At a recent barbecue, we asked everyone not to share food with dogs, and now your pup needs to be out more than usual. Last time, puddles of diarrhea could be seen all over the backyard. Your dog seems perfectly normal otherwise and is even asking for food.
Well, what is it? Should I feed my dog as usual, or is it better not to feed him anything for a while?
Should I feed my dog with diarrhea?
It may seem counterintuitive, but for most healthy adult dogs, the best thing you can do to get their systems back on track is to withhold food for 24 hours.
If you have a very young puppy (less than 3 months old), an older dog, or a dog with other health issues, please consult your veterinarian for advice before fasting. In some cases, a 24-hour fast is appropriate, while in others a 12-hour or even shorter fast is recommended. In some cases, fasting is not recommended at all. When in doubt, please call first.
Fasting removes all bad things from your dog’s body. This will give you a short break, similar to restarting your computer.
However, never withhold water. Clear out the food bowl and don’t give them treats, but make sure they have plenty of fresh water.
Is a bland diet effective for dogs with diarrhea?
Yes, a bland diet will be helpful after the fasting period, unless your dog has symptoms of diarrhea and has no other symptoms. If your dog is unwell, vomiting, or has persistent diarrhea, contact your veterinarian. This is very important because you don’t want to mess up your opponent’s system again.
Fasting + bland meal plans are best suited for dogs who simply have something that messes with their system, rather than a long-term concern like a chronic disease.
If your dog is feeling well and doesn’t have any ongoing health conditions or chronic diarrhea, feed him a small amount of bland food. Bland foods are easier for your system to digest and are more likely to be tolerated. Giving small amounts more frequently makes it easier for your body to process.
For most dogs, a suitable bland diet consists of boiled chicken or boiled hamburgers and rice to provide both protein and carbohydrates. We recommend boiling it to remove as much fat as possible. The idea is to feed your dog a diet that is very low in fat and easy to digest.
It’s best to start with very small amounts (sometimes just a tablespoon or two) to see if your dog is used to eating and can keep the food down. Even if your dog wants more, it’s much better to feed them small meals every 2-3 hours than to give them a large meal right away.
Most veterinarians will recommend a bland diet for 3 to 5 days after a mild episode of diarrhea, assuming your dog is doing well. Animals that are still sick or vomiting require additional care other than a bland diet.
Dog food for mild or acute diarrhea
In most cases, veterinarians will consider mild diarrhea to be loose or loose stools lasting less than three days, and the dog is still active, eating and drinking normally, and has no other symptoms.
It’s even more worrying if your dog doesn’t seem to be feeling well. You may notice that your dog is sleeping more than usual, not eating well, is quiet, is vomiting, has blood or mucus in his diarrhea, or seems lethargic.
Acute diarrhea begins suddenly. So your dog was perfectly normal on the 10pm walk, but by 6am the floor was covered in diarrhea. Acute diarrhea can be mild or severe depending on additional signs of the disease.
If your dog has mild diarrhea, start with a 24-hour fast, but make sure to keep the water dish full. If your dog has breakfast at 8 a.m. and starts having diarrhea at 9 a.m., don’t give him food (including treats) until 8 a.m. the next day.
When feeding, use bland food prescribed by your veterinarian (not a pet store) or homemade bland food. This bland meal uses a 1:1 ratio of boiled meat to rice (for example, 1 cup of boiled chicken to 1 cup of rice) and uses as lean meat as possible. The most commonly recommended options are boiled chicken or boiled hamburger.
Start by giving 2 tablespoons of the mixture per 10 pounds of body weight. Serve these small meals every 2-3 hours on the first day. It is better to have too little food than too much.
Over the next 3 days, gradually increase the amount and reduce the frequency of your meals. Start incorporating it into your dog’s regular diet between days 3 and 5. By day 7, most dogs should be back on regular dog food and feeling better.
If your dog has increased diarrhea, vomits, or becomes unwell, contact your veterinarian. After the initial fasting period, you should see a steady improvement in your pet’s condition, but any regression is cause for concern.
What to feed a dog with chronic diarrhea
If your dog suffers from chronic diarrhea and the symptoms persist for a long time, there may be an underlying medical condition. Before deciding on an appropriate diet, health conditions must be identified, diagnosed, and addressed. And diet is likely only part of the treatment plan.
If your dog has long-term diarrhea problems or a health problem such as inflammatory bowel disease, a prescription diet designed for dogs with diarrhea may be a better choice. Prescription diets can help with long-term gastrointestinal issues because they are designed to meet all your nutritional needs over a long period of time.
Homemade diets, such as bland diets, may help in the short term, but in the long term they are extremely deficient in many of the nutrients your dog needs to stay healthy. A few days or a week of use won’t hurt you, but long-term use will likely do more harm than good. That’s why prescription foods come into play.
Many prescription diets are available through your veterinarian, but some of the most common include: Hills Prescription Diet I/D (Intestinal Activity Diet) and Purina EN (Gastrointestinal nutritional supplement). There are many other brands and formulas available, and your veterinarian can help you choose the one that is best for your dog over the long term, depending on the underlying condition.
