Dogs are living garbage disposals, and sometimes their digestive tract can get bogged down with something it cannot digest on its own. When this occurs, a visit to the veterinarian should be scheduled.
Treatment may include medications and fluid support (especially if your pet is dehydrated), in addition to a bland diet of white rice, cottage cheese, peeled boiled potatoes or specially designed canine food that will aid their GI health.
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Medications
Metronidazole, commonly referred to by its brand name Flagyl, is an antibiotic commonly prescribed to reduce inflammation in the GI tract and is an effective treatment option for dog diarrhea. Available over the counter and suitable for rabbits, rodents and small mammals alike – however veterinary advice must always be sought prior to administering such medication “off label.”
Antidiarrheals and antacids can also help manage symptoms of canine diarrhea. Furthermore, deworming medications may be prescribed to address specific types of intestinal parasites.
Probiotics may also prove useful for treating dog diarrhea. Saccharomyces boulardii has been shown to effectively decrease antibiotic-associated and viral-caused diarrhoea while Bacillus subtilis and Pediococcus acidilactici have been proven to minimize diarrhea associated with inflammatory bowel disease or colitis. Your veterinarian can also recommend therapeutic diets that will aid in the management or treatment of diseases that cause diarrhea in pets.
Diet Changes
Dogs’ instinctual desire to hunt and gather “prizes,” such as animal carcasses, table scraps and human snacks can lead to serious digestive upset. Be it due to accidental overeating or illness such as parvovirus, salmonella or giardia; their stomachs will react by vomiting and diarrhea in an effort to rid themselves of potential irritants.
Veterinarians frequently recommend a bland diet designed to soothe and settle the digestive tract until normal appetite, digestion, and bowel movements have returned. This typically includes low fat, high fiber foods like boiled meat combined with starches like rice or sweet potato.
Once vomiting and diarrhea has subsided, slowly introduce small amounts of your dog’s regular food every 2 hours or so until they return to eating their usual diet without diarrhea or vomiting symptoms. Over the course of several days this ratio should increase until they’re back eating at their usual rate without experiencing diarrhea or vomiting symptoms.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics can be an invaluable way to treat diarrhea symptomatically; however, antibiotics can have negative impacts on your dog’s gut microbiota causing dysbiosis (an imbalance of bacteria populations). The good news is that normal gut bacteria usually returns after discontinuing antibiotic therapy; additionally you can lower their risk of antibiotic-caused diarrhea by including Saccharomyces boulardii yeast in their diet.
This yeast has been shown to effectively prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea in dogs. Studies suggest that veterinarians should avoid prescribing antibiotics for acute uncomplicated diarrhea unless an infection can be demonstrated with faecal bacteriology/parasitology testing; this will limit antibiotic consumption while combatting antibiotic resistance, an increasingly serious global health concern. It’s vital that you complete any course of medication prescribed by your veterinarian; antibiotics usually take between one and two weeks to take effect, so retaking may be necessary if symptoms resurface after initial dose.
Supportive Care
When treating dog diarrhea, rest and bland diet are your best allies. Avoid over-the-counter drugs like Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) and Imodium (loperamide) without consulting with a veterinarian first; such treatments could disturb their microbiome by killing off beneficial bacteria while simultaneously encouraging disease-causing ones to thrive.
Poop samples taken to your vet may help diagnose what’s causing your dog’s diarrhea. Pink, purple or “raspberry jam”-colored stools indicate hemorrhagic gastroenteritis which requires immediate medical attention.
If your pup’s poop is smaller than usual, more frequent than usual or contains signs of blood, this could be an indicator of large intestine diarrhea. To alleviate symptoms and accelerate recovery faster – especially important with puppies and older dogs. Access to water is critical at all times while offering unflavored Pedialyte only when directed by your veterinarian – to balance electrolyte levels within his/her system and to keep recovery on schedule – both things which will keep pawsitive balance in your pet.
