5 Tips for Treating Diarrhea in Dogs At-Home

If your dog is suffering from tummy troubles, you might be wondering what you can do to quickly resolve their discomfort. Learn how to treat and prevent diarrhea in dogs at home, and know when your dog's lose bowels require a trip to the vet.

Diarrhea in dogs is never pleasant. You are probably worried and a little horrified that so much stool can exit your furry friend. Rest assured that dog diarrhea is a common ailment in canines and is usually caused by mild intestinal distress. Your furry friend might have eaten something that upset his tummy or maybe you switched dog foods too suddenly.

The most common causes of diarrhea in dogs are often easily treatable. However, all cases of canine diarrhea, including bloody dog diarrhea, should be taken seriously and action be taken quickly to get your pup feeling better.

My Dog Has Diarrhea, What Do I Do?

When your pooch gets a case of the trots, it's not fun for anyone, but fortunately, there are some dog diarrhea remedies to help resolve dog digestive issues and reduce the discomfort that often comes along with it.

Before you start treating diarrhea in dogs, you’ll first need to determine if it is safe to treat the condition at home or if you should contact your dog’s veterinarian. 

It is typically safe to initially treat diarrhea in dogs at home if your dog is acting normally, not vomiting,  and still retains a healthy appetite. 

Is your dog up to date on all his vaccinations, such as those for the distemper virus or the parvovirus? If the answer is ‘yes,’ then it is usually safe to treat diarrhea in dogs who are acting normally at home. 

Young dogs are more likely to suffer from diarrhea because their gut health is still developing. However, if your canine companion is elderly or has a pre-existing serious health issue such as cancer, liver or kidney disease, or Addison’s disease, then you’ll want to give your veterinarian a call to determine if you should bring them in for a medical evaluation.  

Chronic diarrhea in dogs is a medical emergency if:

• • You fear that your canine companion might have ingested poison.
  • The dog has swallowed a toy or some other foreign object. 
  • Your dog has low energy, appears weak, has no appetite, or is vomiting. 
  • Exhibits bloody diarrhea or vomiting. Stools that appear black or tarry likely indicate blood. 
  • Chronic diarrhea that has lasted over 12 hours, even after using home remedies.
  • The belly appears bloated.
  • Your dog is panting or drooling excessively.
  • Dry sticky gums appear white, gray, pale, or bluish. 
  • The dog passes worms in runny or soft stools or vomit. 

Each of these symptoms above could indicate a bigger issue, so it's important to reach out to your vet for the next steps. They may be able to guide you through an at-home treatment or may recommend bringing them to the vet for an exam. It's always better to be safe than sorry when dealing with unusual or severe symptoms. 

How to Treat Dog Diarrhea at Home

Treatment for diarrhea in dogs can be as simple as a home remedy. Below, we will explore how to help a dog with diarrhea, so your pooch starts feeling better fast.

*Remember these tips are best for dogs with diarrhea who are still acting normal, eating regularly and aren't showing any other signs of pain, discomfort, or unusual behavioural changes.

1. Provide Rest in a ‘Safe’ Location 

When your dog's suffering from an upset tummy, try to encourage the pup to rest. Place your dog in a comfortable and quiet location in the home. Try to position your dog near the door for easy access outdoors to avoid any accidents in the house. Remember that a dog suffering from diarrhea cannot hold his stool for very long so you may want to give your dog the pup a rapid exit to the outdoors. 

Ideally, pick a ‘safe’ location that has easy-to-clean floors in case a poop accident occurs before your dog can make it outside. You can also try using disposable diapers on your dog or use a pet training pad to catch accidents.  

In most mild cases of dog diarrhea, your dog only requires rest and relaxation for the pet’s digestive tract to normalize. 

2. Fasting to Promote a Gastrointestinal Rest 

Treatment for diarrhea in dogs is often as easy as making your dog fast to give the canine’s gastrointestinal tract a much-needed rest. Give your dog NO meals, treats, or snacks for 12 hours. This time period can allow irritated bowels to empty and inflammation to reduce. 

Make sure that your dog has easy access to fresh clean water at all times though. Diarrhea will remove moisture from your dog's body, and it needs to be replenished.

If your dog is suffering from diarrhea from any conditions like diabetes or digestive disease, then contact your vet first to make sure that fasting is safe for your dog.

3. Hydration to Cleanse the Immune System

Whenever your dog has diarrhea, the animal can quickly become dehydrated due to the liquid being passed in the runny stool versus the amount of water your dog is consuming. It is critical that you provide fresh, clean water for your dog to avoid dehydration. Water also may help flush out whatever is upsetting your dog’s gastrointestinal tract to stop the chronic causes of diarrhea. 

