How To Solve Your Dog's Horrible Diarrhea

Can we talk?

Today, let’s talk about a “stinky” subject - Dog Diarrhea.

There are many reasons why your furry friend may be having “poop” issues.

Let’s review some of the more common reasons for your dog’s dilemma first, then, more serious reasons and what you can do about them.

More Common Reasons:

1.  Doggie Stress

Can you identify anything new in your dog’s world that may be stressful for them?   Stress is a very common reason why your dog may have developed an abnormal poop.    

Ask yourself:  You should examine where they live, sleep, and play to identify changes.   Also, are there new pets in the household?   Have you recently lost a pet?   Have you changed homes?

2.  “Junk” Food Diet

Are you feeding your dog human “crap” food?    Fast food, processed foods, or high sugar/salt diets wreak havoc on your dog’s digestive system.     A toss of “junk food” every now and then might be okay, but if they are eating “bad” food all the time, this could be the reason.  

Ask yourself:   Have I fed my dog “junk food” lately?    Has someone else been caring for my dog and possibly fed them “junk food”? 

3.  Inconsistent Diet

Just because your dog eats healthy foods doesn’t mean it is all good for them.    Drastic changes in their diet (including different dog food brands) could be causing their problem.    Your dog needs a consistent diet of the same premium food to stay healthy.    Changing up their diet too much is not a good thing.  

Ask yourself:   Have I been feeding my dog multiple brands of food?    Do I keep changing their dog food?   Is someone else feeding my dog different food?

4.  Viral or Bacterial Infection

Just like humans, your dog can catch germs that make them sick.    Eating improperly prepared foods can cause this too.   Infections upset the system but take heart - their body is already at work fighting the infection naturally.  

Ask yourself:  Has my dog been near a sick dog?    Have I boarded my pet recently?  

5.  Parasites

Parasites can create irritation in the intestinal tract and throw everything out of balance, including their normal poops.  

Ask yourself:   Do I see white spots in my dog’s stool?  Is there blood in my dog’s stool?   Is my dog gnawing at their behind?   Is my dog doing the “butt drag” on the floor? 

6.  Constipation

A dog with constipation can only take so much before their body will go into purge mode.  

Ask yourself:   Have my dog’s stools been normal or very hard lately?   Has my dog’s stomach been swollen and/or tender to the touch?   Has my dog been gassy?

More Serious Reasons:

1.  Liver Disease

If your dog is having issues with their liver, gastrointestinal issues could develop, including diarrhea.    

Ask yourself:  Is my dog lethargic?   Are they throwing up?   Does my dog’s stool look like mustard?    Is there blood in their stool?

2.  Too Many Meds

If your dog is on a slew of medicine, it could be that the medicine is causing the issues (or a mix of the meds).  

Ask yourself:  What meds are my dog taking?   Has my dog had any shots or vaccines recently?

2.  Allergies/Food Intolerances

If your dog is allergic to certain foods, it could keep their system messed up.  

Ask yourself:   Does my dog have diarrhea over and over after eating certain foods?  You might want to scale back their diet and introduce foods back one by one to troubleshoot if food allergies are present.

3.  Cancer/Pancreatic Disease

Terminal illnesses can cause continual irritation of your dog’s intestines.  

Ask youself:   Has my dog been diagnosed with a terminal or advanced disease?  When is the last time my dog had a check up?   

What You Can Do:

1.  Feed A Bland Diet

To get your pooch back on track, feed small portions of boiled chicken and white rice.   Simply boil chicken strips for about 10 minutes, then cover and simmer for about an hour.  The chicken will shred apart easily.   I recommend freezing portions of the chicken in separate bags to keep fresh.   Then, just pop in the microwave for about 45 seconds when ready to feed.    Your dog’s poop should check back up in a couple of days for less serious causes.

2.  Keep Your Dog Well Hydrated

Diarrhea will deplete your dog of vital fluids and will quickly dehydrate him or her.    You will want to keep lots of fresh water (change daily) close by.    If they aren’t drinking their water, you can try Pedialyte or Mineral Water.  

Note:   If your dog is throwing up and hasn’t drunk any fluids within 24 hours, you should get them to a vet immediately.

2.  Check The Poop

The consistency and color of your dog’s poop can give you insight into what is causing diarrhea.  

• Red - this could be blood from an irritated tract.  
• Green - your dog may have eaten a lot of greens (grasses) to combat an upset stomach  
• Black or dark red - this could be darker (older) blood from an upper GI area.   This could indicate internal bleeding from another organ.  
• White specks - could indicate your dog is battling a common parasite like worms.

NOTE:  If you suspect internal bleeding or a parasite issue, you should head to the vet for treatment.   This could be a very serious issue that needs immediate attention by a professional.

3.  Anti-Diarrhea Meds

Give anti-diarrheal medicine to aid your pup in returning their system to normal.   We have used ProPectalin AntiDiarrheal Gel on our dog, Gracie, with great results.   You can expect a firmer stool in a couple of days.   The color should return to a normal brown. 

For a natural solution, you can try Amazing Probiotics for Dogs and restore them to a healthy gut.

Note:  Some recommend trying Pepto-Bismol to treat, but based on our experience, I wouldn’t recommend it.    If it works, it takes twice, if not three times as long, to see any progress.     If you have ever cleaned up after a dog with diarrhea, you understand that time is of the essence.   It is a tough problem to deal with, especially if your dog lives inside the home!

If you are still wondering or confused about exactly what to do to help your sick pooch, I recommend taking them to a vet to be checked.   This is the safest and wisest step to take if you are worried about your dog’s wellbeing.    

Your dog’s bout of diarrhea could be something mild like an upset stomach or new stress in their life.  Or it could be a more serious situation like an intestinal disease, cancer, or an allergic reaction.    You should always start with the most common issues and troubleshoot from there.    If at any point, you become concerned that your best bud isn’t improving or if your dog is overly lethargic, vomiting, or has stopped eating, it is best to get them to the veterinarian right away!

Did you find this information helpful?  Please comment below and let us know!

~ You might also like our helpful reads about Dogs That Are Nice To Your Nose, Zinger PB Treats that your Dog Will Dream About, 15 Sure Fire Solutions for Calming down Itchy Flea Bites, and How to Organize Your Pet Like a Proven Pro! ~

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