What to Give My Dog For Diarrhea

what to give my dog for diarrhea

Dogs suffering from diarrhea need to be hydrated, fasted and then gradually introduced back into their regular diet until regular bowel movements return. Probiotics – live bacteria cultures which help restore gut flora – should also be added into their diet for best results.

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Mild cases of diarrhea typically resolve on their own with time and a bland diet; however, severe or chronic cases require additional medical treatment.

Contents

1. Boiled Chicken and Rice

Boiling chicken and rice provides low fat proteins, vitamins, and minerals for dogs suffering from diarrhea. Veterinarians recommend feeding it skinless chicken breast and white (not brown) rice when possible as this releases starch to absorb excess water in the intestines. For added digestible starches you could add sweet potato or oatmeal into the mix; plain yogurt (avoid pumpkin pie filling as this contains sugars that could upset their stomach) can also help soothe an upset GI tract with active cultures that soothe inflammation.

Feed a small amount of the solution every two to three hours throughout the day and gradually increase it over several days until your dog returns to its normal diet. While not a complete and balanced meal plan, it allows the GI tract time to recover while aiding your pup through diarrhea with minimal complications.

2. Boiled Potatoes

Diets based around white rice and chicken can still help your dog cope with diarrhea. This is due to its abundant supply of soluble fiber (from sources such as cellulose, hemicellulose, beta-glucans and lignin) which helps soothe digestive systems by slowing transit times for easier bowel movements and providing significant amounts of potassium as an antidiuretic mineral to combat dehydration caused by diarrhea.

Note that only 100% pure canned pumpkin is suitable for this project (and not pumpkin pie filling that contains additional sugars and spices).

Boiled potatoes can also provide great aid during an episode of diarrheal vomiting in your dog. Their smooth texture is easy on their stomach and they’re an excellent source of potassium – an essential mineral that prevents dehydration during such episodes. For optimal results, feed these regularly as separate portions throughout the day rather than mixing them with other veggies or meats which could further upset their stomach and worsen diarrhea symptoms.

3. Chicken Broth

Dogs experiencing diarrhea can benefit from fasting for a short period before feeding a simple bland diet (plain cooked chicken and rice) for healing their gut.

Homemade broth made of chicken and vegetables is an easy, safe meal that will soothe your dog’s stomach. When buying chicken broth from stores, make sure it is sodium-free and free from onions or garlic that are harmful for dogs.

Chicken broth contains probiotics which help restore balance to your dog’s gastrointestinal tract, especially if “bad bacteria” overgrow and disrupt it causing diarrhea in their system.

Chicken broth’s high glycine content helps reduce leaky gut symptoms in dogs. A leaky gut can result in food allergies or digestive upset; with its pluggable holes being filled up by chicken broth’s soothing liquid form, giving your pooch some comforting soup could be extremely helpful when they experience diarrhea.

4. Yogurt

Your dog’s digestive tract contains beneficial bacteria, and when their balance is disturbed by food poisoning or other causes, diarrhea may ensue. Probiotics (live bacterial cultures) can help restore this balance; you can find them in low-sugar yogurt varieties or high potency powdered acidophilus cultures for mixing into their rice water diet.

Regaining normalcy can be challenging, but your veterinarian is in the best position to assess and treat your dog’s situation accordingly. They can use a symptom checker tool to tell if diarrhea could be caused by something more serious like bacterial infection or parasite infestation.

Avoid taking over-the-counter human medications like Kaopectate or Pepto Bismol for your dog; these will only exacerbate their diarrhea symptoms and could even be harmful depending on what’s causing them. Instead, consult with a veterinarian regarding appropriate gastrointestinal upset treatments available specifically to dogs such as Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d or Purina EN foods to address their needs.