Experiencing diarrhea in your dog can be a significant concern for pet parents, often leading to questions about appropriate feeding strategies during such times. This guide addresses whether it’s okay to feed a dog experiencing diarrhea and outlines the best dietary approaches to help them recover.
Key Takeaways:
- For dogs with diarrhea but no vomiting, a bland diet combined with probiotics is generally recommended.
- While short-term fasting might be advised in some situations, always consult a veterinarian for puppies, senior dogs, or those with pre-existing health conditions.
- Bland diets aid in soothing the digestive system and should be introduced in small, frequent portions, gradually increasing as the dog improves.
- Persistent diarrhea often signals an underlying health issue that requires professional veterinary diagnosis and specialized long-term treatment, such as a prescription gastrointestinal diet, rather than a temporary homemade bland food.
Should You Feed a Dog with Diarrhea?
Veterinarians typically offer several dietary recommendations for dogs experiencing diarrhea, depending on the root cause.
In most instances, provided your dog is not vomiting, feeding a bland diet supplemented with probiotics is the most beneficial approach to support a healthy digestive system. If diarrhea is the sole symptom and vomiting is absent, there’s generally no need to withhold food, as this could lead to a reluctance to eat once feeding resumes.
For very young puppies (under three months), senior dogs, and individuals with known health complications, it is crucial to contact your veterinarian for guidance before considering any fasting.
Fasting for Dogs With Diarrhea
In certain scenarios, such as when a dog has ingested something inappropriate, a brief fast of 12 hours or less may be suggested. When in doubt, always reach out to your veterinarian for advice.
When recommended, fasting can help clear the digestive tract of unwanted substances, offering the system a short period of rest, akin to rebooting a computer. This can be particularly helpful for dogs experiencing frequent and profuse bouts of diarrhea.
During a fast, avoid giving treats, but ensure a constant supply of fresh water is available. It is vital to guarantee your dog always has access to water and never to withhold it.
If your dog appears unwell, is vomiting, or continues to experience diarrhea between 24 to 48 hours later, seek veterinary attention promptly.
Does a Bland Diet Work for Dogs With Diarrhea?
Indeed, a bland diet can be exceptionally beneficial for dogs suffering from diarrhea. It can also be helpful following a fasting period, provided the dog has not experienced further episodes of diarrhea and shows no other concerning symptoms.
Implementing a bland diet is crucial to avoid re-aggravating their sensitive system. Probiotics and fiber supplements, such as canned pumpkin, are also excellent additions for managing diarrhea.
The combination of fasting followed by a bland diet is most suitable for dogs who have had a temporary upset to their system due to something they consumed, rather than for long-term or chronic conditions.
How to Administer a Bland Diet for Dogs with Diarrhea
If your dog seems to be in good spirits and does not have an ongoing health condition or chronic diarrhea, offering a small portion of a bland diet is advisable. Bland food is easily digestible and more likely to be tolerated by a sensitive system. Serving small amounts frequently is also the easiest way for the body to process food.
For the majority of dogs, an appropriate bland diet includes boiled lean white meat chicken or boiled lean hamburger mixed with rice, providing both protein and carbohydrates. Boiling helps to remove as much fat as possible, ensuring a low-fat, easily digestible meal.
It is best to start with a very small amount—sometimes just a tablespoon or two—to gauge your dog’s appetite and ability to keep the food down. Offering small meals every two to three hours is preferable to a large meal right away, even if your dog appears very hungry.
Most veterinarians suggest a bland diet for three to five days following an episode of mild diarrhea, assuming the dog otherwise appears well. Any animal exhibiting continued illness or vomiting requires more intensive care beyond a bland diet; therefore, consult your veterinarian.
Food for Dogs With Mild or Acute Diarrhea
Mild diarrhea is typically defined by vets as soft or loose stools that have persisted for fewer than 48–72 hours, during which the dog remains active, eating, and drinking normally with no other symptoms.
Diarrhea becomes more concerning if your dog seems unwell. Signs might include increased sleeping, lethargy, poor appetite, quiet demeanor, vomiting, or the presence of blood or mucus in the stool.
Acute diarrhea starts abruptly. For instance, a dog may be perfectly fine during an evening walk and then exhibit diarrhea the following morning. Acute diarrhea can range from mild to severe, depending on any accompanying signs of illness.
When providing bland food for acute diarrhea:
- Opt for a prescription bland food from your veterinarian or prepare a homemade bland diet.
- This bland diet should consist of a 1:1 ratio of boiled meat to rice.
- For example, mix 1 cup of boiled chicken with 1 cup of rice, using the leanest meat available.
- Boiled white meat chicken or boiled hamburger are the most commonly recommended protein sources.
- Begin by feeding approximately 2 tablespoons of the mixture per 10 pounds of body weight. Offer these small meals every two to three hours on the first day. It is better to underfeed slightly than to overfeed.
- Over the subsequent three days, gradually increase the portion size and decrease the frequency of meals if the diarrhea shows improvement.
- Between days three and five, start incorporating your dog’s regular food into their diet. By day seven, most dogs should transition back to their regular dog food and be feeling well.
If at any point your dog experiences an increase in diarrhea, vomiting, or appears unwell, contact your veterinarian. Following the initial fasting period or the introduction of a bland diet, you should observe a consistent improvement in your pet’s condition. If you notice any setbacks, seek veterinary advice immediately.
What To Feed Dogs With Chronic Diarrhea
If your dog suffers from chronic diarrhea, characterized by recurring episodes over time, it often indicates an underlying medical condition.
Before establishing an appropriate diet, the health condition must be identified, diagnosed, and addressed. Diet will likely form only one part of the treatment plan developed by your veterinarian.
Prescription diets formulated for dogs with diarrhea may be more suitable if your dog has a long-term issue with diarrhea or a health problem such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Prescription foods can effectively manage long-term gastrointestinal problems as they are nutritionally complete and balanced for extended periods. These diets are fully balanced and can often be fed to other healthy dogs in the household as well (always consult your vet first!).
While a homemade diet, like the bland diet, is useful for short-term management, it is significantly deficient in many essential nutrients required to maintain a dog’s health over time.
Numerous prescription foods are available through your veterinarian. Some of the most common options include: Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d (intestinal diet), Purina EN (gastroenteric nutrition), and Royal Canin Gastrointestinal.
Many other brands and formulas are available, and your veterinarian will assist you in selecting the most appropriate option for your dog based on their specific underlying condition.
