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The Fun Times Guide > Dog Guide > Home & Garden > Dog Health, Wellness & Safety > Diarrhea Dogs Home Remedy >

Dog Diarrhea Remedies To Try At Home

Dealing with a case of dog 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 gave to our clients was for doggie diarrhea.

Thankfully, it can often be treated at home yourself.

dog diarrhea makes most dogs take it easy

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 your pup gets a case of the runs…

 

Home Remedy For Dog Diarrhea

These are the best steps for treating a case of diarrhea in dogs:

 

#1 – Take away all food and water for 24 hours. Do not take away water if your dog is a puppy or if your dog seems dehydrated and hasn’t been drinking much before this. In that case, give only ice cubes or very small amounts of water several times a day.

 

#2 – After 24 hours, give your dog small amounts of water all throughout the day (not a full water bowl that your dog can lap freely from, though). And instead of your dog’s usual food, give your dog small servings of a bland diet 4 to 5 times throughout the day.

Choose from:

  • rice, biljac and cottage cheese - tenor's diet while teethingcooked 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 has always worked the best for my dog.

 

#3 – Continue to feed several small servings of this bland diet for a couple days in gradually increasing amounts until a formed stool is passed. Also let your dog drink freely from his water bowl again. Then, start to wean your pet back to his regular food over the course of a week by gradually working in small amounts of his regular dry dog food.

small-helpings-of-dog-food

 

#4 – Do not give your dog any bones, snacks, or table scraps during this time — because they can further irritate your dog’s intestinal tract, which is already overly sensitive. Once the diarrhea has passed, you can go back to feeding your dog whatever you fed him before.

 

#5 – If you want to try to speed up the process, there are a handful of meds that help with dog diarrhea:

Diarrice is an all natural probiotic that was developed by a veterinarian to help with the discomfort and symptoms diarrhea in dogs. It works practically overnight – even for puppies, too!

Dogs can be given a dose of Pepto Bismol every 6 hours in the following dosage:

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

Bonus: the Pepto Bismol also works to stop dog vomiting!

Two other over-the-counter medicines can be given to dogs with diarrhea: Imodium or Kaopectate in the following dosage:

Dogs can have 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.

 

#6 – Finally, here’s some advice on whether your dog needs to go to the vet or not — what to do if your dog has diarrhea for more than 48 hours.

  • 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.

      • 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!

    • @ Molly’s Mom – oh wow… canned pumpkin is available year-round in most grocery stores. Keep checking 😀
      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

  • 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?

    • 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?

    • 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! 😀

  • Kat

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

  • 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?!

    • 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

    • 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.

  • 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?

    • 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.

      • 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! 🙂

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

  • Antoinette

    My dog has just got back from spending 2 days at the vet. Diarrhea has stopped for now but she really hates the rice and picks the chicken out of it. Could she be allergic to rice?

    • 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.

  • Caroline 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 with 2days supply of various nasty poops! 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 for her breakfast Then midday ish roughly 6hrs later, 2Tblsps of basmati rice not normal white rice!!( have 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 not 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 more 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! :-):-)

  • Caroline Wilkes

    Lexi s poop problems were very soft / very loose sometimes with blood smears and a hideous jelly like membrane mixed in too :- also the end was also watery! But i had already taken her to vet along with poop samples and as i said all tests were negative. She was fully uptodate with worming and flea treatments., so was more worried when her poop was like this and fully expected her results to show some form of infection! Thankfully there was nothing wrong – other than horrible poop!

  • 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!!

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

  • 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

    • 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 😀

  • 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

    • 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.

  • Kimberly Henn

    My piquinese / Pomeranian Is about 12lbs. Is very uncomfortable. My husband took some boneless porkchops from fridge and gave it to the dogs. I also have a golden retriever 111lbs. I doubt he cut it up small for the little guy. And I know my dogs they will swallow without chewing. He has been uncomfortable for three days now. No vomiting or diarrhea . I have been feeding him the soft food since, and he will eat, drink, and poop seems normal. He just grunts, pants, and shakes a lot . His nose has been warm here and there but not constant. I bought dog stool softners and aspirins , and Pedialite. Any other suggestions ? Oh yeah his belly seems hard and seems to relax when I rub it.

    • Must see vet!

      • Kimberly Henn

        He is fine now. I guess what I did was just what he needed. I will still watch him close. No more scraps for Taz! Thank you!

  • Geoff

    Took my 7 year old German Shepherd to the vet a couple of days ago because she was throwing up a lot. She more than likely just ate too much snow. My vet told me to feed her boiled chicken and rice and also gave me anti-nausea and anti-acidic medicine. It’s been 2 days and she hasn’t even attempted to poop. There’s a bunch of snow on the ground so I’m sure that is a factor. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain or discomfort and is still, in fact, very active. We went on a long walk yesterday and played plenty of fetch but when I took her out this morning, still nothing. She had blood work done when she was at the vet and everything came back fine so I’m wondering if I should be concerned. Should I give her something to try and expedite this process? What do you think I should do?

