Diarrhea in dogs is a very common complaint.
Usually, it passes quickly — but it’s still distressing for you as a pet owner to see them suffer.
In this article, we’re going to give you the heads-up on dog diarrhea, explaining the causes and treatment, as well as tips on helping your pet maintain great gut health.
What exactly is diarrhea?
If your dog has diarrhea, it means that their stools have more liquid in them than usual.
Know that diarrhea is not a condition in itself but a symptom of something else going on. We’ll find out more in the next section.
Causes of diarrhea in dogs
Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of dog diarrhea:
- Retention of nutrients in the intestine because of poor digestion or absorption
- Intestinal infection due to bacteria, a virus, or worms
- Ingestion of a foreign object, for example, bones or toys
- Stress and anxiety
- Changes to your dog’s diet
There are also more serious reasons why your furry friend may suffer from diarrhea. These include:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Kidney or liver disease
- Colitis
- Pancreatitis
- Intestinal cancer
Different types of diarrhea
As a responsible pet owner, it’s good to understand a little about different types of diarrhea too.
Just like in us humans, acute diarrhea is when your dog has an attack of the runs that comes on suddenly and resolves relatively quickly.
Chronic diarrhea tends to persist for two weeks or more and needs investigation by your vet to find the root cause.
Diarrhea may involve either the small bowel or the large bowel. Small bowel diarrhea tends to be watery, light-coloured and there’s lots of it.
And large bowel diarrhea is more likely to be mucus- or jelly-like, is expelled in smaller quantities, and can contain blood.
Diarrhea treatment for dogs
If your doggo is suffering from small bowel diarrhea, the likely cause is that they ate something bad, got an infection, or simply ate too much. In this case, vets advise you to:
- Keep a close eye on your pet
- Allow them to rest
- Encourage them to drink plenty of water
- Fast your dog for 12 hours if possible
- After fasting, offer them bland food like plain boiled chicken. You can also offer them nutritious bone broth as you nurse them back to health
Large bowel diarrhea is commonly down to stress or can also be attributed to a poor diet.
The treatment is similar to small bowel diarrhea.
Remember that in any case of chronic diarrhea, you should get your dog checked over by their vet so they can investigate the cause and take appropriate action.
You should also seek urgent help from your vet if:
- Your dog is vomiting
- Your dog is behind on their vaccination schedule
- Your dog is a puppy, pregnant or older
- Your dog has a pre-existing health condition
- You suspect your dog has ingested a poison
- Your suspect your dog has swallowed a foreign body
- The diarrhea is persistent
- There’s lots of blood in their stool
- Your dog’s stool is black and/or tarry
- Their stomach is bloated and/or they appear to be in pain
- They are straining to pass stool
- Your dog is passing worms, either in their stool or vomit
Keeping your dog’s gut health in great condition
No one likes to see their pet suffer, so it’s well worth reviewing your doggo’s diet if they’ve had an attack of the runs.
Here are our tips for keeping your dog’s gut nice and healthy:
- Cut out grains in their diet and offer raw, grass-fed products instead — this is what your dog’s ancestors ate in the wild and is considered to be one of the most natural and gut-friendly diets for them to follow
- Speak to your vet about adding probiotics to their food. These are the “good bacteria” that help keep the gut healthy and protect against issues such as diarrhea
- Introduce bone broth into their diet — derived from bone marrow; it’s one of the most nutritious foods you can give your dog
- Feed your dog fury dog treats, like cow ears or rabbit ears as a natural dewormer
Nourish your dog naturally
Luckily, most episodes of diarrhea in dogs are short-lived, easy to treat at home, and nothing to worry about.
But always consult your vet if you are in any doubt about your dog’s health.
And because prevention is always better than cure, why not add natural, sustainable, and preservative-free food to your dog’s diet to reduce the risk of diarrhea?
That’s what you’ll find in the Gully Road range of dog food products. We pride ourselves on offering fresh products derived from sustainable grass-fed beef and other natural sources designed to nourish your dog in the most healthily!
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