Let’s face it: as a pet parent, you are going to have to deal with more than a few messes in your time. When it comes to diarrhea nobody wants it smeared over their carpet or even in their kennel. It’s one mess that we would all rather live without! Fortunately for those of us whose pets hate the “V-E-T” there are a few natural remedies for doggy diarrhea available that can help soothe the distress.
Finding out the cause:
The first step in any diarrhea cure is to find out what is causing it and avoid that thing at all costs. If you can prevent the problem from happening then you won’t need a natural remedy at all! Obviously, if your dog has a severe bout of diarrhea at any time in its life you should visit the vet. It will make them lose vital enzymes, salts, and waters from their body that can leave them severely dehydrated if you don’t act.
Steps:
1. Remove all food for 12 hours.
2. Make sure the dog has access to plenty of clean water. If needed, add chicken/beef broth or Pedialyte in addition to the water to help motivate them to drink.
3. Offer the dog a small portion of boiled white meat chicken (no bones or skin) and white rice. This can be the dog’s food until their stool consistency returns to normal.
4. If diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours or your dog’s condition worsens at any time, call your vet immediately.
Natural Yogurt:
Giving your dog a little dose of the natural probiotics found in plain yogurt will help to replace some of the vital stomach bacteria they have lost. Probiotics should be used in harmony for the best results.
Boiled Eggs:
Eggs can give your dog a natural protein boost that makes sure they are getting the nutrients they need in spite of having diarrhea. Be warned that this one is a hit or a miss. Sometimes an egg will just run straight through them.
Pumpkin:
Plain canned pumpkin is a great choice to sometimes help with diarrhea! It contains fiber, prebiotics, and vitamins/minerals! You can 1-to-4 tablespoons of pumpkin to your dog’s food. Start out with smaller quantities to avoid adding too much fiber to your dog’s diet, if you are unsure, consult your veterinarian.
Reminder:
Remember that if the symptoms persist you need to go to the vet. Also, if your dog has a pre-existing medical condition that causes diarrhea then consult your vet about the best dietary changes to make. This problem is sometimes caused by a food allergy, so the solution should usually focus on diet first… it just never hurts to get a check-up and make sure there is nothing else going wrong.