how to treat dog diarrhea

Causes of diarrhea in dogs

How to treat dog diarrhea ,the most common causes of diarrhoea are:

Food related:

• Eating something they shouldn’t have

• Food allergy

• After a change in food

Gut infections:

• Parvovirus

• Worms

• Giardia

• Bacterial gut infections – e.g. Salmonella or Campylobacter.

Other causes of diarrhoea:

• Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE)

• Colitis

• Gut blockage (foreign body)

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

• Pancreatitis

• Liver disease

• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI).

When to contact your vet

Diarrhoea is often a problem that passes within a few days, but if it continues for too long, dehydration and more severe illness can develop. Contact your vet if your dog has the following symptoms:

• Severe diarrhoea (really watery or a lot of it)

• Constant diarrhoea

• Blood in their diarrhoea and/or mucus in their diarrhoea

• Sleeping more than usual

• Eating less than usual

• Drinking less than usual

• Vomiting as well as having diarrhoea

• They’re taking other medications, especially anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

• Painful stomach (i.e. yelping when they are touched or picked up or standing in a ‘prayer position’ with their front legs on the floor and hind legs stood up ).

You know your dog best. If you’re concerned, it’s always best to contact your vet.

Home Remedies for Doggie Diarrhea

A great many cases are mild and, with your vet’s advice, may be treated without a trip to the office. They may respond to a regimen of very basic treatments, including:

Fasts

Withholding food for 12 to 24 hours, and providing water in small amounts frequently, can clear the cause of the upset and allow the gastrointestinal tract to settle. It’s usually the first line of attack for the runs.

Before you decide on a fast, be sure that your dog is healthy enough to endure it. Puppies, and elderly dogs, for example, need nutrients. Also, a fast may not be appropriate for little dogs, who do not have the physical reserves of their larger cousins.

Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, so make sure to give your dog access to water at all times. Many people also offer unflavored Pedialyte to maintain electrolyte balance.

Cures from the Cupboard

After a fast, food is usually introduced slowly and many people start with binders, which can normalize stool consistency. Some tried-and-true methods include:

• Rice water: Boil high-quality rice in a lot of water, remove the grains, and offer the dog the creamy white soup that’s left. A splash of broth or a bit baby food will make it more palatable.

• White rice

• Canned pumpkin (plain, not prepared pie filling) has the odd distinction of being effective for diarrhea and constipation. If you can’t get canned pumpkin, a good alternative is pumpkin powder, made specifically for pets.

• Yogurt, which has beneficial bacteria, can help in dogs who can tolerate milk and milk products.

• Boiled potatoes, without skin

• Cottage cheese

• Plain protein sources such as egg (prepared with no butter or oil) or chicken (without skin)

• Herbs, such as fennel, have gut-soothing properties

• Specially-formulated dog foods: Some manufacturers offer foods that can sooth stomach problems. You may need to obtain these from your vet.

Over-the-counter medications for humans

may also be effective for doggie diarrhea, but should be given with caution and you should talk to your vet before using them.

Methods that work for one dog may not help another, so you might need to do a little experimentation to find the right formula.

It might also be helpful to write down what works and what doesn’t so you’ll know what to do the next time you find yourself mopping up a mess.

Once you find a recovery diet that agree with your dog, and doesn’t cause a relapse, you can slowly increase the portions over a period of days, and then start to add small quantities of your dog’s regular food, until things are back to normal.

When Doggie Diarrhea Means a Trip to the Vet

The right time to contact a vet depends very much on what’s normal for your dog. Unfortunately, some dogs are more prone to digestive disorders than others, so you have to be very aware of the things that are out-of-the-ordinary on an individual basis.

There are, however, benchmarks that can suggest that you should at least consult with your vet:

• Other physical symptoms, such as lethargy, fever, vomiting, dry, tacky or pale gums, or weakness;

• Diarrhea that does not stop despite home remedies that worked in the past;

• Dehydration;

• Long duration (Some say a few days, others give more time. This all depends on what is normal for your dog.);

• Use of medication (a dog on antibiotics, for example);

• Existing conditions, such as advanced age, diabetes, Cushing’s, cancer, or any medical issue, and

• When things just don’t seem right. You know your dog, and only you know the subtle signs that something is wrong. Respect your instincts and if you think you need veterinary guidance, pick up the phone.