    • Geoff – I don’t think I’d be toooooo concerned just yet. Most likely she hasn’t pooped yet because the meds are binding her up a bit…OR the snow is too much for her right now… OR she just hasn’t had enough “substantial” amounts of food in her stomach yet.

      Have you started introducing small amounts of her regular food back into her diet yet? (If not, then I would do that now, several small feedings every few hours.) After a day or two of that, if no poop, then I’d be concerned and re-visit the vet (or just give them a call for an opinion – they’ll often recommend something to try over the phone since they’ve already seen you for the main visit).

      When my dog took high doses of pain meds after surgery, he didn’t poop for DAYS… it was puzzling (and scary) to me, but the surgeon said it was a natural side effect of the medication and not to worry.

  • holly

    I have mamma dog that just delivered puppies a day in half ago (roughly 36hrs), she has had really bad watery stools. I’ve not seen any blood, but they are really dark in color. My concern is, is this normal for her and if it is, can I give here pepto-bismol even though she is nursing puppies?

  • Anne Patrick Collette

    I really wish that you would delete the above incorrect information where you advise people to give their dogs 1ml of Kaeopectate per pound!!!! I know that there is a quote underneath of those instructions that shows the correct amount…… .1 ml per pound(that’s point 1 or one TENTH of a ml per pound!!!)….but some people may not read that far, or they may have really bad math skills and just go with your first instructions. For instance….an 80 pound dog would receive 80 ml of kaeopectate according to your instructions instead of the correct dosage of only 8 ml !!!! That’s a HUGE difference:-( Please, please, please, think about totally omitting the incorrect advice. The health…maybe even life or death of someone’s dog could be at risk!!!! Thank you and God bless.

  • Amy Metheny

    My 4 pound teacup poodle has coccidia parasites and a bladder infection, both of which she has been to the vet for. She has medicine for both, and the antibiotics make her not want to eat much. She had diarrhea for two days with the parasites, but hasn’t pooped for the past two days. She also hasn’t eaten very much, but her belly seems to be firm. I don’t know what to do.

    • Your best bet is to stay in touch with your vet. If you’ve recently paid to have your dog treated there, it’s reasonable-if not expected-for them to be helpful at answering your questions and allaying your fears over the phone. Personally, if your dog hasn’t eaten much over the past 2 days, then he probably has no need to poop. Chances are the meds are working. If his tummy is firm, he may just be stressed, or still feel an upset tummy, or the meds are just affecting him in that way. Only your vet knows for sure.

  • jessica

    Hi, My dog tucker has been throwing up and has had diarrhea for about 17hrs. He ate some of his dry dog food this morning but threw up up shortly after. he played with his ball for a little but mostly just slept and laid on the couch. i am boiling him rice but do you have any other suggestions?
    Jessica

  • Paige Stolberg

    After the 24 hours of no food or water, how should water be re-introduced? As normal or maybe small amounts with their bland food? Thanks!

    • Yep, you’re right, Paige. Small amounts at a time is best.

      • Paige Stolberg

        Thanks very much!

  • Kendra Scheid

    I have a seven month old shepherd mutt. About three days ago he started having soft stool with a tiny bits of blood in it. After a day there was no more blood but his stool got progressively softer to the point now it is completely liquid. (Like brown water) he acts totally normal other than that though. Still playful, not anxious, tender, or lethargic and he still has an appetite. Then today my six month old pit mix started having diarrhea as well. I don’t know what to do for them because I’m worried she will get worse too.

    • Hi Kendra, There is clearly something going on, but only a stool sample will say for sure.

      Good news: you can take a stool sample to the vet WITHOUT making an appointment and the vet will analyze it for you. You don’t even have to take your dog with you!
      A) You’ll know right away what’s going on and the correct course of treatment.
      B) You’ll have peace of mind and be able to stop worrying and wondering.

      Even with diarrhea, it’s still possible for you to collect a stool sample — it doesn’t matter how small or how liquid it is. Every little bit helps! The only thing is it must be FRESH. So the next time your dog goes, try to place a plastic Walmart bag or tall kitchen garbage bag or something underneath to catch some (maybe not perfectly “in” the bag, but just “on” the bag would be fine). Put that — bag and all — into a bowl with a tight lid and get it to the vet right away. If you don’t catch it on a bag or something, you can take in blades of grass or leaves with the dog’s stool on them — just do whatever you can to get a small sample of the fresh diarrhea.

      Try to take a sample from each of the 2 dogs — and store the samples completely apart (use 2 different bags and 2 different bowls with lids). But if you can’t get both samples close to the same time, then just take in one.

      Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. Blood in the stool is never good. And diarrhea in 2 dogs is also not a good thing.

  • Kris Sebor

    My dog has been having bloody diarrhea for going on 3 weeks now i have been to 2 different vets im doing everything they tell me to bet he is still not getting better he has had vomiting but they give medicine to stop that then he starts to eat and pass a solid stool then the puking and the diarrhea start all over again i am so frustrated i dont know ehat to doo he has gone several days without eating but he still seems to act ok most of the time any suggestions

    • What did each of the vets say was CAUSING the bloody diarrhea? If they never found a cause then I’d say more testing is in order here. I’d insist on it. What about xrays?

