My Dog Has Diarrhea

Those of us who've had a dog for a long time know how common it can be for our dog to have diarrhea. It doesn't always mean a health problem for our dog, but it always means some imbalance in their body's physiology. Likewise, depending on certain factors we'll look at now, medication may be needed.

To apply a treatment or home remedy that helps stop diarrhea in our dog, we need to pin down the reason behind it. By following the advice we lay out here at SoyUnPerro, you'll be able to help your pet get better in a simple way.

Why do dogs get diarrhea? Causes

These little four-legged furballs are generally very, very curious. When they're out on walks they like to sniff everything, and often to eat things they come across on the street or in the park.

There are many reasons a dog can get diarrhea, and not all of them need veterinary attention, since depending on severity and frequency, as well as the pet's physical and mental state, we can sometimes try to manage it with home remedies. It's very important to know what type of diarrhea our dog has, since sometimes it will indeed be necessary, even mandatory, to see a vet.

Bacterial / Viral diarrhea

This happens when our dog has an imbalance in their gut flora, which is made up of millions upon millions of different types of bacteria. The interaction and balance between the different types of bacteria is what keeps our dog's digestive health good, but when for whatever reason that flora gets thrown off, our dog will end up with diarrhea.

What causes the gut bacteria to become unbalanced? It can be due to a virus attacking the digestive system or the animal's immune system, making them more prone to diarrhea. It can likewise be caused by spoiled food, low-quality kibble, ingesting bacteria that are harmful to the dog, and so on.

This causes bacteria that are normally part of the animal's flora to multiply more than they should, producing excess gas, intestinal inflammation, and poor absorption, which results in diarrhea. There are so many possible causes that it can sometimes be hard to pin down the right one, though we should try to, so we can prevent it in the future.

Many common canine diseases, such as distemper, parvovirus, or even kennel cough (among many others) can cause intestinal upset in our dog.

Diet-related diarrhea

Although it's mistakenly assumed that dogs can eat anything, the truth is they're just as sensitive as we are. As we mentioned earlier, a dog that's eaten something spoiled, expired, rotten, past its prime, or simply a food that's toxic to dogs will develop intestinal problems that lead to diarrhea.

Generally speaking, throughout history, since dogs descend from wolves, they've been used to eating protein (meat). As they became domesticated, they gradually got more used to grains, which is why they're considered omnivores today.

That's why their diet needs to be a balanced one, and something as simple as a piece of bread or milk can throw off their physiology and lead to diarrhea. Not every dog tolerates different foods the same way, and there's still a fair amount of misunderstanding in general about what a dog can or can't eat, and its nutrients.

Dogs are predators, which means they'll eat almost anything they come across while out on walks in the street, the park, or the mountains… and sometimes those things aren't in good condition or aren't suitable for them, which gives them diarrhea.

Changing food

Overeating can also cause diarrhea, as can low-quality kibble or a food allergy to some component of our dog's diet.

It's essential that when we switch our pet to a new kibble, we do it gradually over 3 consecutive days.

1. On the first day, every meal should mix both kibbles in the following proportions: 75% of the old kibble and 25% of the new one.
2. On the second day, meals should be made up of 50% of each kibble.
3. On the third and final transition day, it should be 25% old kibble and 75% new.

From the following days onward, the diet will be 100% the new kibble purchased. This is so there isn't an abrupt change, since the different composition of the new kibble could cause diarrhea if the animal's body isn't used to it yet.

Parasite-caused diarrhea in dogs

Alongside bacteria, viruses, and diet-related diarrhea, parasite-caused diarrhea is one of the most common in puppies in general. Many people make the mistake of thinking that simply giving their dog a deworming pill every three months will keep them protected and free of parasites.

That's completely wrong, of course, since there are many types of parasites that aren't eliminated by those conventional pills and require treatment with antibiotics or other drugs. For example, Giardia spp. in dogs is highly resistant to those pills and can cause a lot of diarrhea in our dog.

