Although it can be alarming to see that your dog’s poop isn’t its usual consistency—often a sign something is wrong—dog diarrhea is extremely common and often not a cause for concern! But if you’re asking yourself, ‘What home remedy can I give my dog for diarrhea?’ then I’ve got you covered!
If your dog has eaten something they shouldn’t have or is experiencing more stress than usual, they may be experiencing some mild diarrhea which can be helped at home. Keep reading to find a dog diarrhea home remedy to try.
What Home Remedy Can I Give My Dog for Diarrhea? 5 Solutions
1. Fasting
For dog diarrhea, fasting them for 8-24 hours is the first thing to do before proceeding with any other home remedies. This allows a dog’s digestive system to reset itself.
You should only fast a dog if they’re a healthy adult as puppies and seniors need to eat frequently and often! If your dog is under a year old or has entered their golden years, don’t cut off their food entirely.
2. A Bland Diet
The last thing you want to do is provoke further digestive upset by adding a lot of ingredients and fatty foods into the mix, so vets recommend getting them on a bland diet. This could include:
- Low-fat hamburger and white rice
- Boiled chicken and white rice
- Cooked plain pasta
- Some banana
However, before you go ahead and start feeding your choice to banish the dog diarrhea, make sure they don’t have food allergies or intolerances. Try to feed them something they’ve had plenty of before to rule this out—e.g., if your dog eats primarily chicken-flavored food and has never had a reaction, boiled chicken and rice may be the way to go.
3. Probiotics
Probiotics can also be helpful in getting rid of dog diarrhea and getting those stools firmed up. They replenish normal amounts of microorganisms that are necessary for your dog’s gastrointestinal processes to function properly. In other words, they’ll keep those poops healthy.
You can buy dog probiotics online or at certain pet stores.
4. Pumpkin
Canned pumpkin (with no other flavors or seasonings) can also be beneficial for dog diarrhea, as the fiber will help to firm up their stools by absorbing water to add bulk. Give them around a tablespoon and see how they react to that as with fiber, you don’t want to overdo it or it can have the opposite effect.
If your dog is reluctant to eat the pumpkin on its own, mix it with their bland food. You don’t want to add seasonings or treats to make it more appealing, as this will negate the effects of limiting what goes into their stomach!
5. Hydration
While hydration alone won’t fix the root cause of dog diarrhea, it will negate one of the potentially nasty side effects. Because diarrhea causes everything to pass through a dog’s system quickly and denies their body the chance to absorb water, making sure they’re drinking plenty is critical—otherwise, you risk dehydration.
Dehydration can cause a dog to become extremely sick and turn a previously mild case of a dog’s diarrhea into something life-threatening.
When to Visit the Vet
Experts recommend calling the vet if dog diarrhea lasts for more than two days or if it’s accompanied by any of the following other signs:
- Blood in the stool
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
While dog diarrhea is very common and will pass quickly, accompaniment of other symptoms or severe cases lasting more than a couple of days could be due to an underlying condition (such as inflammatory bowel disease), which would result in chronic diarrhea.
If you’re in any doubt at all, it’s best to call your vet and chat with them to see what their advice would be.
How to Prevent Dog Diarrhea
The good news is that since most dog diarrhea is acute diarrhea and caused by an environmental change, there are a few methods you can use to avoid it!
1. Keep an Eye on Your Dog
Since dog diarrhea is often caused by them ingesting something they shouldn’t have, closely monitoring them—especially puppies, who will pick up anything—is key to keeping them safe and healthy.
You can also control the environment by making sure no food is at eye level to them and keeping anything potentially dangerous out of reach.
2. Limiting Stress
As much as we’d love to, it’s impossible for us dog parents to give our pups an entirely stress-free life—but by making it as relaxing as possible, we can avoid cases of dog diarrhea.
Transition your dog to new places slowly, keep an eye on them for signs of stress (such as excessive yawning and licking), and don’t force them into situations they’re uncomfortable with.
3. Change a Dog’s Diet Slowly
If transitioning your dog’s food, make sure to do it slowly.
Changing your dog’s diet can cause stomach upset which can result in the dog’s diarrhea, so starting out by feeding them 10% of the new food and 90% of the old one, working towards 50/50, and then eventually into the new diet over the course of a week can do wonders for your dog’s stomach.
4. Vaccinate Your Dog
Some dog diarrhea can be caused by parasites or diseases caught from other dogs. Keeping up with your dog’s vaccinations ensures they’re protected from nasty conditions that may start out with diarrhea and progress into something worse. It’s also a good idea to monitor your dog’s poop closely as well.
Most vets recommend a course of vaccines when a dog is a puppy followed by yearly boosters to keep them up to date, but your vet will have specific advice for your pup.
Final Thoughts
Although no one likes to see their dog uncomfortable, the good news is that most dog diarrhea is easily treatable and preventable. Home remedies for dog diarrhea include fasting your dog for a day, putting them on a bland diet, and monitoring your dog’s poop. With these solutions, hopefully, your dog’s diarrhea will resolve itself pretty quickly.
If your dog’s diarrhea does last longer than two days or comes with other symptoms, make sure to consult your vet who will be able to offer you advice specific to your pup.