Overview

Diarrhea is a common ailment in dogs and can range from acute to chronic. Diarrhea can include many conditions of the stool: watery stool, soft stool, abnormally colored or odorous soft stool, and “cow pie” stool. Not all cases of diarrhea require a trip to the veterinarian. Diarrhea that occurs suddenly and lasts for a few days is considered acute and can usually be treated at home.

Treating Diarrhea

Typically, if your dog has acute diarrhea his behavior won’t change, except for his stool habits. You can treat the condition by changing his diet. First, you should cut his food consumption by half its regular amount. Some veterinarians suggest fasting the dog for 12 hours prior to implementing the diet changes. Substitute his regular dog food for bland, low-fat meals. An example of an acceptable bland meal is: 1 part cooked chicken or boiled hamburger and 2 parts rice (no butter or oil) or cottage cheese. You can also add 1-3 tablespoons of yogurt or 2-4 tablespoons of boiled sweet potato to the meal to help soothe his stomach.

You might also consider adding a probiotic such as Lactobacillus Sporogenes to your dog’s food. Lactobacillus Sporogenes is a beneficial bacterium that can help treat diarrhea caused by bacterial overgrowth. You can find this at a pet store or order it from a multitude of online outlets.

Continue your dog on the bland diet for 2 days or more after the diarrhea ceases. You can then begin to gradually introduce the dog back to his regular diet.

Chronic diarrhea (lasting more than three days) or diarrhea in conjunction with other symptoms could be a serious condition and you should consult your veterinarian in either situation.