What to do if your dog has diarrhea? Home remedies and steps to follow

Before starting to treat our dog, we need to make sure it isn't something serious. If our dog has symptoms other than diarrhea, has bloody diarrhea or extremely foul-smelling diarrhea, has a fever, or seems lethargic, we must see a vet — no exceptions.

However, if it's simply diarrhea with the dog otherwise in good spirits and with an appetite, we can try to handle it at home. If all goes well, our dog should recover and form normal stools again within just one or two days, by following these simple steps:

• A bland diet of rice and boiled turkey/chicken (no bones or skin). We can add carrot and boiled potato for extra vitamins (no skin).
• Use natural probiotics.
• Prevent our dog from eating things off the ground during the fasting period.

It's very important to always keep fresh, clean water available for the dog — more than important, it's essential, since noticeable dehydration from the diarrhea would worsen and intensify the condition.

We shouldn't go back to kibble until the stools return to their usual consistency and frequency, since it's a heavier food that could bring the diarrhea back. It should be reintroduced gradually alongside the bland diet, increasing the kibble portion and reducing the rice and boiled chicken over one or two more days, until the dog is finally eating only kibble.

We can use a probiotic sold at vet clinics called "pro-enteric" or "sustain," which is very effective and helps the dog rebuild its gut flora within a few days, since it works by supplying beneficial bacteria. It's like a paste that's added to food or given directly (dogs tend to like the taste). We can also use a bit of brewer's yeast and aged cheese.

On the other hand, if you'd rather not use rice and chicken, there are also canned wet food options sold as "gastrointestinal" or "i/d" (it's like a pâté) for dogs with intestinal problems.

By following these steps our dog should stop having diarrhea within 24-48 hours, but if we notice the diarrhea isn't stopping, the problem may be bacterial or parasitic in origin and need veterinary treatment.

Types of diarrhea in dogs and how to respond

This is just a brief summary of what to do if our dog has diarrhea — it's not a medical treatment guide or a set of rules, just advice based on experience.

• Diarrhea with mucus: Glossy-looking, as if coated in a layer of mucus. This happens when the gut loses its normal flora and/or there's too much fat in the diet. It can be treated at home with the advice above. If it happens very often, it's worth checking other organs like the liver, since bile is what neutralizes those fats.
• Diarrhea with a very strong smell and/or blood: This type of diarrhea is common when there's a serious illness, usually bacterial (Clostridium spp), so it's strongly recommended — really, required — to see a vet.
• Yellowish and/or greenish diarrhea: This is fairly common when it's caused by some food that didn't agree with the dog, and can often be treated with the advice above.
• Diarrhea in a puppy: whatever the cause, we need to see a vet, since the outcome could be fatal if we don't.

Remember that if your dog has an accident with diarrhea in the house, you shouldn't scold them or get angry with them, or even give them a dirty look. Just clean everything up with water and bleach and then give them lots of affection, try to figure out what caused the diarrhea, and act accordingly.

Medications to stop diarrhea in a dog

There are many over-the-counter medications on the market that we could use on a dog with diarrhea, but we do not recommend them under any circumstances. The reason is that these medications don't cure the diarrhea — they just make the intestine absorb more water, which stops the dog from having diarrhea. But it doesn't solve the problem, it just masks it, and often makes it worse.

Some well-known ones, like "Fortasec" (loperamide) or similar, have this very undesirable effect — one that helps people get by in a pinch, but that we should never give to dogs.

What to do if a puppy has diarrhea

Puppies are especially vulnerable to viruses, bacteria, and parasites due to their lack of immunity, which they don't fully develop until several months old and after certain vaccines. They can't be treated at home in the conventional way.

Because of their delicate health, and since they aren't yet physically equipped to handle many of the common problems a dog can have (illnesses), if our puppy has diarrhea we must see a vet — no exceptions.

There are no home remedies or magic tricks for puppies, since a simple, poorly managed case of diarrhea can cost them their life (parvovirus especially). We know everyone wants to treat their dogs without the expense of a vet visit, but honestly, in a puppy, this decision could cost them their life.