Diarrhea in dogs can be caused by a variety of factors, including dietary indiscretion, stress, infections, and illnesses. Here are some steps you can take to help your dog with diarrhea:
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Withhold food for 12-24 hours: This can help clear the cause of the digestive upset and allow your dogs gastrointestinal tract to settle. However, before you decide to fast your dog, make sure that your dog is healthy enough to handle it. Puppies and elderly dogs, for example, arent candidates for fasting.
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Provide fresh, clean water: Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, so make sure to give your dog access to water at all times. You may also offer diluted unflavored Pedialyte to help maintain electrolyte balance, but only under a vets advice.
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Introduce a bland diet: After letting your dog fast for diarrhea relief, simple foods are usually slowly introduced to your dogs diet. Many dog owners start with foods that act as binders, which can help normalize stool consistency. Some tried-and-true methods include boiled chicken, low-fat hamburger, white rice, cooked pasta, and canned plain pumpkin.
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Give probiotics: Probiotics are living bacterial cultures that can help speed up recovery. They are found in yogurt and are also available from health food stores or your veterinarian as high-potency powdered acidophilus cultures, which are more effective than yogurt for diarrhea.
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Watch for signs of improvement: Once the diarrhea has stopped or slowed, you can offer small sips of water. If you see signs of improvement after 6 hours of water only, you can give your dog some broth. Transitioning back to a regular diet is an important part of dog diarrhea treatment at home. Once the diarrhea has resolved, introduce food slowly to help prevent further tummy upset.
If your dogs diarrhea continues for more than a day or two, or if your dog is in pain or seems unusually lethargic, see your vet immediately. Depending on their assessment, a vet may recommend a range of different tests, treatments, or protocols like an elimination diet.
