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Diarrhoea is defined as an alteration in the normal pattern of defaecation, resulting in the passage of soft, unformed stools with increased faecal water content and/or increased frequency of defecation. It is important to consider the animal’s previous pattern of defecation, as the frequency of defaecation and the nature of faeces vary between individuals.

There are a few uncommon situations where it may not be obvious to the owner that his/her animal has diarrhoea. Occasionally, the owner may mistake anal or vaginal discharges for diarrhoea, or see vomitus on the floor and think it is diarrhoea. The patient with constipation may pass small amounts of liquid faeces, which the owner thinks is diarrhoea. Conversely, the patient who is straining to defaecate and attempting to defaecate frequently because of large bowel disease may be interpreted by the owner as being constipated. Therefore, it is important that the clinician is cognisant of these issues and aims to define the problem as a first priority in the consultation.