Natural Methods to Treat Diarrhea in Dogs

Withhold food for 12-24 hours. Food in the intestines triggers contractions to move it through the digestive tract. During diarrhea, these contractions intensify, leading to faster expulsion of loose stools. Fasting for 12-24 hours helps soothe and normalize the sensitive digestive system.

Provide clean water for your dog. During the fasting period, ensure your dog has access to clean, cool water. Monitor their water bowl to confirm they are drinking. Adequate hydration helps prevent dehydration.

Introduce a bland diet after fasting. After fasting, DO NOT immediately return your dog to their regular diet. Instead, offer easily digestible food.

• An ideal bland diet is low in fat and avoids red meat.
• Feed plain, unseasoned chicken, avoiding the skin.
• Combine chicken with white rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
• Avoid milk and dairy products, as many dogs are lactose intolerant, which can worsen diarrhea. Mashed potatoes should also be free of butter.
• A bland diet helps reduce diarrhea (resulting in grayish-green stools) but won’t immediately normalize stools. Wait for improvement to confirm recovery.

Follow a veterinarian-recommended diet. If your dog cannot tolerate homemade bland food, consult your vet for a stomach-healing diet. Options like Hills ID and Purina EN are proven to aid recovery after diarrhea.

Adjust portion sizes. Smaller meals are gentler on the intestines and reduce contractions. After fasting, provide the same daily food amount as usual but divided into four smaller meals. This approach helps prevent diarrhea recurrence.

Gradually reintroduce a normal diet. Once diarrhea subsides, slowly transition your dog back to their regular diet. Start with a bland diet for two days to ensure diarrhea has stopped. Over the next two days, mix ⅔ bland food with ⅓ regular food, then ⅓ bland with ⅔ regular. By the third day, your dog can resume their normal diet.

Use probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that aid digestion and help dogs recover from diarrhea. Diarrhea can deplete these good bacteria, and it takes time for their levels to replenish and restore digestive efficiency. Probiotic supplements can boost the population of beneficial bacteria. Generally, you can mix probiotics with food and give them to your dog once daily for five consecutive days.

• Note that the natural gut bacteria in dogs differ from those in humans, so avoid giving your dog human probiotics.
• Many dog-specific probiotics are available over-the-counter at pet stores or pharmacies without a prescription.

Avoid giving human anti-diarrheal medication to your dog. The steps above are effective for treating mild diarrhea in dogs. However, administering human medications that reduce intestinal motility can mask serious underlying issues, which may be detected too late. If symptoms persist for 2-3 days despite these methods, consult a veterinarian.

Determine if your dog ingested something harmful. Diarrhea is often caused by dogs eating inappropriate items. In most cases, dogs recover once the offending substance is expelled.

• However, seek immediate veterinary care if your dog consumes toxic substances like rat poison or household cleaning products.

Check your dog’s temperature. Diarrhea alone rarely accompanies a fever. A fever indicates an underlying infection or bacterial issue. To measure your dog’s temperature, have someone hold your dog steady by placing an arm under its belly and pulling its hind legs toward its chest. Use the other hand to secure its chin. Gently restrain and soothe your dog if it squirms. Use a muzzle if you fear being bitten during the process.

• Lubricate the thermometer, lift the tail, and gently insert it into the rectum. For female dogs, avoid confusing the rectum with the vulva just below it.
• Do not force the thermometer to prevent injury.
• Once the thermometer signals completion, remove it and read the result.
• A normal temperature ranges between 38-39°C.
• A temperature of 39.7°C or higher indicates a fever.

Be cautious if your dog has diarrhea accompanied by vomiting. Vomiting combined with diarrhea is particularly dangerous as it can lead to double fluid loss, putting your dog at risk of severe dehydration. This is especially concerning if your dog cannot drink or retain water. In such cases, seek veterinary care immediately.

Check for signs of dehydration. Diarrhea inherently involves the loss of large amounts of fluid. Excessive diarrhea without adequate rehydration can lead to dehydration, reducing blood flow to vital organs like the liver and kidneys, potentially causing damage.

• To check for dehydration, gently lift the skin at the back of your dog’s neck and release it.
• If the skin snaps back quickly, your dog is well-hydrated.
• If the skin remains tented or returns slowly, your dog is dehydrated and needs immediate attention.

Look for blood in the diarrhea. Blood in diarrhea indicates inflammation or bleeding in the digestive tract. While inflammation is uncomfortable, bleeding can be life-threatening. Since you cannot distinguish between the two at home, consult a veterinarian immediately if you notice blood in your dog’s stool.

Monitor for lethargy or weakness. Dogs with mild diarrhea may still appear energetic. If your dog seems bright-eyed and alert despite diarrhea, you can monitor the situation at home. However, if your dog appears lethargic, weak, unsteady, or collapses, seek veterinary care immediately.

• Lethargy or a lack of energy is a sign that your dog needs professional attention.