What can I Give My Dog for Diarrhea

Meta Description: If you’re wondering, “What can I give my dog for diarrhea?” you’ve arrived at the right place. We talk about diarrhea causes and how you can help your pet.

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Your dog’s gut is a sensitive thing. For weeks they’ll digest their food correctly, and then one day, you’re trying to shovel some messy sludge off your carpet. Diarrhea in dogs is not something you may what to think about, but it’s an unfortunate part of being a dog owner. Loose stools are an affliction that can vary in seriousness, frequency, and duration for pets. 

If your furry companion has stomach upset, there are some home remedies you use to ease their discomfort and shorten the duration of the watery mess. But as much as you want to reduce your pet’s stomach problems, it’s just as important to take a closer look at their unsightly turd or take them to the vet to deal with any severe issues. 

If you’re wondering, “What can I give my dog for diarrhea?” you’ve landed at the right place. We talk about diarrhea causes and how you can help your pet. 

Let’s talk (about your dog’s) business.

The Canine Digestive System

The process of your dog’s digestive system is complex and varies from your own. Many organs and systems are needed to get whole food items into neat, perfectly brown poos. The digestive tract includes the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, rectum, and anus. 

If you’ve ever watched your dog eat, you’ll notice that they tend to swallow a lot of their food whole. Historically, this is a normal instinct, and dogs used their teeth and jaws for tearing, crushing, and swallowing their meal before competitors came along. Digestion belongs in the canine stomach, where gastric juices combine with new food. The stomach is where the food spends most of its time (four to eight hours) compared to our stomach, where food will only sit for about 30 min.

From there, the partially digested food travels to the small intestine, where digestive enzymes from the pancreas break the food down even further. Digestive enzymes are essential, and without them, nutrient absorption would be lacking. 

Next up, the colon. The colon is a storage space for the feces, and very little digestion occurs here, predominantly by the gut’s beneficial bacteria. Here the canine body absorbs fluids, fatty acids from probiotics, vitamins, and electrolytes.

Disruption to any of these digestive functions, whether directly or indirectly, can cause dog diarrhea. 

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What Causes Diarrhea in Dogs

Diarrhea in dogs is not usually a major concern, with most acute diarrhea being a reaction to foraging habits, consumption of foreign objects, or new food. Here are some of the culprits that could be causing your dog’s stools to lose their form:

Changes in Your Dog’s Diet 

Replacing your dog’s regular food with something new may cause some tummy upset while your pet adjusts to their new healthy diet. A slow transition is a kinder approach for your dog and can avoid possible diarrhea. 

Dietary Indiscretion 

Scavenging through the rubbish or foraging under bushes may be your pet’s favorite pastime. These activities expose your pet to spoiled food, dead rodents, non-food items, or poisonous plants. Consuming weird things can irritate your pet’s gastrointestinal tract and cause acute diarrhea. 

Food Allergies

Your dog’s diarrhea may be a reaction to an ingredient in their food or a new treat that you’ve bought them. Allergies often present on the skin as well, so if you suspect your dog is allergic to something in their dog food, then your vet can run tests to identify food allergies. Wheat, chicken, eggs, dairy, and soy are prevalent allergens. 

Bacterial Infections

If your pet’s diarrhea lasts for a few days, then they may be struggling with one of the many bacterial infections. The bacteria most commonly blamed in canine diarrhea include Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, pathogenic E-coli, and Salmonella.

Medication

Taking medication can cause changes in your pet’s gut, especially if they’re taking antibiotics. Dogs with sensitive stomachs may take a while to adjust to over-the-counter medication or veterinary medicine subscriptions. Dog owners should speak to their vet about introducing medication slowly or replacing the drug with an alternative. 

Parasites

Parasites may trigger diarrhea in your dog. If you notice the presence of worms or white dots that resemble white rice in your pet’s stool, then it’s a clear indication of parasites. Puppies or adult dogs with weak immune systems are susceptible to parasites like roundworm, whipworm, tapeworm, or giardia, which can be diagnosed with giardia tests. 

Illness

Kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, colitis, or various cancers can lead to diarrhea in dogs. If your pet’s runny poop is becoming an everyday occurrence, and their body weight is dropping, there may be something more sinister that’s causing your dog’s diarrhea. 

Anxiety

Stress-induced diarrhea is a horrible side effect for dogs who take the strain when they’re isolated, anxious, or overstimulated. Help your dog to remain calm by offering them natural calming remedies. 

Home Remedies for Dog Diarrhea 

Treating diarrhea is only going to be effective if your pet’s problem is random. Home remedies cannot cure severe illnesses, viral or bacterial infections, or parasites. 

If, however, your dog’s diarrhea is caused by their new dog food, or non-urgent causes, then offering your dog a calming solution for their chaotic tummy will be worthwhile.

Fasting

Most dogs can benefit from a period of fasting to help ease their gastrointestinal tract. If you choose to withhold food, do so for 12-24 hours and then reintroduce food by giving your dog a bland diet. Always make sure your dog has plenty of water during their fast. Fasting helps control diarrhea in healthy dogs, but skip this step for elderly dogs or small dogs and puppies. 

Vets Preferred Advanced Anti Diarrhea supplement

Several supplements can help to firm your dog’s stool. Over-the-counter human medication Pepto Bismol is safe for dogs and commonly used to treat gastrointestinal upset. So if you’re desperate to help your dog and have some of the pink pills in your medicine cabinet, then you can call your vet to find out the correct dosage for your furry friend. 

