There are times when your dog falls ill. Though there are many health problems seen in dogs, often people complaint their dogs getting “diarrhea”. It is a condition characterized by frequent liquid or loose bowel movements. The cause behind this varies from something mild (changes in diet) to more serious infection or illness. This is when someone often wonders – what can I give my dog for diarrhea? After a proper research, we have listed some great tips to help your dog calm down.
Before we explain in detail regarding what to give dogs for diarrhea, it is important for you to know few things. Read on.
Also Read: How To Stop A Dog From Peeing In The House?
What Causes Diarrhea In Dogs?
- Changes in diet
- Ingestion of spoiled food, something toxic or garbage
- Food intolerance
- Ingestion of a foreign object (say for example, plastic bag, rubber band, toy and so on)
- Liver problems
- Kidney issues
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Viral infection
- Bacterial infection
- Tumors or cancers in the digestive tract
- Internal parasites like giardia, coccidia and roundworms
- Allergic reaction
- Excess stress
- Certain medications
Symptoms of Diarrhea
- Frequent liquid / loose stools
- Mucus or blood in stool
- Change in stool’s volume
- Dog strains to defecate
- Flatulence
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
Note: If the dog’s diarrhea is black, possibilities are that he or she might be suffering internal stomach bleeding or there is something wrong about his or her small intestine. If this sounds more like your dog’s situation, see a vet immediately.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Dangerous Dogs In The World
What To Give A Dog For Diarrhea?
Diarrhea happens all of a sudden but lasts only for a short period. However, there are dogs that suffer diarrhea for weeks and even months. However, do not let your dog to go that extent. Treat your dog immediately and take him or her to a vet if the condition persists for more than 1 day. However, before taking your dog to a vet, you can do few things at home to help your furry friend calm down.
What Can You Give A Dog With Diarrhea? – Home Remedies That Truly Help
Unless the diarrhea in your dog is severe, few home remedies easily treat the condition. These are as follows:
- Withhold Food For At Least 12 Hours (But Not Water)
The best way to ease the diarrhea in your dog is by withholding food for at least 12 hours. You can take away water if you want too but this is not advised because he or she might be dehydrated. Even if you are giving water, make sure to give in small amounts for several times in a day. After 12 or 15 hours, rather serving dog food, serve a bland diet 3 to 4 times throughout the day.
Here are few options to choose from:
- Baked potato (avoid flavorings or skin)
- Boiled egg (avoid adding oil or butter)
- Cottage cheese (avoid liquid)
- Cooked white rice (avoid butter / flavorings)
- Boiled turkey (avoid skin, flavorings and grease)
- Boiled chicken (avoid skin, flavorings and grease)
- Scrambled egg (avoid oil or butter)
- Feed Smaller Servings
Feed smaller servings of bland diet few times a day. Then, gradually increase the amounts until a complete formed stool is passed. Begin to wean your dog with its usual food after a week but make sure to be gradual with the dog food.
- Avoid These….
Since your dog is suffering from diarrhea, make sure that you do not give snacks, table scraps and dog bones because these might irritate his or her intestinal tract.
- Give Pepto Bismol
Since the question is about what to give dogs for diarrhea, “Pepto Bismol” is something we cannot miss writing about. This medication is a great way to ease your dog’s condition but make sure to give in small doses for every six hours. Dosage depends on a dog’s weight. It is usually 1 ml/lb. Pepto Bismol stops vomiting. Typical dosage administered to dogs is between 0.5ml and 1.5ml for every pound (which makes it to 10 ml or 2 teaspoons). Therefore, the overall everyday dose is supposed to be divided into two to four doses.
- Give Imodium AD Or Kaopectate
Apart from Pepto Bismol, you can even consider giving 2 other OTC medicines to a dog with diarrhea. These include:
- Imodium AD (one ml for every lb, with an interval of eight hours)
- Kaopectate (one ml for every lb, with an interval of two hours)
Note: Diarrhea usually lasts for 1 or 2 days and the naturally heals. However, for any reasons, if your dog still experiences it, consult a vet immediately so that the condition does not worsens.
When Should You Seek A Professional Help?
With all the treatment options listed above, a dog should usually feel fine. However, a pet owner should meet the vet if:
- The dog still runs a fever
- There are changes in behavior
- The dog feels sluggish
- There is blood in the stool
- The dog becomes weak
- The dog shows debilitation signs
- The dog experiences frequent bouts of diarrhea
As a pet owner, if you observe the above listed signs, we recommend you to take your dog to a vet immediately. Also, take a sample of your dog’s stool (even if it is watery) when you meet the vet.
How To Prevent Diarrhea In Dogs?
Understand that even a healthy dog can get diarrhea. It is completely normal. It is not a disease. So, don’t be scared or worried unless the case is severe. However, there are certain things you can keep in mind to keep your dogs away from diarrhea. These include:
- Update your dog’s vaccinations
- Ensure that your dog is free from parasite
- Take your dog to a vet for a routine checkup every month
- Do not allow your dog to access spoiled food, garbage or something that is toxic
- When you take your dog out, make sure that he or she doesn’t eat anything from the street
- Do not allow your dog to ingest other animal feces
- If you are planning to switch the dog’s food, make sure to do it gradually or just consult your vet before taking such a step
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