What Should You Feed a Dog with Diarrhea

Summary: A dog with diarrhea should be fed absorbent food, such as rice or pasta, as well as good-bacteria foods, like cheese and yogurt. Give a dog these stomach-friendly foods, as well as Imodium or Pepto-Bismol, with information from a professional certified dog trainer in this free video on dog care.

"Hello my name is Zephyr Clarke-Dolberg in Miami, Florida with Miami Dog Training. In this clip we are going to talk about what you should feed a dog that has diarrhea and Immodium is a great little pill to give them. You can also use products like Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate or Milk of Magnesia. Again the Pepto Bismol comes in a pill for which is easier. This is a pill which makes it a lot easier and a lot less messy to give the dog. Some of the other remedies for a dog with diarrhea would be an absorbent type of food like rice or pasta that really sucks up some of the excess liquid or liquids in their system at the time which is not getting absorbed by the intestines which causes that diarrhea. So rice, cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt are all things that can help with the digestion and proper digestion of the dog. Once again this is Zephyr Clarke-Dolberg with Miami Dog Training."

When human members of your household are suffering from diarrhea, you probably have some tried and true methods of helping to alleviate it. One of the first things you do is likely to involve the choice of foods the person eats. Obviously, what one eats can have a direct effect on diarrhea and the same is true for pets. So what should you feed a dog with diarrhea?

First, it is important to understand that there are many possible reasons that your dog could be suffering from diarrhea. Diarrhea is not an illness, but rather it is a sign or symptom that something could be wrong with your pet. Loose bowel movements that last for less than 24-hours and are not accompanied by any other symptoms are not a cause for alarm. Often, the diarrhea will clear up without any intervention. Any of the following could be the cause of the diarrhea:

Change in Diet
If you noticed the diarrhea shortly after switching the food that you were feeding to the dog, that could be the cause of the digestive problem. That doesn’t mean, necessarily, that the food itself is the problem. Instead, it could just be that the dog’s system had been very used to the old food and now is having trouble adjusting to something different. You can try going back to the old food and then slowly introducing the new food back into the diet.

Dirty Food Bowls
Sure your dog licks his bowls clean each day, but that doesn’t mean that the bowls are free from mold and bacteria that can potentially wreak havoc on your pet’s system. Wash bowls with warm soapy at least every other day to prevent this problem. If bowls are kept outside, they should be washed each day. Be sure to rinse thoroughly so that all traces of soap are rinsed away.

Intestinal Worms/Parasites
Some think that there must be visible signs of worms in the dog’s stool in order for this cause to be considered. While some worms are visible, that is not always the case. A quick trip to the vet can rule out this problem.

Ingestion of Poisons
There are many substances around your home and yard that could be toxic to your pet. Be sure to keep any materials that could harm your dog out of his reach. This isn’t always easy, but it’s vital to your pet’s good health.

Antibiotics
Certainly this should be one of the first things you consider if your pet has been on any medications. This is not to say that you should discontinue the medicine. Instead, talk to the vet and see if there is an alternate medicine he could prescribe, or if he thinks it’s important to continue the current medication in spite of the side effects.

Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreatic gland. The disease can be the result of trauma, ingestions of toxins, a virus or other causes. Diarrhea is just one symptom of this disease.

Ingestion of Certain Foods (such as chocolate)
Dogs are not shy when it comes to trying new foods. Some of that experimentation, however, can lead to health issues. If you think that your dog is experiencing diarrhea or other symptoms as the result of something he ate, you may want to call the animal poison control center or your vet for advice.

Ingestion of Foreign Objects
Again, that inventive eating can get dogs in trouble every time! Because it’s not just new foods they are willing to try but also shoes, grass, ropes and just about anything else that looks interesting, it’s not uncommon for them to ingest something against which their digestive system rebels.

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