Treatment for Dog Diarrhea

1 Overview

Treatment for Dog Diarrhea

If your dog is not vomiting and otherwise behaves normally, it is recommended to let the dog drink and eat freely and it will recover on its own. The dietary advice for a dog with diarrhea is what we call a ‘bland diet.’ You can buy a bland recipe from your veterinarian or make one at home.

You can also make the diet yourself, preparing sufficient protein sources and highly digestible carbohydrates for the dog. The most common recipe includes lean hamburger or skinless chicken mixed 50/50 with cooked rice. You can also use potatoes as an alternative carbohydrate source.

Feed only a small amount of this bland food at a time, because many dogs will overeat and vomit. Take it slow; gradual progression minimizes the chance of problems such as vomiting. At first give the dog only a small meatball. If it does not vomit, then after about one and a half to one hour give a little more. Frequently offering small amounts of this bland food, such as every 3 to 4 hours on the first day, is very effective for recovery.

You can gradually increase the amount of food and reduce feeding frequency as your dog tolerates it. After feeding this way for 24 hours, assuming it no longer vomits and the diarrhea has improved, you can begin mixing in some of its regular food. When reintroducing regular food, go slowly. For example, in the first feeding, mix only a few pieces of regular food with the bland food. Over several days, gradually increase the amount of regular food so your dog slowly returns to its normal diet.

If your dog has diarrhea or loose stools, avoid spicy foods, raw vegetables, human food, and any expired food.