Dog Diarrhea & Rice

Diarrhea is an unpleasant fact of life. Most dogs at some time in their lives will experience a bout of diarrhea, whether through illness or bad eating habits. Diarrhea may be acute, that is, short-term and sudden, or chronic, over a long period of time. Many veterinarians recommend rice to help bind the intestines after a bout of diarrhea. If diarrhea continues or if your dog appears ill, you should consult your veterinarian for further treatment.

  1. Causes of Diarrhea

    • Spoiled food can cause a bout of diarrhea. A canine virus can cause diarrhea. Internal parasites like worms or giardia or trichomonas can cause diarrhea as well. Changes in diet, stress and dehydration can also cause diarrhea. Puppies in particular can catch contagious diseases that can lead to serious diarrhea and dehydration.

    Symptoms of Diarrhea

    • Symptoms of diarrhea can be loose stools, watery stools, stools with mucus, passing of blood, frequency and straining with defecation. There may also be vomiting, lethargy, depression, fever and weakness. Puppies can quickly become dehydrated through loss of body fluids from diarrhea. This is a life-threatening condition that should be treated immediately by your veterinarian.

    Treating Diarrhea

    • The vet may recommend Pepto-bismol or Imodium in a dosage appropriate for your dog's age and weight. Your vet may suggest withholding food for 24 hours, to allow your dog's intestines to rest. The vet may also recommend a diet of an easily digestible protein mixed with cooked rice to help your dog's digestive system.

    Rice Diet for Diarrhea

    • The suggested rice diet for dogs with diarrhea usually consists of 1 part protein to 1 part cooked rice. Chicken can be used for the protein, or you can use hamburger which has been boiled and the fat removed. You can offer small portions of this protein-rice mixture at mealtime for several days. If the diarrhea improves, you can then gradually switch over to the dog's normal diet.

    Preventing Diarrhea

    • It's important for your dog's health to get all immunizations for communicable canine illnesses when your veterinarian recommends them. Some illnesses can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration that can endanger your puppy's life. It is always a good idea to keep your dog from taste-testing things he finds on his walks or on his romps in the park. You can also purchase well-constructed garbage containers with secure tops that are hard to knock over, to keep your dog from getting into contaminated food. Have your dog tested for internal parasites regularly.