Dog Diarrhea - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

If you notice that your dog has diarrhea you are probably concerned over what may be causing it and how you can help. Diarrhea in your canine friend can be caused by many things. Sometimes it may just be the result of something your dog has eaten, but it is also a sign of many illnesses such as Canine Parvovirus and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, as well as infections or parasites.

Unless there is an obvious cause, such as the dog eating garbage or candy, for example, the best thing you can do is take him to a veterinarian and get him looked at, especially if the dog appears to be suffering. The vet will be able to determine whether your dog is really ill or just having an off day after eating something he shouldn’t have.

Dog Diarrhea Symptoms

Although the symptoms of dog diarrhea are pretty self-evident, there are different manifestations of diarrhea that can indicate where in the intestinal tract the problem is located. For example, if the problem is high up in the small intestine or the stomach, it is not uncommon for vomiting to occur along with the diarrhea.

Generally if the problem is anywhere in the small intestine the dog will not move his bowels much more than often but will have large amounts of diarrhea, whereas if the problem is in the lower intestine the dog will need to go more often, for smaller amounts, and may have much more trouble with it. Determining where the problem is in the dog’s digestive system can help your vet immensely with a diagnosis of what is causing the problem.

Dog Diarrhea Treatment

There are many instances of dog diarrhea caused by eating the wrong foods, where the diarrhea is not severe and the dog may continue to act normally. This can happen when the dog is allowed to eat scraps of food from the dinner table, for instance. These infrequent and non-serious bouts of diarrhea can often be treated and resolved at home, commonly by starving the dog for 24 hours to allow the bowels to recover before feeding the dog again.

It is possible to give your dog certain over-the-counter medications in small amounts to help them overcome vomiting and diarrhea. These include Pepto Bismol, which works for vomiting and diarrhea, Kaopectate and Imodium AD.

The usual dose for these medicines is 1ml per 1lb of your dog’s weight, but whereas Kaopectate can be administered every 2 hours, Pepto Bismol is every 6 hours and Imodium every 8 hours. You should not give your dog any more than one of these medicines at any time, and you should still always consult your vet before giving your dog anything, especially if your dog already suffers from another medical condition.

What to Feed a Dog with Diarrhea

Often the best thing to feed your dog after this abstinence period will be small and relatively frequent servings of white rice, chicken or turkey, boiled or baked potato or egg. For chicken and turkey it must be free of grease and skin, potatoes peeled, and any of these foods should remain unflavored.

The amount of food should gradually be increased over the course of a few days until the dogs feces return to normal. Once the dog is passing solid stools again, you can gradually wean the dog back onto its normal diet by mixing their normal food with what you have been giving them in slowly increasing amounts.

There are many foods to avoid with dogs, especially when they are suffering from diarrhea. Usually, any sudden change of diet is bad, and dogs are healthiest when eating the same food every day. They should also not be allowed to eat table scraps, anything with high sugar content such as candy and chocolate, or anything with too much fat.

Even foods that some people think are good for dogs such as chicken treats (or jerky) can be problematic. The best bet is to get a good meaty dog food for your canine friend. This will ensure that their digestive system isn’t put under any strain and keep them healthier in the long run.

In conclusion, although mild cases of dog diarrhea can be treated at home, especially if you know the cause, it is often best to work with a qualified veterinarian to work out what is causing the problem. Always ask the vet if you are unsure about what to do with your dog while he is ill.