A Nervous Pooper

hmm... Casey is kinda similar - he HAS to poop before he will even think about playing with the other dogs. It's not really runny, but not as formed as it is at home. He's getting better about pooping before we get into the actual park so he can run and play right away.

Has she been checked for worms? I have Casey on interceptor since we go all over the place and often have other dogs in the home. I like that it covers all the wormies, and I don't have to worry about adding another dewormer.

So if you don't GO to the park there's no diarreha?  You're sure? 

Diarreha that's that explosive usually is small intestine, not large intestine and it's not something that will occur in a heartbeat, but happens because digestion isn't working right.

IF IF IF it's nerves, try giving some valerian root tincture (the non-alcohol is more pleasant -- or mix with just a bit of peanut butter) --that should help.

I really don't have a good answer for you.  But, I can say that Willow gets stress diarrhea also BUT it's because it's aggravating her IBS to be stressed.  There wasn't much we could do about it ourselves except give her time to get more and more used to where she is going, eat less before going, and also we had to keep our outings low key--so there was no, "do you wanna go the park??", getting her all excited before we left type comments. 

Good luck, I know it can be a big pain.  And, I always felt embarrassed because if someone saw her they'd think she was sick and then I looked like a mean mommy keeping her out when she wasn't well--so I had to explain. . .it just killed the good time.

 If that's the only time she has diarrhea, and it is anxiety related, has anything changed at the dog park?  New dog that's a bully?  Is your dog going through a developmental fear period?  Is any dog trying obsessively to play with her, and she is trying to get away?  Did a good friend that she relied on stop coming to the park?  As you can see, there are a lot of variables...  But, one thing I can say is that if the trigger for her anxiety is there, and you can't figure out what it is, then more trips there are not the answer.  Some dogs do better in smaller groups than are found at dog parks.  Maybe you could ask some of the owners whose dogs she does like a lot to meet for a play group somewhere.

Not sure if this helps but at our park 98% of the dogs poop when they come in.  They all run in and immediately poop.  Mine included.  I think mine will wait to poop till he gets there most days!  I can't say that it is runny but they all seem to have this bowel reaction upon entering.  Can I ask how old your dog is?  Because mine is going through more fearful type behavior lately at 15 months and I wasn't sure if this is who is he or is it a phase in development.  He barks at people he doesn't know and hides often behind me if a certain dog comes in.  A dog who he doesn't know.

Well she is 2 1/2. And I understand them all coming in and pooping, I see it often. But she could be in there by herself with no other dogs and she would still have diarrhea. Could it be sensory overload? Like there are just too many smells to try and comprehend?

One of DH's friends is a dog handler for the police (UK) and he explained that the smells CAN overstimulate which means that tons of adrenaline courses through the system and the dog poops.  Actually DH - retired cop - said panicked humans do the same - bleh.  For instance apparently burglars are notorious for adrenaline fueled pooping on the premises double bleh!

Zack does the same thing, in any area where there is a lot of sensory stimulus, including the dog park.  Instant mushy poo just moments after we get out of the car.  Usually when he gets used to a particular place he no longer has that problem. 

Woobie does this too.  It's pretty much a 4 corners thing with him (it's a fenced football field size park), he has to hit every corner and then "assumes the position" several times after that and produces little more than anal gland fluid.  Each corner gets runnier and runnier.  He's had bouts of explosive nervous diarrhea also when starting at a new day care.  I tried rubbing rescue remedy on his ears before he went to daycare the last time and they said they didn't notice any diarrhea.  I even gave him half a tranquilizer before his 2nd flyball class because he'd gotten really BAD, STINKY EMBARRASSING diarrhea on his first class.  It seemed to do the trick, no messes that class.  He loves the park and is very used to going (his fav place in the world) so I wonder if it might be more related to excitement or the activity level also.  Rescue Remedy might be worth a try.