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 - A common cause of diarrhea in puppies can be worms. If your puppies diarrhea looks frothy this can be indicative of internal parasites. Your veterinarian can provide you with medication to treat these parasites and stop the diarrhea.

Stress - A change in your dog's daily activities or a long trip could trigger stress and mental confusion, thus bringing on a bout of 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.

Expired food - eating unfit meat can give a dog diarrhea just like it can give people diarrhea. When feeding your dog, please be as selective as when you feed your own family.

Here are some things you can do to help when your dog has diarrhea:

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.

Milk thickened with arrowroot is sometimes also worth a try.

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.

I am always worried first and foremost about my dog's health when my dog has diarrhea, so my first step is always to call the vet. I advise that any pet owner do this. Your dog might not be happy about a visit to the vet, but better safe than sorry. Your vet can give suggestions about how to help your dog and may even prescribe medications to speed recovery along.