Vets Preferred Advanced Anti-Diarrhea is a better option for dogs. This supplement is made with pectin and kaolin that help to firm loose stool, remove bacterial toxins, soothe the gut lining and restore intestinal balance for acute diarrhea sufferers.

Probiotics

Adding probiotics to your dog’s health routine is a great way to support your pet’s immune system and digestive health. Probiotic supplements offer a richer source of helpful bacteria compared to real food probiotics. When shopping for probiotic supplements, make sure you buy a product with high colony-forming units. 1-4 billion CFU daily is excellent for health maintenance. 

Other probiotics that you can give to your dog as part of their raw food diet include:

• Bananas
• Goat milk
• Yogurt
• Carrots
• Apples
• Kefir
• Buttermilk
• Broccoli
• Green beans.

If antibiotics have caused GI upset, probiotics will form an essential part of their treatment plan. Probiotics replace helpful bacteria in the gut microbiome.

Herbs 

Some herbs can play a role in boosting your pet’s immune system, easing discomfort, and, as a result, calming upset tummies.

• CBD (cannabidiol) from hemp may promote relaxation in dogs who struggle with stress-induced diarrhea.
• Fennel is a helpful herb in treating constipation, gas, diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, indigestion, inflammation of the stomach, and more.
• Bayberry root can ease diarrhea and nausea.
• Red raspberry leaf soothes upset stomachs. You can buy it in powder form for your dog.

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What to Feed Your Dog with Diarrhea 

After cleaning your pet’s messy poo, the last thing you’ll want to do is prepare food. Try some of these bland diet options for your dog until their diarrhea symptoms resolve. The high fiber and low-fat content of a bland diet will assist in firming stool and easing gas and irritation. It may help keep your dog on a bland diet until their stool looks firm and healthy again.

Boiled Chicken

Boiled chicken (or any meat of choice) should be kept unseasoned and plain. When giving your pet bland meals, stick with a ratio of two parts starch and one part protein.

Rice

Whether you go for brown rice or white rice, this pantry staple is fibrous and easy for your pet to digest. Steamed sweet potatoes are also rich in starch and a great substitute.

Pumpkin 

Plain canned pumpkin or steamed fresh pumpkin is an excellent remedy for canine diarrhea. Once your pet’s tummy trouble is over, continue to add grated pumpkin to your pet’s raw diet. It’s rich in vitamins A, C, and E and iron, zinc, and potassium. It’s a winning ingredient for everyone!

Bone Broth

Who doesn’t love some good bone broth? Avoid rich flavors and salt when making broth for your pet. Skim any fat off the top and pour it over your pet’s rice dish to make it more appealing. A bland menu can be tolerated if it’s juicy.

Yogurt 

Cottage cheese or yogurt offer your pet protein during the boring but necessary diet. Plain yogurt is also rich in probiotics. If your pet cannot tolerate dairy, try some cooked eggs.

When to Go to the Vet for Dog Diarrhea

It’s important to take diarrhea seriously as gastrointestinal tract diseases are common in dogs. 

Chronic Diarrhea or Other Symptoms

If your dog shows warning signs of lethargy, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, mucus-coated stools, depression, weight loss, or prolonged or chronic diarrhea, then call your vet immediately. 

Your vet may want to run some tests and lookout for some of the more severe GI tract diseases, especially in elderly dogs or young puppies. 

Foreign Body Obstruction

If you suspect your dog has eaten a non-food item that is causing obstruction, it’s essential to take them to the vet as soon as possible. Foreign bodies that cause obstruction are potentially life-threatening and can cut off blood supply to vital digestive organs. Symptoms to look out for include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Straining to defecate or producing small amounts of feces
• Lethargy
• Behavioral changes or aggression.

Poisoning

Several things cause toxicity in pets, from human medications, household chemicals, and human food exposure. Poisoning can often cause diarrhea and other symptoms of toxicity like vomiting, bloody stool, ulcers in the GI tract, tremors, seizures, decreased heart rate, or collapse. Seek veterinary advice or call the Poison hotline if you suspect poisoning is a cause for your dog’s diarrhea. 

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Caring For Your Dog’s Stomach

Taking care of your pet is a lifelong commitment. But many of the ways that support your pet’s health are things that we, as humans, need as well. Exercise, a healthy diet, and annual checkups with a health expert are ways to take care of our furry companion’s bodies.

When a runny tummy is a concern, you can always reach for some of the home remedies we’ve mentioned above. Remember to call your vet if the condition persists or if any other worrisome symptoms inflict your pet.

FAQ:

• What home remedy can I give my dog for diarrhea? Most dogs can benefit from a period of fasting to help ease their gastrointestinal tract. If you choose to withhold food, do so for 12-24 hours and then reintroduce food by giving your dog a bland diet.
• What can I feed my dog with diarrhea? The high fiber and low-fat content of a bland diet will assist in firming stool and easing gas and irritation. A bland diet can consist of rice, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, boiled chicken, and bone broth.
• When should I go to the vet for dog diarrhea? If your dog shows warning signs of lethargy, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, mucus-coated stools, depression, weight loss, or prolonged or chronic diarrhea, then call your vet immediately.