial night or a few daycare days before your next long stay, and send your dog's own food, pre-portioned, every time.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
