7 Practical Tips to Help Treat & Prevent Dog Diarrhea

7 Practical Tips to Help Treat & Prevent Dog Diarrhea

If your dog is anything like mine, then they aren’t too picky about what they’ll put in their mouth.

Crayons…

Grass…

Paper…

My dog once ate an entire Cliff Bar, including the wrapper, before anyone could stop him.

I also saw a neighbor’s dog jump on the table and slurp down an entire stick of butter.

(Ew, gross!)

With eating habits like these, it’s no surprise that diarrhea is a common problem for many dogs.

So what can you do to help treat and prevent this unpleasant condition in your dog?

What to Do When Your Dog Has Diarrhea

Diarrhea has several possible causes. Most often it’s the result of scavenging (when your dog finds something new and interesting to put in their mouth), but it could also be due to allergies, intestinal parasites, or even a serious underlying health condition.

So it’s a good idea to consult with a veterinarian if your dog gets diarrhea and…

• Your dog very old or very young
• Has a preexisting health condition
• Has very frequent and/or very water diarrhea
• Has diarrhea that is black, tarry, or bloody
• Is vomiting profusely or appears to be sick or in pain

In situations like these, your dog may require medical treatment.

You can often tell a lot about your dog’s health from their stool. Here’s a helpful infographic from petMD that explains some of the things to look out for in your dog’s droppings:

If your dog does NOT have any of the more serious symptoms listed above, then odds are they just have diarrhea from something they ate. When that’s the case, you should take these steps:

1. Give your dog lots of water to prevent dehydration.
2. Keep your dog away from anything they shouldn’t be eating, and consider keeping them outside to avoid a mess.
3. Feed your dog simple, healthy meals until they’re better. (Like boiled chicken breast and white rice.)
4. Call the vet if their condition doesn’t improve after 24 hours.

Follow these tips and your dog should be back to their old self before you know it.

How to Prevent Doggy Diarrhea

Now that your dog’s diarrhea has resolved itself (thank goodness), you might be interested in learning what you can do to prevent the condition from happening next time.

Here are our top 7 tips to help prevent diarrhea in your dog:

1) Keep their diet consistent.

One of the WORST things you can do is to suddenly and radically change your dog’s diet. An entirely new source of food is liable to throw a monkey wrench into their digestive system and could potentially cause diarrhea simply because they aren’t used to the new food.

If you do want to introduce a new food into your dog’s diet, do it slowly and gradually. And then, keep their diet as consistent as possible.

2) Don’t give them bones.

Many bones can cause intestinal issues when they’re chewed up and swallowed. Give your dog a different kind of toy instead—one they won’t end up swallowing—and they will generally be less prone to getting diarrhea.

3) Don’t let them play with small objects.

I’ve already mentioned how dogs have a tendency to swallow small objects. Keep them away from things like crayons that they shouldn’t be eating.

4) Don’t feed them table scraps.

I know your dog loves to eat your leftovers…but many of the foods you eat for dinner may not be a good choice for dogs. It’s better to stick to tried-and-true dog food, and leave the people food for the people.

5) Don’t let them scavenge.

If you notice your dog scavenging for food, make sure to tell them to STOP. Don’t let it become a habit. And if your dog is doing this a lot, it might be a sign that they’re hungry. You may want to consider increasing the amount of food you give them.

6) Make sure they are up-to-date with their deworming and vaccinations.

This will help protect them against parasites and illnesses that may cause diarrhea as a side-effect.

7) Give them a high-quality probiotic supplement.

Finally, consider a digestive supplement that can help protect and fortify your dog’s intestinal system. Here at Miracle Vet we offer a product called Omega Biotic Chews that are rich in gut-healthy probiotics to improve intestinal health.

They’re as easy as giving your dog a treat—dogs love the natural bacon flavor. But each serving contains over 1 billion CFUs of probiotics, plus prebiotics to help encourage a healthy digestive tract.

They come highly recommended if you want to keep your dog healthy, regular, and feeling great.