Heres What I Do When My Dog Has Diarrhea

I know that when my dog has diarrhea, I am almost as miserable as she is. Thankfully, it doesnt happen often and can usually be traced back to some cause that I can hope to avoid in the future. Here are some of the major reasons for dog diarrhea:

Change in diet - If you change your dogs food suddenly it could cause diariea. Makes sense doesnt it? Your dog is used to an eating and then all of a sudden a totally different food is in his bowl. His digestive system might need a few days to switch tracks and get used to the new food. Of course you can an avoid this by gradually changing the food - mixing the two together using less of the old food and more and more of the new. This is particularly important with puppies are whose digestive systems are very delicate.

Worms - Dogs, especially puppies, are susceptible to diarrhea caused by worms. Frothy diarrhea often indicates the presence of worms. Take your dog to the vet immediately for treatment.

Stress - Any departure from the normal routine, like a long trip or a new baby in the house, can cause diarrhea.

Virus - Sometimes your dog might have a virus or illness even though its not something that happens as often as it does with people. If you think its possible your dog may have one of these its best to have your veterinarian take a look to determine what treatment is best.

Bad food - Your dog is just like a member of your family. Make sure you take care of your dogs diet as you would a member of your blood relatives, by avoiding spoiled meats.

I know when my dog has diarrhea the most an important thing on my mind is how to make it go away. Not only is it uncomfortable for the dog but it makes a big mess too! While I recommend you get your dog to a vet right away if he has diarrhea here are some things you could try at home:

If the problem was caused by bad food you might try to a bit of caster oil. Sometimes a more drastic effort is requited and you might have to put your pet on a diet of plain rice.

Another option is to give milk mixed with arrowroot for thickness.

Don't be in a big rush to return your dog back to his normal diet. Keep feeding him rice and milk for several days to give his digestive system a chance to recuperate.

Try slowly getting your dog back to his normal food. Mix boiled hamburg or white fish with rice and milk and gradually add in his regular food. Cut back on the regular food if the diarrhea re-appears.

When my dog has diarrhea my first concern is for her health so I always call the Vet right away and you should too. You might have to drag your dog in there for an exam but its better to be safe than sorry. Your vet will only be able to recommend a course of action and give out of the medications after she has seen your dog.

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