Diarrhea and vomiting can quickly drain your dog of fluids, leading to dehydration that is potentially dangerous for dogs.
To avoid dehydration, start your child off on a bland diet containing boiled white rice (which binds stool) combined with low-fat proteins such as steamed chicken.
Contents
Rice
When your dog has diarrhea, she needs to expel any excess water, vitamins or other materials from her stomach and small intestine. Sometimes these stools have an oily or gray appearance – this could be an indicator that they’ve consumed too much fat!
Staying on a bland diet can help your dog avoid diarrhea, particularly in times of increased stress. Avoid table scraps and sudden food changes which could irritate his gastrointestinal tract and trigger episodes of diarrhea.
Plain boiled white rice is easy for your pup to digest and provides an effective source of dietary fiber that can help strengthen his stool. But you should never feed raw rice as this could expose him to bacteria that could make him sick; you should instead prepare it in boiling water without spices or added ingredients, keeping things simple with no additional spices like pumpkin pie filling. Cans of pumpkin can also provide extra fiber; just avoid purchasing canned varieties that contain added sugars and spices (such as pumpkin pie filling). Finally, canned pumpkin is another great source of dietary fiber for your pup.
Probiotics
While diarrhea itself is not a disease, it does indicate something may be off with your pup and could be due to factors like diet (eating too much of one type of food), illness, parasites or emotional stress. In many instances however, simple at-home treatments will often resolve the problem quickly and effectively.
If your dog experiences mild bouts of diarrhea, it is generally wise to withhold food for one or more days to assist the purging process and alleviate its severity. When feeding again, make sure the meal is bland – including cooked white rice (not raw). Plain boiled rice provides easy digestion without too much fiber that may aggravate their intestinal tracts during an episode of diarrhea.
Also, avoid offering table scraps as these can contribute to diarrhea and develop into bad habits such as begging at the table which are difficult to break.
Water
Bowel disturbance is not usually indicative of serious illness; however, straining without expelling much or anything at all may indicate bowel obstruction requiring immediate veterinary attention.
Encourage your dog to drink plenty of water during an episode of diarrhea, particularly senior dogs or those with an established history of diarrhoea or dehydration. It is particularly essential for seniors and those prone to these issues in general.
If possible, opt for a constantly-flowing water fountain to keep the water fresher and more appetizing than plain tap water. Or give your dog low-sodium broth-based ice cubes.
Your veterinarian may prescribe metronidazole (Flagyl) or tylosin to address your dog’s diarrhea. He or she may also suggest probiotics as an aid in restoring balance to their gastrointestinal tract; look for products labeled with guaranteed live bacterial colony forming units, or CFUs; many products display this information directly on their ingredients list.
Supplements
Some dietary mishaps and parasites, as well as illnesses affecting organs other than the digestive tract, can result in diarrhea in dogs. Therefore, it’s crucial that they see their veterinarian for evaluation; initial treatments could include fluid replacement to counteract dehydration caused by loose stools; antidiarrheal medications designed specifically for dogs; dewormers; and sometimes pain medications to alleviate any associated discomfort or nausea.
Some dogs may recover from mild diarrhea by switching their diet for several days to something blander and slower, like water only or slowly increasing it over time. Avoid table scraps or sudden diet changes which could irritate their intestines further. Furthermore, over-the-counter human medicines like Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate may be harmful when given to dogs in small doses; only give any medications prescribed by your vet and consult them regarding any supplements you might want to include as part of their regimen.
