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Doggie Diarrhea Remedies To Try At Home

Dealing with a case of doggie diarrhea?

I used to work at a vet. While I was there, I learned a few home remedies for common pet ailments.

The most popular home remedy we doled out to clients was for doggie diarrhea.

Thankfully, it can often be treated at home yourself.

I have personally tried each of the following home remedies with our dogs.

Usually, the diarrhea clears up in about 24 hours!

I thought I’d share, in order to assist dog owners everywhere when their pup gets a case of the runs…

 

Home Remedies For Doggie Diarrhea

These are the best home remedies for treating a case of diarrhea in your dog:

 

#1 Take away all food and water for 24 hours. Do not take away water if your dog seems dehydrated and/or hasn’t been drinking much before this. In that case, give ice cubes or very small amounts of water several times a day. Then (after 24 hours), instead of their usual dog food, give your dog small servings of a bland diet 4 to 5 times throughout the day.

Choose from:

  • cooked white rice (no butter or flavorings)
  • cottage cheese (no liquid)
  • boiled chicken (no grease, no skin, no flavorings)
  • boiled turkey (no grease, no skin, no flavorings)
  • scrambled egg (no butter or oil)
  • boiled egg (no butter or oil)
  • boiled potato (no skin or flavorings)
  • baked potato (no skin or flavorings)

This is my all-time favorite home remedy for dog diarrhea. It works the best for my dog.

 

#2 Continue to feed several small servings of this bland diet for a couple days in gradually increasing amounts until a formed stool is passed. Then, start to wean your pet back to its regular food over the course of a week by gradually working in small amounts of their regular dry dog food.

small-helpings-of-dog-food

 

#3 Do not give your dog bones, snacks, or table scraps — because they may irritate the intestinal tract during this time.

 

#4 Dogs can also be given a dose of Pepto Bismol every 6 hours. (Dosage depends on your dog’s weight: 1 ml per lb.) Bonus, the Pepto Bismol also works to stop vomiting.

The typical dose administered to dogs is 0.5 to 1.5 ml per pound per day (1 to 3 ml/kg/day). The total daily dose should be divided into 2 to 4 doses. This amounts to approximately 2 teaspoons (10 ml total) per 10 pounds per day, ideally split between 2 to 4 doses..  Source

 

#5 Two other over-the-counter medicines can be given to dogs with diarrhea: Imodium AD (1 ml per lb. every 8 hours) and Kaopectate (1 ml per lb. every 2 hours).

Dogs: 0.05-0.1 mg/pound by mouth every 8 hours. Treatment should only be needed for 1-2 days. If diarrhea persists or worsens, contact your veterinarian.  Source

Please heed this word of warning before you dispense human medications to your pet.

Vet or no vet? Here’s advice on whether it’s time to see the vet when your dog has diarrhea for more than 48 hours.

Lynnette Walczak

I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money -- so I frequently write about "outside the box" ideas that most wouldn't think of. As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed several years until switching gears to pursue things I was more passionate about. I've worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo -- to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun websites).

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  • alison

    My puppy had the same problem from eating crab apples…he would throw up and have diarrhea only at night and my vet said it was because at night while they are resting their bodies relax and shut down in a sense and they are more susceptible to irritation, hence an increase in night time illness.
    To save your house, I suggest confining the dog to one area of the house you wouldn’t mind cleaning, or a crate in a separate room. If its in distress, the yelping should wake you up.

  • Dean

    HI, i have a 4 month old rotti pup that is having pudding like stools as well as regular hard stools… they are just not consistent… he has been like this since we brought hm home..we have been mixing a scoop of pupmkin in with every feeding and has helped a bit.. why is he still having pudding stools a few times a day..we have also changed his food a holistic brand. any ideas .. please advise thanks

    • Jo

      Dean, I have a 4 month old golden retriever pup with the exact same situation as you described. We are adding a little pumpkin to each meal and have contemplated switching foods as well. Did you find a solution? If so, I’d really like to know! Thanks and I hope your pup is feeling better!

