Generally, dogs can eat many things that would make us sick. Their digestive system is much more resilient than ours. However, the balance of the dog’s digestive system can occasionally be disrupted, thus resulting in an upset stomach and diarrhea. Many owners wonder what to give dogs for diarrhea in such circumstances. Are there any good home remedies, or should we use medications?
Let’s find out below.
What Is The Most Common Cause Of Diarrhea In Dogs?
Many different factors can cause diarrhea in dogs. They range from relatively benign to potentially life-threatening issues.
The most common causes of diarrhea in dogs are:
- Food intolerance
- Bacterial infections (Salmonella)
- Ingesting poisonous substances
- Virus Infection (Distemper, Parvovirus, Coronavirus)
- Stress
- Illnesses (Inflammatory bowel disease, Cancer, Kidney disease, Liver disease, Colitis )
- Antibiotics
- Indigestible foreign objects (socks, toys)
What To Give Dogs For Diarrhea?
Now that we know the potential causes of diarrhea, we need to learn how to cure it. Most cases of diarrhea are mild and easily treatable using home remedies. However, in certain cases when your dog has acute diarrhea, you will need to visit the vet.
What Home Remedy Can I Give My Dog For Diarrhea?
Ok, let’s look at what you can give your dog at home for diarrhea.
Is bread good for a dog with diarrhea?
Giving a piece of bread to a dog that suffers from a mild case of diarrhea can help soothe the stomach. Bread acts like a sponge, trapping the stomach irritants and allowing them to move further down the gastrointestinal tract.
Generally, plain bread is safe for dogs to eat. However, it’s not the healthiest food for dogs. Bread is, basically, a filler food rich in carbs and can cause weight gains and bloat in dogs. Also, don’t feed bread to dogs allergic to wheat or gluten intolerant dogs.
On the other hand, feeding bread to your dog shortly after it ingested a sharp object or a piece of yarn, thread, or a line can help encase those objects and reduce damage to the digestive system.
Does white rice stop diarrhea in dogs?
White rice is a perfect solution for treating diarrhea in dogs. Actually, most vets will recommend white rice as the first option when treating diarrhea in dogs at home.
White rice contains soluble fibers capable of absorbing water throughout the GI tract, thus stabilizing the stool.
How to prepare and serve white rice for dogs with diarrhea?
- Boil one cup of white rice in 4 cups of water for 20-30 minutes
- Do not add sugar or salt
- Wait for the rice to cool down to room temperature before serving
- Serve the white rice alone or with plain boiled chicken
- White rice and plain boiled chicken is the perfect combo for a dog with diarrhea.
To prepare and mix chicken meat for a dog with diarrhea, you need to:
- Boil skinless and boneless chicken meat
- Shred the meat into small pieces
- Prepare white rice as we explained above
- Mix rice and chicken in a 3:1 ratio
- Wait for rice and chicken to cool before serving
Does yogurt help diarrhea in dogs?
Yogurt contains probiotics, living microorganisms capable of restoring the bacterial balance in the dog’s gut. Therefore, it is very useful to feed yogurt to a dog with diarrhea.
However, be careful when feeding yogurt to your dog. There are many types of yogurt. You need to avoid those that contain sugar and artificial sweeteners. Also, avoid full-fat yogurt as it can cause even more digestive problems to the dog.
The ideal yogurt for your dog is a plain, fat-free yogurt rich in probiotic culture.
Small dogs can eat about one tablespoon of yogurt per day, while the larger dog breeds can eat between 2 and 3 tablespoons per day.
Are bananas good for dog diarrhea?
Bananas are a great option for dogs with diarrhea and stomach upset. You can slice the banana and serve it in small pieces or mash it and serve it alone or mixed with rice.
Generally, dogs can safely eat every part of the banana, even the peel. Bananas make for excellent tasty treats. However, they are not particularly nutrient-rich, and they contain natural sugar. Therefore, feeding too much banana to your dog can cause weight gain.
Is watermelon good for dogs with diarrhea?
Feeding a watermelon to a dog with diarrhea has a twofold benefit. Firstly, watermelon is rich in fiber that will solidify the stool. Secondly, the water content in watermelon is very high, which will prevent dehydration in your dog.
Are carrots good for dog diarrhea?
Cooked carrots are excellent for dogs suffering from diarrhea due to the high fiber content.
To prepare carrots for a dog with diarrhea, you need to:
- Remove the end of the carrots and wash thoroughly
- Boil the carrots
- Mash the carrots into a purée
- Wait till the carrots cool to room temperature before serving
You can also cut carrots into small pieces and cook with white rice.
Is pumpkin good for dogs with diarrhea?
Pumpkin is a great home remedy for dogs with diarrhea. It’s rich in water and soluble fiber, which will reduce gastric emptying and help soothe an upset stomach.
To treat your dog’s diarrhea add 1-to-4 tablespoons of pumpkin to the dog’s meal.
Foods that are bad for dogs with diarrhea
Generally, avoid giving fatty food to a dog that suffers from diarrhea.
Don’t feed your dog with:
- Peanut butter
- Cheese
- Butter
- Cream (Sour Cream, Whipped Cream)
- Lunchmeat
Will Probiotics Stop Diarrhea In Dogs?
Probiotics and prebiotics restore bacterial balance to the dog’s guts, boost its immune system and repair intestinal cells. Therefore, probiotics and prebiotics will certainly help a dog suffering from diarrhea.
Always give probiotics and prebiotics together to dogs with diarrhea. Prebiotics are actually a fiber base from which probiotics feed and develop. Be sure to inform yourself about what medicine you can give to your dog.
Can Dogs Take Pepto-Bismol?
Generally, the Pepto-Bismol is safe for most dogs. However, avoid offering it to pregnant and nursing dogs or dogs with bleeding disorders as it can cause gastric bleeding.
How Many ml Of Pepto-Bismol Can I Give To My Dog?
The recommended dosage of Pepto-Bismol for dogs is around 0.25 to 2 ml per 2 pounds of weight. Decoded into the dosage you can administer to your dog, this would be 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of weight.
For example, the proper dosage for a:
- 50-pound dog is 5 teaspoons,
- 60-pound dog – 6 teaspoons,
- 45-pound dog – 4.5 teaspoons, etc.
You can offer Pepto-Bismol to your dog every 6-to-8 hours. However, if the diarrhea is still persistent after a few doses, take your dog to the vet.
Is Pedialyte OK for dogs?
Pedialyte is an electrolyte solution used to treat mild diarrhea and dehydration in humans. We can also give Pedialyte in small quantities to dogs with diarrhea.
However, just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should do it. Generally, if a dog is dehydrated enough to need something besides plain water, you need to visit the vet.
There is no evidence Pedialyte can rehydrate dogs more than water. However, Pedialyte can induce vomiting or even worsen the situation in vomiting dogs.
Therefore, it’s simply not worth the risk to give your dog Pedialyte.
Should I Starve My Dog If He Has Diarrhea?
The notion of starving your dog for a certain period sounds terrible. However, dogs will often fast between 12 and 24 hours if they have gastrointestinal issues.
Therefore, we can copy this natural defensive mechanism of dogs and withhold food for 12 to 24 hours.
When Should I Be Concerned About My Dog’s Diarrhea?
Diarrhea in puppies is always a cause for concern due to the potential underlying issues and risk of dehydration. Therefore, if your puppy has diarrhea take it to the vet immediately.
Other signs that you should take your dog to the vet include:
- Persistent diarrhea that doesn’t stop
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Pale gums
- Vomiting
- Weakness