Diarrhea is a common condition that every dog suffers from in their life. Dogs’ parents have to go through this distressing and messy condition at some point. With that said, it is imperative to know how to stop dogs diarrhea. 

Before we start talking about this messy condition, and before we know how to stop dog diarrhea, we need to understand the “normal.” If we don’t know what normal is, then we can’t determine if the condition our dogs suffering from is abnormal or normal.

So, make sure to be ready for this messy poopy article to learn how to stop this messy dog diarrhea. 

What Does Healthy Dog Poop Look Like?

Well, if you lived with your dog together for a long time, then you know what the normal poops look like. Your dog usually should have one to two bowel movements each day. And often, it is around the same time every day.

With that said, there are four factors that any veterinarians take into consideration when they check and evaluate dog feces. 

1. Color: normal dog poop should be brownish, and they call it chocolate brown. The brownish color is due to a pigment called Stercobilin pigment. Any changes in your dog poop color can be a sign of various health problems.
2. Consistency: your dog’s normal poops must have a firm consistency. If that consistency changes to be formless, poops that may indicate that your dog’s intestines are not working correctly, and it is not absorbing correctly. If your dog has hard poops that may indicate dehydration. If your dog’s poop changes consistency from time to time, there is no need to worry. However, if the changes in texture persist longer than one day, that is a vital sign to consult a veterinarian about it.
3. Poop and mucus: Your dog’s poop should be clear and without any mucus or blood present in your dog’s poop. If you notice any mucus or coating around the poop, there is a sign to contact your vet.
4. Content of dog poop: if you notice anything weird with your dog’s poop, you should take a note about it. Make sure to be observant about that. Check your dog’s poop from any foreign body, worms, hair, etc. The appearance of the poop must be uniform.

Now, after we took a fast peek about the normal poop, let us start by knowing the reasons behind diarrhea in dogs. Of course, there are types of dog poops, but it is not our topic today.

Causes Of Dog’s Diarrhea

Mostly, diarrhea and vomiting come together, and they are nature’s way of your dog’s body to get rid of the body’s toxins.

Many reasons cause diarrhea. Some of these causes can be mild, and some sever, but knowing them is the best thing to do to prevent further complications. Remember, prevention is the best treatment.

• Bacterial infection: this is one of the most common causes. Some people would say, “But there are already bacteria in the gut, why does it cause problems now?” well, that is true! There are harmful and good bacteria in any living being gut. However, there is a balance between them. If for any reason, this balance is broken and changed, then we start to have a problem which we can call Bacterial infection.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease: it is one of the known problems both humans and dogs may suffer from.
• Dietary Indiscretions and food allergies: I want here to say that food allergies can be a severe problem, and you should know more about it to avoid further problems. I wrote in detail about food allergies in dogs because it is an important topic.
• Exercise Intolerance
• Stress

Now, if your dog is suffering from diarrhea, “you need to contact your vet of course,” that doesn’t mean it is a severe problem. First, calm down and search for other signs and symptoms. There are common signs for any infection such as Fever, lethargy, bloating, or blood in stool or vomit. 

Note all the signs your dog may have, write them down, so you don’t forget and take your dog immediately to your vet for further investigation. But for simple diarrhea, keep reading!

The Simply Diarrhea

I want now to talk about simple diarrhea. What is it? If your dog’s diarrhea lasts less than 24 hours, then this is considered a simple one and no need to be alarmed about it. Here are 4 simple steps on how to stop dogs diarrhea.

1. Fasting

This is an essential first step to stop diarrhea. In fact, most pets will fast when they have digestive problems. However, it is a good thing to do to stop feeding your dog or give it a minimal amount if your dog doesn’t start fasting by itself. It is recommended to do six to twelve hours fasting trials with no food or water BUT if the diarrhea is severe and “too much,” then take your dog to the vet to avoid dehydration!  

IMPORTANT NOTE! Don’t fast a puppy.

The other note you should know. If your dog is a small one or relatively weak, try to give it some tiny licks of honey to avoid hypoglycemia. 

The next step is observation; after following the first step, you need to observe your dog’s condition during the process. If your dog show improvement and no diarrhea or vomiting, then you can start giving it small sips of water every then and now. Keep it slow. 

Now, after around six hours of water, only you can add some small amounts of food. Again add it gradually and slowly. Increase the amount of food and water slowly over five to seven days. 

2. Bland Food

To prevent the recurrence of dog Diarrhea, it is best to feed your dog bland food. A bland diet is the best way to prevent the recurrence of diarrhea, remember, your dog’s digestive system is sensitive and tired. So make it easy for it!

