I used to work at a vet. While there, I learned a few "home remedies" for some common pet ailments, including diarrhea.
Home Remedies For Doggie Diarrhea
Instead of their usual dog food, give your pet small servings of a bland diet 4-5 times throughout the day. Choose from:
cooked white rice (no butter or flavorings)
cottage cheese (no liquid)
boiled chicken (no grease, no skin, no flavorings)
boiled turkey (no grease, no skin, no flavorings)
scrambled egg (no butter or oil)
boiled egg (no butter or oil)
boiled potato (no skin or flavorings)
baked potato (no skin or flavorings)
Continue to feed several small servings of this bland diet for a few days in gradually increasing amounts until a formed stool is passed. Then, start to wean your pet back to its regular food over the course of a week by gradually working in small amounts of their regular dry dog food.
Do not give your pet bones, snacks or table scraps, because they may irritate the intestinal tract during this time.
Dogs can also be given a dose of Pepto Bismol every 6 hours. (Dosage depends on your dog's weight: 1 ml per 10 lbs.) Bonus, the Pepto Bismol also works to stop vomiting.
Two other over-the-counter medicines can be given to dogs with diarrhea: Imodium AD (1 ml per 10 lbs. every 8 hours) and Kaopectate (Dogs: 0.05-0.1 mg/pound by mouth every 8 hours. Treatment should only be needed for 1-2 days. If diarrhea persists or worsens, contact your veterinarian..
Vet or No Vet?
Fortunately, episodes of doggie diarrhea have sudden onset, are easily cured, and occur infrequently. However, diarrhea becomes clinically significant after 24 hours. Therefore, if the diarrhea has lasted a few days, or your dog is weak and listless, or there are additional problems (such as vomiting or blood in the stool), then it is time to have a veterinarian examine your pet.
While home remedies could save you a small chunk of change in a pinch, you should always consult with your veterinarian -- at least via telephone -- at the onset of any "symptoms".
Here's another valuable tip that I wasn't aware of until I started working at the vet:
You don't always have to lug your pet to the vet to obtain a diagnosis (and meds if there's a problem). With diarrhea, for example, you could simply take a recent sample of your pet's stool to the vet. The "fecal test" is generally VERY inexpensive ($10-$15) and works wonders for giving you peace of mind.
About The Author: Lynnette is a dog lover who has worked for a veterinarian in Tennessee. She currently has two dogs: a rescued black lab/golden retriever mix (2 yrs) and an American Eskimo (14 yrs). Read more about her pets and other fun stuff at: http://thefuntimesguide.com/
I have a Maltese poodle mix she is 4 months old. We started taking her out about a week ago and about the same time she got diarrhea. She is still very playful and alert. What can I give her?
I found that oatmeal works MUCH better than rice. Cook one pound ground turkey, add two cups quick cook oatmeal and two cups water. Heat through then cover with lid, turn off heat and let all water be absorbed. This will last in the fridge about five days. I warm up for meals adding just a bit of kibble to help keep teeth clean. It's been a miracle for colitis in my dog.
My adopted husky from the spca has had on and off diarrhea since I got him 2 months ago. I have taken him to the vet twice and the vet gave me medicine to harden the stool, which worked but when the medicine was done the stool became soft again. It's not all the time but every other or every few. If anyone has any advice please email me ksl5581 AT yahoo.Com
Thank you so much. The Pepto seems to have done the trick. Only 3 single tsp doses and my Schnoodle's diarrhea has all but subsided. You've helped me a lot and certainly reassured me that Max is going to be fine.
my puppy boxer is only 2 months old and suddenly had a lot of diarrhea no throwing up from what i can see i just want to know if its ok if i give him some pepto bismol or midol or any kind of home treatment.
Editor's Note: It sounds like it could be Parvo or some type of poisoning. You should get him to a vet as soon as possible. The only thing I'd give him is possibly some water or pedialyte. Some human medications can be deadly to dogs. Please see a vet right away.
We finally cured our horse from diarrhea, he had it for over a year. We called in 3 different vets, to no avail, no one could cure him. He got the diarrhea after we wormed him. We finally stumbled on a cure! The answer was a bottle of liquid live acidophilus (the good bacteria in yogurt) We bought it in the refrigerated section of a Health Food Store. It cost around $6... (I just bought some for my granddaughters antibiotic diarrhea several weeks ago) and comes in either plain or strawberry flavorer.
----> Make sure to get the LIQUID acidophilus! Do NOT buy the powered or the capsuled acidophilus, as these are not near as good!
---> DOSAGE: We gave the horse the whole bottle of the strawberry flavored type all at once & his year long battle with diarrhea was gone the very next day! When my kids had to take antibiotics, I gave them a shot glass full of the strawberry kind 3 times a day. (Sometimes I would hide it in fruit juice.)
*** For a dog, I would shake the bottle of liquid acidophilus up well, then depending on his size, give him between 1 tablespoon & 4 tablespoons in a medicine syringe & squirt it down his mouth OR put it in his favorite drink or food. It is pretty much tasteless. Give it to him 4 times a day for 2 days, then 3 times a day until his diarrhea is gone. But, I bet that the diarrhea will be gone in a few days, maybe less.
---> Yogurt is the right idea, but the liquid acidophilus works much faster & better!
You'll be glad you tried it... Any time you have to give your dog or kids antibiotics, give them liquid acidophilus in between doses of the antibiotics at least 3 times a day!
*** Keep the liquid acidophilus in the refrigerator at all times!
if your dog has had any previous antibiotics, give it yogurt to replace lost bacteria in its system, Poodle I had , had this and yogurt did the trick. Advice came from my MD for this and it worked
First make darn sure you know what is causing the Diarrhea. After your pet has 'cleaned out' and like the next day, you can give it a half tea of Pepto Bismo. Check with the vet for dehydration.
we have to think of this as similar to our stomach problems, been one gets watery stool its is because the bowels secret an excess of water into the intestinal trac. what im trying for my 6 mo year our now is to toughen up her stool and easing her digestion using of a combo of papain ( papya enzyme) as well as some milled flax seed which im am supplimenting into her normal dog food( you can try other fiber products as well), will let you know how this works out in 24 hours ...
I have a 5 week old litter of boxer puppies with diarrhea They are alert and playful...Do you have help for me Please.........I don't want them to get ill and die on me.... I am up to my neck in poop...Thank you , Jackie
I saw that you have said to give Kaopectate (1 ml per lb. every 2 hours). My poodle is 20 lbs, that would amount to 4 tsp... That doesn't seem right.. Could you reassure me that I have it right and will not over dose my Sweet baby.. Thanks.. Clara
Editor's Note: It seems like a lot to me, too. Best check with a vet before giving your pet any human medication.
we are 'dog sitting' a very small chihuahua. she is having mushy stools and does her business all over my carpet. can I give her rice and water? I have given her a small pepto pill as that is all I have in the house.
hey--im 15 and i just got my first puppy, hes a pomaranian poodle mix. i just got him like a week ago. and yesterday he just wasnt himself and wasnt playful and wouldnt eat. im scared. what if he dies :( i think it might be parvo from what ive read, but he didnt get it from here because we have no dogs...what do i do??? hes only 3 months old :(:(:(
I agree with the rice theory....we raise labs and I have found that no food for 16-24 hrs or minimal amounts of rice or other bland not greasy food...and lots of WATER....animals as people will dehydrate quickly with diarrhea if not offered water continually......pepto doses work too / you can also get a very good diarrhea med. from foster and smith... but limit food intake and give the body the opportunity to rest from heavy digestion.....
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