What is good for dogs with diarrhea

It can be very concerning when your dog has diarrhea and we know how desperate you can be to find a quick cure. That's why our New Ulm vets are sharing the most commons causes of dog diarrhea and how you can help stop it.

Diarrhea in Dogs

A lot of dogs come to our New Ulm veterinary office with diarrhea and many pups are experiencing it for various reasons.

Mild diarrhea cases are extremely common and can develop due to mild intestinal distress such as eating an item that doesn't agree with their body ( ex. table scraps) or you have recently switched your pup to a new dog food. 

However, there is also a handful of other possible causes for your dog's diarrhea that can be more serious.

What Causes Diarrhea in Dogs?

Below we have listed some of the most common causes of diarrhea in dogs:

• Eating garbage or spoiled food
• Stress or anxiety
• Change in diet or treats
• Ingestion of foreign objects such as toys, bones, and fabric
• Ingesting toxins or poisons
• Medications such as antibiotics
• Parasites - roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Coccidia, or Giardia
• Viral infections such as parvovirus, distemper, or coronavirus
• Bacterial infections - such as salmonella
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Pancreatitis
• Colitis
• Liver or kidney disease
• Intestinal cancer

But how do you know if you should be bringing your dog to the vet for diarrhea?

When To Visit Your Vet

If your dog has just had one episode of diarrhea and is otherwise behaving normally, it's usually not a cause for concern. Keep an eye on your canine companion's bowel movements and see if things clear up. If your dog has more than 2 episodes then there might be a problem, so it's a good idea to call your vet if your pup has two or more bouts of diarrhea.

If your pooch is straining to pass a stool but is only passing small amounts of watery diarrhea, they could be experiencing a painful blockage due to the ingestion of a foreign object such as a toy. This is a very serious condition that requires immediate veterinary attention, call your vet or go to the nearest emergency animal hospital for treatment. 

Recurring bouts of diarrhea over a short time period can be a sign of a very serious health issue, especially if your furry friend is very old, very young, or has a compromised immune system. Infections such as parvovirus are extremely serious, contagious, and life-threatening. Contact your vet right away if your pup is experiencing repeated episodes of diarrhea or chronic diarrhea.

If your dog is showing other symptoms as well as diarrhea they should be seen by a vet as soon as possible. If your dog has any of the following symptoms contact your vet immediately to book an appointment:

• Weakness
• Blood in stool
• Vomiting
• Unusual drooling
• Lack of Appetite
• Signs of dehydration (Sunken dry-looking eyes, dry nose, or dry, sticky gums)

If your canine companion is displaying any symptoms that are concerning you, contact your veterinarian. Your vet will let you know whether your pet's symptoms require an examination.

How to Treat Diarrhea in Dogs

Never give your dog human medications without consulting your veterinarian. Many over-the-counter medications that work well for people can be toxic to dogs.

If your dog has had one or two runny or soft stools, you might want to give your dog some time to recover by simply fasting for 12 - 24 hours.

A bland diet for a day or two can also help your pooch's issue. Plain-cooked white rice with a little chicken and some canned plain pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) could also help your pup's tummy feel better. Once your dog is feeling better gradually reintroduce their regular food.

Other things that might help soothe your dog's upset tummy include natural yogurt, probiotics, peeled boiled potatoes, cottage cheese, egg with no oil added, specially formulated dog foods and medications prescribed by your vet.

When it comes to your best buddy's health it is always best to err on the side of caution. By taking your pooch in for an examination you give your vet the opportunity to determine the underlying cause of your pup's diarrhea and recommend the most effective treatment.

If your dog is suffering from diarrhea contact our vets in New Ulm to schedule an appointment.

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience, which means I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Diarrhea for Dog Home Remedies

No one likes diarrhea, people and dogs alike. Diarrhea is a sign that something isn’t right inside your dogs gut. Your dog may have diarrhea and act fine. There are so many causes of diarrhea in your dog, so let’s start there…

Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea?

• Your dog ate something he wasn’t supposed to
• Your dog is stressed
• You changed your dog’s food suddenly
• Your dog has a viral or bacterial infection
• Your dog has parasites

Here are two great medical resources that you can refer to for more details:
How to Stop Diarrhea in Dogs by PetMD
A Survival Guide for Dog Diarrhea by the AKC

As long as your dog is normally healthy and does not have any other illnesses, and is not a young puppy or a senior dog, then it’s pretty safe to say you can attempt to treat his diarrhea at home for a couple of days before rushing to the vet.

IMPORTANT:If you notice blood in your dogs diarrhea, vomiting, is lethargic, or shows any other signs of being in pain, call your vet right away. If your puppy is younger than 9 months old, call your vet right away.

If you’ve just adopted your puppy or dog, allow him a few days and even a few weeks to fully adjust to his new home. Read the 3-3-3 Rules of Bring Your New Dog Home to fully understand the stages a new dog goes through. It’s not uncommon for a dog to show signs of stress, one, two or even three weeks after bringing him home. This dog may just have soft stools and not diarrhea.