Consider giving your dog simple rice water to help alleviate bloating and gas naturally. Also, rice water contains beneficial minerals that are lost during bouts of canine diarrhea. 

To make plain cooked white rice water: 

• • Bring 2 cups of water to a boil
  • Add 1/2 cup of white rice to the boiling water. (Do not use brown rice because it has too much fibre). 
  • Boil the rice and water for 10 minutes until the water looks very cloudy and white in colour.
  • Strain the water from the rice into a bowl or jar and let it cool. 
  • Once completely cooled, the rice water can be offered to your dog in small portions every few hours. 

If your dog will not drink the rice water, then consider adding a couple of teaspoons of little chicken broth to the water to make it more appetizing for the immune system. You can also use dog-safe bone broth in place of the little chicken broth. 

Rice water is an effective method for treating mild cases of dog diarrhea because it is hydrating and contains helpful minerals, but the starches also act as a binding agent during digestion to help firm up loose stool. 

4. Bland Diet 

If you are wondering, what home remedy can I give my dog for diarrhea, then the bland diet trick is a great option. For the first 24 to 48 hours after your dog first shows common causes of diarrhea, feed the pet a bland diet if you have already tried fasting coupled with hydration. A bland diet will help to further normalize bouts of diarrhea in the dog’s gastrointestinal tract.

One of the most common and easiest bland meals for dogs is simply boiled chicken and rice. This basic meal offers essential nutrients, dietary fibre, and moisture to help nourish your pet and support digestion.

Stick to small but frequent meals. A couple tablespoons at a time for small dogs and 1/4 cup for medium to large dogs can be offered every couple of hours. If symptoms do not start to improve within 24 hours, it's time to call your vet. Bland diets should not be continued after 48 hours unless advised by your vet.

For a quick and easy bland meal option, try Under the Weather.

5. Supplements to Soothe the Tummy

There are a wide variety of supplements that can soothe your dog's upset tummy. You might want to purchase a few home remedy supplements that can assist in easing diarrhea symptoms and improve overall digestion to get everything working normally again. 

• • Omega Alpha Probiotic 8 Plus: Pre and probiotic blend that helps boost digestion and relieve irritation.
  • NaturVet Advanced Probiotics & Enzymes Soft Chews: Probiotic and digestive enzyme blend to support the GI tract.
  • Kin + Kind Organic Healthy Poops Supplement: Organic fibre and herbal blend that supports stool consistency and healthy digestion.
  • Under the Weather Probiotic Soft Chews for Dogs: Live bacteria soft chew to support gut health, boost the immune system, and improve appetite.

These supplements can be used at the first sign of tummy troubles to help reduce other symptoms and speed up recovery.

Prebiotics, probiotics peeled boiled potatoes, and digestive enzymes can be fed gradually, re-introduce specially formulated dog foods and medications, and added specially formulated to their regular food and spoiled food to prevent digestive issues before they occur. 

Avoid Over-the-Counter Medications for Dogs

Some pet owners will tell you that the best home remedy for diarrhea in dogs is to provide over-the-counter medications such as Gravo®, Pepto Bismol® or Imodium®. However, you should never give your dog medications or supplements made for humans without first consulting with your veterinarian to determine safety.

Digestive aids for humans might seem like a quick and easy fix for your dog, but they are not safe to share. They are formulated for humans, not pets, and often contain high levels of sodium, artificial sweeteners, and other ingredients like that could be toxic for your pooch.

Even products that claim to be safe for babies and children should be avoided for your pet parents.

Common Causes of Diarrhea in Dogs

Why does my dog have diarrhea? Treating dog diarrhea quickly is usually the first and correct response, but figuring out what caused it may help you prevent diarrhea and other digestive issues in the future.

There are a lot of common causes of diarrhea, and most of them are not dangerous or life-threatening. Understanding the causes of dog diarrhea can help you prevent this unpleasant issue and give you the tools to support your dog's overall digestive health.

Common causes of diarrhea in dogs:

• • Changes in diet (you recently changed your pup’s food brand)
  • Food allergies
  • Eating something harmful or toxic
  • inappropriate eating and chewing habits
  • Parasites (hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms, Giardia, or Coccidia)
  • Poor gut health
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Heat exhaustion/exposure 
  • Over exercise  
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Pancreatitis

Many of these causes result in mild and temporary symptoms, but prolonged or chronic symptoms could indicate a more serious illness or disease. Talk to your vet about your pet's digestive health and make sure that you are diligent in monitoring their eating habits, activity, behaviour, and bowel movements.