My dog has diarrhea! Now what do I do?

Dogs actually have a well functioning digestive system and dog diarrhea is not a common experience. But I know that when my dog has diarrhea I can usually attribute it to something that could be an avoided. Some of the common causes of diarrhea in dogs are: Dietary disruption - Suddenly switching your dog from their regular food to a new food can cause diarrhea. A dogs digestive system gets used to a particular diet and as such changing them over to a new food should be done gradually and over a period of time. The best way to avoid your dog getting diarrhea is to introduce the new food slowly by mixing some of the new food with their old food. Over a period of days mix more of the new and less of the old so eventually all they are getting is the new food. This is particularly important if you are attempting to switch a puppy from one food to another as they have very delicate digestive systems.

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- Stress and mental upset a long trip or change in daily routine could cause dog diarrhea

Illness - An illness in some cases your dog might just have a virus or an illness. Although this doesnt happen in dogs as often as people you should have your Vet check him out if you suspect this is the case so you can get him the appropriate treatment.

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.

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.

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.

Slowly make your way back to regular food by mixing boiled hamburger or white fish boiled in milk with the rice. If diarrhea starts to come back, return to the previous type of food for a while.

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.