Diarrhea is uncomfortable and distressing for dogs, and it is difficult for you as an owner to know that something is wrong with your pet. If your dog has simply eaten something that disagrees with it, the right home treatments should get rid of the diarrhea within a few days. However, if your dog is showing symptoms such as a fever or vomiting as well, seek veterinary advice. The diarrhea may signify an underlying health problem that needs medical treatment.
Things You'll Need
- Fresh water
- Brown rice
- Chicken or beef
- Vegetable broth
- Probiotic supplements
- Slippery elm
- L-Glutamine supplements
Instructions
Don't feed your dog for the first 24 to 48 hours of a diarrhea attack. But do give it liquids. This will allow any food already in the dog's digestive system time to work its way through. Ensure you provide plenty of clean, fresh water for your dog, because diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration. If you notice your dog isn't drinking, or is developing other symptoms such as vomiting, seek advice from a veterinarian immediately.
After 24 hours, feed your dog cooked and cooled brown rice with some cooked and cooled beef or chicken. This food is bland and will provide your dog with nutrients and energy without irritating its stomach again. You can feed your dog this mixture until its symptoms have cleared up. You can also give your dog a broth made from vegetables, rice and meat after its fast is over. This will help replace some of the nutrients like potassium, sodium and fluids that your dog might have lost during its bout with diarrhea.
Administer supplements to your dog to aid its recovery. These might include slippery elm, which soothes the mucous membranes in the intestines, or L-Glutamine, an amino acid that helps improve the efficiency of intestinal cells.
Add probiotic supplements to your dog's food and drink. You can buy these from vet clinics and health food stores. They will replenish healthy bacteria in your dog's stomach that aid digestion. Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the most common probiotics. It can help protect your dog against future diarrhea attacks.