I am trying to remember back to each dog we’ve ever had in our home, resident dogs and foster dogs… and I think most of them have had an episode of diarrhea at one point or another. I think diarrhea is one of those nasty things dog parents just have to deal with, and we just need to be there to comfort our dogs until they feel better. This list should help your dog get over his diarrhea quickly:

What to give a dog for diarrhea

If your dog has had diarrhea for more than a few days or has any signs of bloody stools, then talk with your vet right away and ask for their recommendations to what to give a dog for diarrhea.

Here are 5 easy ways to help your dog with diarrhea at home. Most cases of diarrhea are not an emergency and can be treated at home with these natural remedies.

1. Lots of Liquid

Make sure your dog is drinking a lot of water. Just like people diarrhea can quickly make your dog dehydrated. If your dog isn’t interested in drinking water, you can encourage him by adding some chicken or beef broth to his water or make rice water.

2. Pure Pumpkin

Give your dog some pure pumpkin. Pumpkin is a great source of fiber and can help your pups upset belly quickly.

A bonus tip: when we open a can of pumpkin, we take about half of it and freeze it into ice cube trays. This way you will always have pumpkin handy, they make great everyday treats too!

Native Pet offers organic air-dried pumpkin that is a great to have in your pantry all year long. Just add water and it turns into a delicious pumpkin puree. We use it to make frozen treats and the dogs love them!

Read why pumpkin is a super food for your dog and can be good for diarrhea or constipation!

3. Bland Diet

The best food for your dog with diarrhea is something bland like boiled chicken and rice. Stop feeding your dog his regular food and offer him a small amount of bland boiled chicken and white rice. Feed him small amounts at a time to make sure he can keep the food down. If so, then slowly feed him more and more until he is feeling better.

4. Good Bacteria

Feed your dog some plain yogurt. Just like humans, dogs can benefit from the good bacteria found in yogurt. Stay away from the sugary filled yogurts, you want to find just plain yogurt.

Adding a probiotic supplement to your dogs daily food can help keep his gut health in check every day.

I have tried more probiotic brands that I can remember, searching to find the best one… they all claim to be superior but until now I didn’t see a noticeable difference.

A friend recommended Daily Dog by FullBucket. And wow! It has given us the best results in terms of overall health in all three of our dogs. I can see their coats getting shiner, poops more consistent and more energy in our 7 year old lab, Bear.

I love Daily Dog by FullBucket so much, I reached out to them and they gave me a coupon code just for you! Use coupon code RescueDogs101 for a 20% discount.

5. Medicine

Over-the-counter diarrhea medications such as Imodium may also be effective for your dog. There are some restrictions, so before you give it to your dog, read this article by PetMD Imodium for Dogs: Is it a Good Idea?

When is it Time to Take Your Dog to the Vet?

If your dog has had diarrhea for more than 2 days, has any signs of red or blood, mucus  in his poop, vomiting, lethargic, or shows any other signs of being in pain, call your vet right away. If your puppy is younger than 9 months old, call your vet right away.

The vet may say you can wait a couple of days, but at least they can give you more details on what to watch for. A dog with diarrhea and/or vomiting can be as simple as stress or as serious as a life-threatening illness. If you have any worries, just call your vet! A phone call is free and can ease your mind.

Allergies

If your dog has, or you think may have, any food allergies, be careful about feeding him any dairy, chicken or beef. Our dog Ginger is allergic to all three of these foods, so we need to be careful of feeding her anything with these ingredients.

If your dog shows any signs of allergies, and you aren’t sure yet what he is allergic too, stay away from the yogurt, chicken, and broth. The food allergies can also be a cause of diarrhea.

A Note About Parasites

The first thing I check when we get a new foster dog is their poop! It’s not uncommon for our foster dogs to have diarrhea, not only are they stressed, likely have changed foods a lot, but they’ve also been exposed to some terrible environments.

Recommended reading: My dog has Worms

With the rescue I work with, we don’t release a dog to be adopted until he is 100% healthy. But some other rescues are all about getting the dogs adopted quickly to make room for the next dog. So if you just adopted a dog, watch him closely the first few weeks, check his poop daily. If you see any signs of white rice looking things in his poop, call your vet right away. If you see anything moving around in his poop, then he could very likely have worms or a parasite.

In Conclusion, Doggy Diarrhea Stinks

So to recap, if your dog has diarrhea and/or vomiting for more than two days, call your vet. If your dog is normally healthy, then you can treat his diarrhea at home with a few home remedies, such as rice water, pumpkin, yogurt, Imodium and a mild chicken and rice diet.

Our dogs are part of our family, so taking care of their health is a very important part of being a “pet parent”. If you are ever unsure, always err on the side of calling your vet.

P.S. Remember to try Daily Dog by FullBucket, and use coupon code RescueDogs101 for a 20% discount. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the results. Plus, for every FullBucket you buy, they give one to an animal in need. 

More help…

Debi McKee is a mom of three kids, three dogs and the creator of Rescue Dogs 101... where she guides you in your journey of adopting and raising a rescue dog every step of the way. She also volunteers for a local dog rescue and Humane Society.

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