You can always start with some soup; it is gentle and smooth for your dog’s gut. Some vets recommend feeding your dog’s white rice and boiled protein sources. You can use that but again gradually and slowly. 

When I was reading about this problem, I noticed there is another excellent option that will help your dog to recover and avoid feeding it too much. Bone broth! It is a great bland option, and it is nutritious also. You can imagine that bone broth is easy and smooth for your dog’s stomach. 

3. Probiotics and Prebiotics

One of the best ways to restore the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut is by using Probiotics and Prebiotics. Some people may not know this, but these are so good even for us humans when we have such problems. 

Probiotics

Probiotics used to restore the population of the good bacteria inside the intestine. Also, they are some researchers suggested the probiotics are great to restore and boost immunity, which is a great way to support the body as a whole. 

One of the benefits of using probiotics is to help fix, enhance, and maintain the mucosal layer “barrier,” and it also helps the cellular repair for all the damage caused by the disease or the harmful bacteria. 

One of the natural sources for probiotics for dogs is feeding your dog kefir. Of course, you do that after you start feeding your dog solid food. 

With that said, there are several things you need to pay attention to when you are using probiotics. First, avoid giving it at the same time as antibiotics if your dog is taking any! Give them at a different time. Also, they are used often during stressful times, such as traveling or weaning. 

Now, after we took the time to know this rich information about Probiotic, it is time to know more about Prebiotics.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics simply are indigestible food components. They travel and pass the stomach without being absorbed or digested until they reach the colon. They start to ferment and convert into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA).

SCFA is a big reason to inhibit the growth of naughty bacteria. These short-chain fatty acids are a great source of energy for colon cells; it is also a reason to preserve electrolytes and help with fluid balance.

All that will help your dog’s intestine to work and move properly. Prebiotics are also excellent support for the digestive bacterial flora when they are present in the bowls. 

Without a doubt, using both Probiotics and Prebiotics is the best and the most recommended way to promote and support the growth of the good bacteria and restore the balance to get rid of the naughty bacteria.

It is always best to read more about them. These two are so fascinating, and there are ongoing researches about them. I used them personally as a human, and I found them so useful. I believe they can be a massive help for your dog.

4. Natural Home Remedies

Natural home remedies are the best alternative to medicine in prevention and even fixing the problems. However, I always recommend people to ask their vet about using any home remedy to be sure it is fitted with your dog. Some dogs may have a specific allergy to particular stuff used in these home remedies. 

This step is my favorite: WHY? Because it is not the primary way to stop diarrhea, BUT it is the best way to prevent it from happening. 

Slippery Elm

This is considered one of the best herbs for digestive problems. Slippery Elm can be found as capsules or powder. The powder can be used to prepare the syrup by adding 1 tsp of the powder to 1 cup of water, then boil it while stirring, turn down the heat, stir and simmer 2 to 3 minutes. 

The dose four times a day with the syrup depending on your dog’s weight. Under 25 lbs one to two tbsp. 25-50 lb two to four tbsp. 50 lbs and over ¼ to ½ cup.

Another choice is creating a Slippery Elm healing mixture by adding to its fructo-oligosaccharide powder and L-Glutamine powder.

Marshmallow Root

Marshmallow root is another excellent herb used to soothe the digestive system. It is an excellent choice for dogs that already had diarrhea. 

Digestive Enzymes

One of the common things to use is digestive enzymes. They are known to be a great help for dogs that are not eating raw diets. Digestive enzymes are an excellent source of enzymes that they are missing from their diet. 

Bach Flower Remedies

These remedies are a great addition to your dog water. A few drops can help your dog with its emotional stress! As we mentioned above, it is one of the causes of diarrhea.

Conclusion

Your dog is part of your family and your best friend. It is normal to feel distressed and anxious when your dog is feeling bad and showing signs of disease. 

When a dog is healthy with excellent strong immunity, diarrhea will be resolved faster and, most of the time, by itself within a few days. However, if your dog’s diarrhea persists even with all these steps, it is a must to visit your veterinarian. Your vet will run some tests such as fecal examinations, blood tests, X-ray and abdominal ultrasound, and maybe endoscopy. 

But, don’t worry, most of the cases are self-limiting without any further complications, and remember, prevention is the key to a healthy and happy life for your dog and yourself.

So finally, I hope you found this article useful and informative. Let me know your answer. What do you think? Do you have more information about How To Stop Dogs Diarrhea? Write them down below.

If you have any other questions or different opinions about it, leave a comment below.

Today’s Quote:

“Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul, chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we’re the greatest hunters on earth!” — Anne Tyler

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