We’re talking about mild diarrhea in your dog in this article. If your dog has bloody diarrhea, is also vomiting, won’t eat or drink, or has had diarrhea more than 24 to 48 hours, it is not a mild case of diarrhea. You need to contact your veterinarian.
If this is not the case start by trying to determine what might have caused the diarrhea. My Belgian Tervuren, Mac, whelped (gave birth to) six puppies. She ate five of the placentas and had two bouts of diarrhea a day or so later. The diarrhea cleared on its own, but I knew the cause and watched her closely.
Another classic example of diarrhea you can likely manage at home is a dog who is sensitive to lactose but managed to eat some ice cream. That diarrhea will most likely clear with a bland diet or a fast for 24 hours (do not withhold water).
Fast Your Dog for 24 Hours
One of the oldest and easiest remedies for simple diarrhea—unless you have a hardcore chow hound—is to fast your dog for 24 hours. But make sure there is always fresh, clean water available.
Don’t do this with a dog with a chronic health problem such as diabetes or a young puppy, however. These dogs should be seen by your veterinarian. And, if you’re wondering about Imodium, yes, but you need to be sure what is causing the diarrhea. You can use Pepto Bismol, too, provided you know the cause.
A healthy adult dog can easily handle fasting, however, and the 24 hours rests the gastrointestinal tract and gives it time to heal. Never withhold water! Dogs with diarrhea are susceptible to dehydration.
Additional Help for Mild Diarrhea in Dogs
If you know your dog is not lactose-intolerant, consider feeding some plain yogurt. Not favored versions, which tend to have added sugar. Use a live-culture plain yogurt to help control mild diarrhea and restore a normal microbiome in your dog. My dogs like Greek yogurt best.
Alternatively, you can go straight to healthy bacteria and throw in a probiotic, which can also firm up slightly loose stools if needed. Purina’s Forti Flora is popular with my dogs, but there are plenty of good canine probiotics. Use a canine probiotic, not a human one as their microbiome is different. I will sprinkle some probiotic on yogurt at times to help get the normal bacteria back or simply put it on their regular food.
Feed bland foods. The emphasis here is on plain! Plain, canned pumpkin
(not the type ready for making a pie) is bland and has fiber, which can help slow the gut flow. Most dogs like pumpkin and will eat it readily.
If your dog doesn’t think pumpkin is tasty, you can add some boiled ground turkey, chicken, or low-fat beef (consider a dinner of chicken and rice). Some dogs will eat plain rice or plain instant mashed potatoes, which are acceptable choices. Feed small amounts frequently instead of big meals.
Prevention Is Best
Of course, the best option is to avoid diarrhea. If you are holding a party or having guests over, remind them not to feed your dog anything. If your dog is an irresistible beggar or your human guests are not well trained, your dog should be locked up when food is out.
Always clean up after meals and make sure garbage is in a dog-proof container or locked away in the garage. Limit treats, even when training, so your dog does not get an overload of extra tasty foods.
When walking your dog, be vigilant for any food items left as litter. On a side note, an increasing number of dogs are getting sick from marijuana items left on the ground, so don’t let your dog sniff or ingest anything questionable.
Never let your dog sniff feces. He can get parasites or illnesses from other dogs or from wildlife. Do periodic fecal checks to make sure he does not have parasites that might cause diarrhea.
Again, if the diarrhea doesn’t clear up in 24 to 48 hours, make a veterinary appointment.
