Diarrhea in Dogs

Diarrhea in dogs is characterized by loose, watery stools that are passed frequently. Sometimes there may even be blood in the stools. Canine diarrhea affects dogs of all ages and breeds. This page looks at some warning signs and symptoms, common causes, and how to use natural remedies such as herbs to treat canine diarrhea.

Canine diarrhea happens quite frequently. Just like humans, dogs suffer from upset tummy from time to time.

Acute diarrhea is rather normal and will usually pass in a day or two. It is a nature way for animals (including people) to get rid of unwanted irritants, such as bacteria, viruses, toxic food, or simply things that are indigestible. As such, acute diarrhea is a healthy, healing process, not a disease. We should not try to suppress the symptom.

However, having said that, it is important to keep an eye on our dog's behavior. If she is acting rather normal and looking happy, then there is nothing to feel particularly alarmed about. Just make the necessary precautionary arrangement, be prepared to let our dog go to the bathroom more often, and let nature take its course.

Warning - Dangerous Signs and Symptoms in Dog Diarrhea

It is time to take your dog to a veterinarian if she has diarrhea and is showing some of these signs and symptoms:

acts and looks very sick
is bloating
has a fever (Rectal temperatures above 103.5°F)
is passing bloody stool
is dehydrated
is vomiting

Diarrhea causes loss of fluids within the body, which can lead to dehydration, acid-base imbalance or electrolyte interference. In particular, if diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, fever and your dog refuses to drink water, this is cause for concern and you need to take your dog to the vet for treatment as soon as possible.

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Common Causes of Canine Diarrhea

Common causes of acute diarrhea:

Ingestion of something indigestible, e.g. grass, cords, rotten bones from garbage, etc.;
Ingestion of poisonous substance, e.g. antifreeze;
Sudden change of food
Virus infections (e.g. canine parvovirus, distemper)
Drug reaction (e.g. antibiotics can cause diarrhea in dogs)
Stress and anxiety, e.g. after spending a night in a kennel.

Common causes of chronic diarrhea:

Poor-quality food
Overfeeding
High amount of fat in the diet
Food allergy
A poorly functioning immune system
A weak GI system
Intestinal parasites (such as worms and Giardia)
Over-vaccination
Other more serious diseases such as stomach ulcer, pancreatitis, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney and liver disease, or stomach cancer

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Treating Mild Acute Diarrhea in Dogs

If your dog has mild acute diarrhea but does not show any of the above listed dangerous signs and symptoms, a simple liquid fast for the first 24 to 48 hours will be sufficient treatment. To avoid dehydration, make sure that your dog drinks a lot of water. One way to ensure your dog has sufficient water intake is to feed her a vegetable broth. Make the broth using vegetables, meat, and rice, but feed only the liquid part to the dog several times a day.

When diarrhea stops, you can feed your dog a bland diet of cooked rice with chicken in small amounts 3 to 6 times per day. Also add some plain, canned pumpkin to the food (1/2 - 2 teaspoons depending on the size of your dog).

If the condition is more severe, then try giving your dog slippery elm.

Slippery elm is THE herbal choice for diarrhea. It soothes and protects the mucuous membranes and contains precious nutrients. The powdered form of slippery elm is available in many health food stores, and it is advisable to keep some in our first-aid kit as it comes in handy for diarrhea treatment.

To prepare slippery elm herbal remedy:

mix one teaspoon of slippery elm powder with one cup of cold water;
bring to a boil and stir;
bring the heat down and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes;
remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.

To use the remedy, feed 4 times a day:

one teaspoon to small dogs
one to two tablespoons to medium dogs
3 to 4 tablespoons to large dogs

You can find slippery elm powder here.

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Treating Chronic Diarrhea in Dogs

Natural remedies, such as dietary supplements, herbs, and homeopathic remedies, are effective in treating chronic diarrhea in dogs. Please visit our page on Natural Canine Diarrhea Remedies for more information on this topic.

Preventing Diarrhea in Dogs

Diarrhea is not pleasant for both you and your dog, to say the least. To prevent episodes of diarrhea occurring in your dog, here are a few suggestions:

Feed your dog a well-balanced all natural diet with all the essential natural supplements such as vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
Avoid overfeeding your dog, and avoid feeding him table scraps or snacks that contain excessive sugar, fat, and lactose.
If your dog has loose stools, give his stomach a rest by fasting him for at least 24 hours.
After fasting, feed your dog a bland diet of cooked rice with skinless chicken, followed by small amounts of plain yogurt which contains natural bacterial cultures.
If you plan to change your dog's food, do it gradually. Do not make any sudden changes to his diet. Introduce new foods gradually by adding it to old food. It should take 5 to 7 days to introduce a new diet.
Inspect your dog's stool daily for abnormalities such as loose stools, signs of worms, or blood or mucus in stools.
Put the garbage lid on - Keep your dog away from spoiled food and garbage cans.