    • LaurenBthatsme

      pumpkin wont help them stop pooping it makes them poop more hence the loose stools. plus he’s a pup. make sure he has a parvo shot.

      • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

        Actually, pumpkin can have both a binding effect (good for dogs with diarrhea), as well as a loosening effect (good for dogs with constipation) — so as an at-home remedy, it works differently with different dogs at different times.

        “Since the dietary fiber in canned pumpkin absorbs water, it can be a great help to a cat or dog that has diarrhea. Some pet owners report that it firms up their pet’s loose stools or diarrhea within a few hours. Again one to two teaspoonfuls is all that is needed.”

        Source: http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/2009/09/dog_diarrhea_treatment.php

  • Molly’s mom

    Where did you get the pumpkin? I tried my local supermarkets and they said it “seasonal”. We recently changed our golden pup’s food (possibly 1 1/2 weeks was too short) and she is having the pudding type bowel movements. I feel terrible for her!

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      @ Molly’s Mom – oh wow… canned pumpkin is available year-round in most grocery stores. Keep checking :-D
      P.S. If your puppy is having pudding bowel movements, you might want to consult a veterinarian (at least over the phone). Puppy diarrhea can be more serious than adult dog diarrhea and may signal something worse is going on.

    • Bvpurser

      you can buy canned pumpkin at the grocery store in the aisle where the baking products are found. Use the plain not the kind with spices added.

  • Murphysmith444

    Potatoes are a neurotoxin for dogs and should not be given.

  • Erock

    I would not advise limiting water for your pet in any capacity. It seems dangerous and cruel.

  • Juliev

    DO NOT take away all water if your pup has diarrhea… that is possibly the worst thing you can do. Diarrhea can cause dehydration which could quickly become serious. Always make sure there is plenty of water around and that the puppy is actually drinking it. Fresh, clean water will NEVER harm your pet. I have a hard time believing that a veterinarian would ever suggest limiting a dogs water intake. That is animal abuse.

  • BeardieOwner

    It turns out that some dogs have a genetic thing that causes them to die (99% lethal if they have the genetic abnormality) from Loperamide in Immodium AD. This genetic susceptibility is most common in collie related herding dogs like Bearded Collies, Border Collies, Old English Sheepdogs, etc… (there’s even a saying “White feet?, Don’t treat!”). To check my info just search “collie+Loperamide+lethal+genetic”. There is an at-home genetic test you can do to determine if your dog has the abnormality available from Washington State University Veterinary Lab.

  • Kelly

    Withholding WATER from a dog with the runs is dangerous – they are becoming dehydrated at it is. This is especially true for small dogs. The food part is fine (as long as they are not TINY or puppies). Please edit your post to reflect this – I would hate to have someone take your advice and lose their dog to dehydration!

  • Linda long

    I have a 4 year old Labrador. who gave me a scare. She started vomiting and at the same time pooping blood and feces from the bowels. refused to eat. the only thing she wanted was the fresh water. this came on suddenly in one day. I let her have all the water she wanted. then tried the boiled rice with no butter or seasoning.
    a small amount of warm water on the rice. kept that up for the day. she stopped the throwing up but still had runny stools with blood. but for some miracle she was very hungry and drinking lots of water. then she perked up physically and was almost her wiggly self. today she is much better still wanting to keep active. and the stools are slightly trying to form normally. I plan to worm her as soon as the stools are normal. and continue the rice. as it seems to work miracles. and it seems so safe and natural and I avoided trying human medications. since this was working. safe for her and humans. too. well known remedy for children as well. so when I see normal stools I will also slowly mix the rice with her regular dog food. purina. Linda

  • Sams

    we use the plain yogurt..no flavorings..live cultures are good for them

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  • Bayareapilot

    Only one problem with the advice.  ONLY remove water when there is vomiting, do NOT remove water if there is only diarrhea or the animal is at serious risk for dehydration.

  • Keelybouroncle1

    for the bland diet it says to choose from does that mean if i chose boiled chicken then the dog must eat just boiled chicken for that time?? or could you switch it up or mix things from that list?

