It is difficult to note precisely when a dog is sick.
Often, his symptoms are imperceptible as he manages to hide his pain from us.
But digestive problems are easier to detect, especially episodes of diarrhea.
How to react when your dog seems to be in pain, seized with an irrepressible urge to relieve himself?
And you wonder: what are the causes of this diarrhea, what did he eat that hurt him?
We will try to see how to prevent dog diarrhea, how to treat a painful episode, and what natural remedies can help it quickly.
Contents
Dog with diarrhea causes
Our four-legged friends are perpetually in search of discovery and novelty.
So much so that they leave their noses lying around, chewing or biting anything to satisfy their curiosity.
It may happen that they fall on an object, a branch, a contaminated grass which then triggers a diarrheal episode.
Most often, diarrhea can be managed normally at home.
But, in some cases, a visit to your veterinarian may be necessary, especially if the episode is severe and risks causing dehydration.
Indeed, diarrhea involves very watery stools, sometimes containing mucus or blood.
It can affect the general condition of the dog, which becomes nauseous, stops eating, and is lethargic.
Different kinds of diarrhea
There are actually two kinds of diarrhea:
– acute diarrhea, which comes on suddenly
– chronic diarrhea, which continues over days
Acute diarrhea in a healthy dog is often due to a dietary problem.
It may be caused by:
- an indigestion
- damaged remnants
- stress
- a change in power supply
- side effects of certain drugs
- a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection
Chronic diarrhea, on the other hand, is usually caused by:
- a food allergy or intolerance
- stress
- some parasites
- a bacterial infection
- a pancreas attack
- liver damage
- inflammatory bowel disease
- irritable bowel syndrome
- kidney disease
- heart disease
- cancer
It is, therefore, preferable to ensure constant veterinary treatment and monitoring for chronic diarrhea.
Veterinarian’s diagnosis
Finding out the exact reason for this sudden diarrhea can be tricky.
In some cases, the veterinarian is forced to explore through blood tests, abdominal imaging (x-ray – ultrasound) and, sometimes even surgery.
Knowing that an episode of intense diarrhea can lead to rapid dehydration, it is sometimes necessary to hospitalize the dog to avoid its dreadful side effects.
Diarrhea dogs treatment
The treatment of diarrhea involves a combination of substances that the veterinarian chooses to combine:
- intravenous restoration of water loss
- electrolyte supplementation to restore water balance
- antibiotics
- a gastric anti-secretory
- an intestinal protector
- a dewormer
- painkiller
Diarrhea and emergency
You should definitely take your dog to the vet if:
- this is an unvaccinated puppy
- your dog is very old
- if he suffers from any illness that already weakens him
- if the diarrhea is profuse, frequent, and very watery
- if the stools contain blood
- if the saddles are dark or black
- if your dog is vomiting, lethargic and depressed
What to do when a dog has diarrhea?
If your dog is healthy and has mild diarrhea with no other symptoms, you can treat it simply.
Follow this procedure to help him in this difficult moment:
1- leave fresh water within his reach constantly
If you find that he does not drink on his own, you can get a syringe (without a needle) and hydrate him regularly by injecting small amounts of water into the mouth
2- use electrolyte solution
Add an electrolyte solution like this one (#ad) to his water to combat deficiencies linked to dehydration
3- give anti-diarrheal medicine ( Nutrivet anti-diarrhea (#ad)) specially formulated for the dog
*Smecta can also be given to the dog at the rate of half a sachet per 10kg of weight.
4- Give him prebiotics and dog probiotics like this (#ad)
5- Feed him some poultry without skin and bones with white rice or pumpkin or sweet potato for 3 days and return to a normal diet only gradually
If diarrhea continues beyond 24 hours or if your dog’s condition deteriorates, contact your veterinarian.
Natural remedies for dog diarrhea
-
Flax Seed Oil
Study demonstrates linseed oil benefits in treating diarrhea and constipation in pets.
It is particularly effective in cases of chronic diarrhea, acting very positively on an inflamed gut.
Flaxseed oil (#ad) clearly reduces this inflammatory aspect.
The recommended dosage is half a teaspoon per 10 pounds of weight to stop diarrhea.
-
Colostrum
Colostrum is the first milk produced by the cow before the start of lactation.
Its particularity lies in the fact that it contains many antibodies responsible for ensuring the natural protection of the newborn.
But it also contains many medicinal properties and has the ability to protect and even repair a weakened intestine.
The recommended dosage in colostrum (#ad) is 100mg per 10 pounds body weight twice daily for 7-14 days.
-
Mint essential oil
Study shows that mint is an extremely effective natural product for people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Its conclusion ensures that it is even more effective than conventional drugs.
To be administered to dogs, it must be diluted at 2% in vegetable oil.
It may be wise to dilute it at the rate of 10 drops of mint essential oil for 30ml of flaxseed oil.
The amount to give is the same as for linseed oil alone.
-
Slippery Elm
Slippery Elm is safe for dogs.
It contains mucilage, a substance that, when mixed with water, creates a protective barrier that lines the esophagus, stomach, and gut.
The recommended dosage for slippery elm powder (#ad) is 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of weight.
Prevention of diarrhea in dogs
Here are some simple ways to save your dog an unpleasant episode of diarrhea:
– Never change his diet suddenly
– Avoid giving him chew bones
– Don’t let him play with too small objects that he can break into pieces and swallow
– Don’t feed it table scraps
– Don’t let it trash
– Keep all medications and cleaning products out of his reach
– Remember to deworm him regularly
How to stop a dog’s diarrhea?
Diarrhea in a dog can be a harmless event as well as a risky health problem.
You must therefore assess the situation and decide whether or not the assistance of your veterinarian is necessary.
The key point to note is that if the diarrheal episode gets worse in the first 24 hours, you may not be able to solve his condition and it is then reasonable to leave it to a specialist.
Read more:
What to do if my dog ate chocolate?
