If your dog seems to be exhibiting signs of diarrhea, it’s important to take the matter into your own hand and try to fix the problem. But first, you need to know what dog diarrhea is.
Dog diarrhea is essentially just a bunch of loose feces piling up in large amounts. While diarrhea itself might not be an actual illness, it could be a sign of some other minor health issues that could easily be handled, if it doesn’t occur frequently. But if you notice that your dog struggles with diarrhea on and off, you need to get it checked as soon as possible as this could be an indication of organ failure, or in some cases, cancer.
With that being said, if it’s a first-time thing, here are some reliable home remedies that can save you a costly trip to the vet. But it’s important to opt for professional help if your dog doesn’t get any better in a 24 hour period of time.
Fasting
Holding off on feeding your dog for a few hours (8 to 13 hours) could be the answer to your problems if your dog doesn’t experience bouts of diarrhea often. Even if you reach out to a vet, they will most likely recommend this method as it could help your pooch’s stomach to cleanse itself and get rid of what’s causing the problem inside its guts.
Hydration
Diarrhea can cause your dog’s body to lose so much water in the process, which could then lead to dehydration. In order to keep your pup safe, make sure to provide it with as much water as its body needs to stay hydrated and flush out any toxins. While fasting, you can offer your dog beef or chicken broth to keep its hunger at bay all while maintaining its hydration levels at their maximum.
Diet moderation
In order to reintroduce nutrients to your dog’s diet without disturbing its guts, you need to feed it small servings of rice and white meat chicken at specific hours during the day. If you notice your dog’s stools getting more solid, it’s a good sign to keep doing what you’re doing. For the next 2 to 3 days, keep increasing the size of the meal as well as the break between the meals in order to give your dog’s stomach a chance to digest the food properly and avoid any problems down the line.
Pumpkin
Another way to treat your dog’s diarrhea from the comfort of your own home is by introducing pumpkin to your dog’s diet. Start off by sprinkling a few bits of pure pumpkin over your dog’s meal and increase the dose gradually as needed. Pumpkin is very beneficial in terms of treating dogs’ messed-up stomachs because it provides them with just the right amount of fiber to keep your pup healthy and comfortable.
Yogurt
Yogurts have naturally good bacteria that help regulate our gut and keep it nice and healthy. This is also the case with dogs which is why it’s a quick and efficient way to treat your dog’s diarrhea without having to reach out to a vet clinic. It’s important to use plain yogurt, though. Stay away from sugary and overly-processed products as they could disrupt your dog’s guts even more. Adding probiotic supplements that are dedicated to dogs is also a great option to amp up the healing process.
Imodium
This drug has been prescribed by vets and raved about by dog owners due to its efficiency to treat diarrhea. But, as is the case with all drugs especially those you can get over the counter, one must be cautious and use it with moderation as it could also cause some serious side effects. Imodium could have the opposite desired effect as it could cause constipation in some cases, not to mention bloating and other unpleasant side effects. The outcome varies depending on dogs’ breeds as herding dogs like Collies should avoid this medication at all costs.
Avoid sudden diet changes
If you’re planning to introduce new food to your dog’s diet, make sure to do it nice and slow. You can’t be sure of how your dog is going to react to the new things it will be digesting which is why we advise you to try to mix up whatever new foods you want to incorporate into its diet with the old things that its gut has gotten used to. If your dog doesn’t display any signs of illness or unwellness, you can slowly increase the amount of new food until your pooch transitions into its new diet.
Avoid human food
Your dog might show interest in human food while watching you eat something, but it’s important for you to be responsible and know when to decline your cute little friend’s request when you know it could be harmful to them. The amount of spice and additions that humans add to their food can have a negative effect on dogs’ guts. As a responsible dog owner, you must train your dog not to eat or chew on anything they find on the ground. It might take time due to dogs’ temptation to explore the world through all of their senses, but with a little bit of patience, they will get there.