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      Keelybouroncle1 – You should stick to the same bland diet the entire time if possible.

  • Carrie5472

    Great info – thanks!  Question though – my husband and I work all day so we’re not able to feed our dog the bland diet 4-5 times throughout the day.  Is there another alternative?

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      Carrie5472 – It’s okay if you can’t do it all throughout the day. The idea is just to give SMALL servings several times, rather than your dog’s normally large serving of food. 

      So, in your case, I would give a small amount first thing in the morning. And then another small amount right before you leave for the day. Then, give a small amount right after you get home. And then another small amount a couple hours later, followed by another small amount right before bedtime. That would work! :-D

  • Kat

    Thank-you for this diet. It seems to be working beautifully ;-)

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      Glad to hear it, Kat. Thanks for letting us know!

  • Kat

    10:30am Mon/Aug/27. Relieved that my dog has stopped vomiting. He was having diarrhea too, but hasn’t had a poop in 4 days. Day one NO FOOD, now on day 3 with the rice. How long should I wait?!

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      Kat – If there’s no more diarrhea, then start to wean your dog back to his/her regular dog food over the next 5-7 days by gradually adding small amounts of their regular dog food to the bland diet. NOTE: If your dog is a young puppy and has been vomiting WITH diarrhea, then you should probably see a vet.

  • Shirley

    Hi Lynnette- I have a 70 lb weim who has diarrhea- his stool was soft yesterday, so this am, I stopped feeding him his regular food. I gave him Imodium AD- 2 chewables, that seems to have made it worse. Now there the stool is even runnier and there is blood in the stool or appears to be blood. So I stopped that as well, read you can give you dog bland foods. It is now 5pm, I gave him 1/2 cup of cooked white rice with 1 banana. He ate it up. I read that you can give your dog water if it is only diarrhea, so I put a little water in the rice so that he ate both. Any other suggestions? I am too scared to give him Kaopectate and or Pepto – read it can cause bloat and my wiem is prone to bloat. He has already had a surgery due to his sock eating fetish. Please help

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      I would continue that bland diet… And water. Little bits of food every couple of hours. After the first solid stool, start to work in small amounts of his regular food each time. Pumpkin also works good for my dog when he has diarrhea. Search this same site for my pumpkin instructions. That blood in the stool really concerns me though. If you see blood again or if the diarrhea lasts more than another 24 hours, I’d go straight to the vet.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jo-Huettl/1063686527 Jo Huettl

    I did the with hold dog food for 24hrs then bland food (maybe I gave him more than I should have) I did oatmeal and hamburger mixed together . He threw it up along with some grass he must have eaten while laying outside. Then I followed him out to watch what he is doing out there almost EVERY time he had what I would call pure Liquid /Blood Bowel movement I am some what alarmed as I have never seen this … is this a possible virus or should I be taking him in to EMERGENCY vet service or do you think it can wait til tomorrow morning?

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      Blood is never a good sign. If you saw it just once and it was only a little bit, then I’d say maybe you could wait til the morning. But if you’ve seen it more than one time and/or it’s clearly a bloody stool, then I would at least CALL the emergency vet for their opinion right away.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jo-Huettl/1063686527 Jo Huettl

        thanks I did and they didn’t seem very concerned said I could get him in tomorrow to just not give him anything to eat and she wasn’t thrilled that I gave him hamburger & oatmeal she said they don’t use those remedies any longer… I never know hopefully someone will help him first thing in the morning but thanks for your help! :)

        • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

          Great! Thanks for the update, Jo :-D

  • http://www.facebook.com/aimee.mccurdy Amy McCurdy

    i’ve found carrots to be very helpful in regulating bowel movements.
    http://www.olewousa.com

  • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

    Perhaps. Or maybe she just doesn’t like the taste or texture of the rice. You could try one of the other alternatives in #1 above.

