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Diarrhea in Dogs

Diarrhea in dogs 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

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
Intestinal parasites (such as Coccidia and Giardia)
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
A poorly functioning immune system
A weak GI system
Over-vaccination

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Treating Acute Diarrhea in Dogs

If your dog has 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.

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 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.

References

R. Kidd, Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care (Storey Publishing, 2000).
Pitcairn & Pitcairn, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005).
M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford, Herbs for Pets (Bowtie Press, 1999).

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