  • http://www.facebook.com/caroline.s.wilkes Caroline Nana Wilkes

    Well i have tried quite a few of these and other natural remedies for my dog and i have decided that as no one remedy suits every dog, i have tailor made my remedy combining a few different ideas. firstly, i took Lexi to the vet along either 2days supply of various nasty pops! All tests came back negative thankfully. Then (and now Im talking months of trying various remedies! So best not to expect a miracle overnight!!:-) however, i decided not to keep chopping and changing the diet she was already on, as that in itself can cause poop problems, so instead, i cut down her wet diet -natures diet – and very slowly introduced a hypoallergenic dry complete food -first class Turkey-.I introduced dry food for a wk so she eventually went from 1 pack of natures diet twice a day to a quarter of natures diet mixed with only 100 grams of dry. Then midday ish roughly 6hrs later, 2Tblsps of basmati rice not normal white rice!!( gave tried her on normal rice but it went straight through even though it looked more like pudding rice when id finished cooking it!! And i also tried it i cooked for so long but it still didn’t help where as basmati rice cooked normally really helped!) I actually added a ‘misfits treat’ in with rice just to make it a little mire interesting for her! Then 6hrs later she had again quarter pack natures diet wet and 100grams dry. It literally took about a wk of trying her on this regime and it worked!!! :-) :-) poops were firmer and sausage formed with maybe just a tiny bit at end that was slightly softer but considering its taken nearly 8 months to finally find something that actually worked i can forgive the occasional ‘mushy bit’).
    I honestly think that changing the diet is not the way but just cut down the amount your dog has each feed time and supplemented with a small p ortion of basmati rice (this worked for Lexi) plus introduced hypoallergenic dry food along with a little wet also cuts down the amount of wind your doggy may suffer from! Hope this helps anyone else who like me tried everything else! :-) :-)

  • http://www.facebook.com/caroline.s.wilkes Caroline Nana Wilkes

    Oops ! I apologise for the spelling errors…predictive text strikes again!:-

  • http://www.facebook.com/gutierrr Linda Coria

    Thank you so much Lynnette!! I was so worried about my terrior-maltese but thanx to your post I’ve found some relief!! Thank you!!

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      Yay – that’s great to hear, Linda. Best of luck and I hope that your dog’s diarrhea is only temporary :-D

  • http://www.facebook.com/helen.stead.5688 Helen Stead

    Thank you for simple advice that I can try. My pup is in great health other than this. I think it’s great that you pass on some of your knowledge, as a nurse of adult patients, I know there are small things that can help life run smoother. Will be back.
    Thank you
    Helen Stead
    Scunthorpe, England

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      Hi Helen – So glad you found the info helpful. As others have mentioned, no one single thing works for all dogs. It sometimes takes trial and error, and it sometimes helps to hear about things that have worked for other dogs. Thanks for the kind words. Hope your pup is feeling better :-D

  • tater tot

    tater tot my 3 month old puppy, she was throwing up, and now diarrhea for 3 days/ She is starting to get dehydrated. She won’t drink and I gave her the worm medication from walmart and she won’t drink it. Have not seen any worms. She had her parvo shot at 10 weeks. Getting worried and I have no money till income tax comes in. What do I do. She sleeps, but she still likes to chase her cats that are in the house. That seems to be the only time she perks up. Her gums are getting tacky now, Can I through a pill down her throat for diarrhea? Please help

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      tater tot needs to go to the vet immediately. If you’re going to raise a puppy, you are responsible for her care round the clock. She can’t care for herself. It’s up to you to do what is best for her – ALWAYS – and right now that means taking her to vet. Don’t wait a minute longer… please… for your puppy’s sake… and for your sake if you truly do care about her and want her to be with you for a long time.

  • Danika Hansen

    Don’t withhold water from a dog with diarrhea! If they are already dehydrated from the diarrhea, not providing them with water could be fatal.

  • Jenny Peden

    my dog has had diarrhea for 2 days and now it is bloody. Is there anything I can give her over the counter ? I can’t afford to go to a vet. she is 2yrs old and roughly 30 lbs.

    • http://thefuntimesguide.com/ FunTimesGuide

      You Dog Needs To Go To The Vet IMMEDIATELY!