  • Dalila Garcia

    My dog has been having watery stools after eating a small amount of Chili with beans (mild not spicy) and it smells very strong. He’s still highly active and has been jumping up and down like normal, his only problem is his stools. What should I do? P.S he had surgery a month ago after swallowing a rubber band and he is almost entirely healed but now I’m a little worried. He’s a one year old Chihuahua and Corgi mix.

    • My opinion: chili is chili. Probably not good for dogs. And probably not good for an almost entirely healed belly from swallowing a rubber band. Watch closely. Any signs of blood or lack of energy means you should take your dog to the vet immediately. For now, I’d give a bland diet (see above) several times a day, rather than larger meals of your dog’s regular kibble. And no more human food for a very long time. If the loose stools don’t get better after a day or so, see your vet.

  • Lisa Alameda

    My 6 year old dog had diarrhea for three days, at which time I started to feed her white rice with boiled ground turkey. After her last episode of diarrhea she hadn’t had a bowel movement until today. Her feces was a brown color with a good consistency, but it look like it have blood on the outside. I am just wondering if the blood could be from straining to pass the solid stool. She is otherwise fine, she finishes all the rice and turkey I give her(which I add extra water to.) Thank you.

    • Hmmm… possibly. Don’t know for sure though. If it was me, I’d watch for the next bowel movement and if there’s any blood call the vet for an opinion. OR take a stool sample to your vet. They can test it (for cheap) without your dog even being there. That way you’ll know for sure what’s going on. Fingers crossed for a non bloody stool next time.

    • AlieBug56

      My dog is 5 and is having the same problem…She is in heat… :/

  • Tryc

    My 9 year old yorkie poo had surgery 5 days ago…he had a mass on his liver which they removed. All day today he has had really bad diarrhea 🙁 We have been trying to get in touch with the surgeon but can’t and we’re not sure what to do…..Anyone have any recommendations?

  • emely menjivar

    I have a blue nose pit bull that is about to be 5 months. And my boyfriend took her to the vet on November 29 and the vet gave him a trifexis to give to our dog and to days later she got diarrhea can that pill be the cause of it?

  • AlieBug56

    My Weenie dog has been diarrheaing everywhere….Its bad and I keep getting nausea when I clean it up 🙁

  • Tammy Biesenbach

    I have an English mastiff we traveled 13hrs and I think the trip did it. he weighs approx. 120lbs so how much Imodium do I give him?

  • aimee

    My dog has had diarrhea for a couple days. He did steal a pork chop(no bone) and part of a piece of pizza. I have started feeding him plain white rice with a little lean hamburger meat mixed in. His behavior hasnt changed at all. So I should not give him his regular dog food at all? Just give him the rice until he gets more of a firm stool, then slowly introduce his food back in?

    • aimee – right. “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.” But… you said your dog has already had diarrhea “for a couple days”. So don’t wait much longer before you see a vet – just to be sure it’s nothing more serious.

  • Araceli Gordus

    Hi, my Yorkie Russell is about 8 months and has been having diarrhea for two days. We’ve been feeding him his normal food and water and he seems to be eating it and has been having a normal amount of water to drink. The diarrhea is watery, but nothing too serious. I can’t afford going to a vet, so if I could do so without having to go that would be great. So, would you say the over the top counter medicine or slowly introducing new foods back into his diet would be better? Or both? Please help me this is my first dog!!

    • Araceli Gordus – It’s hard to say. If you have NO IDEA why the diarrhea started, then you probably should see a vet. I’m just being honest and saying what I would personally do.

      Most of the other dogs mentioned here have experienced diarrhea after eating something specific – so it’s pretty clear what the reason for the diarrhea is – and it’s usually the case that the diarrhea will clear up in a couple of days.

      But when the diarrhea starts suddenly and you’re not sure why, that’s more of a cause for concern and could require a more serious treatment than simply a bland diet.

      For example…

      It could be something as simple as the food you’re feeding your dog not agreeing with your dog for some reason. Try a grain-free food (introduced slowly, rather than all at once). Or try the bland human foods mentioned in the article. If when you start to re-introduce your dog’s own food, the diarrhea starts again, then the dog food is probably the source.

      Or it could be something more serious: http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/dog-health/Diarrhea-in-Dogs

      Without knowing the cause, it’s difficult to recommend an accurate treatment.

      Keep in mind, you don’t have to take your DOG to the vet, just take a sample of your dog’s poop. They can run a quick test and give you an accurate cause and recommended treatment for your dog’s diarrhea. It won’t cost as much as a full vet visit.

    • Susan

      I used to feel that “I couldn’t afford to go to the vet’ at times. But that is a very unrealistic way to live. If I have a dog, I need to put a little bit of money aside from each paycheck in case something goes wrong. Something always goes wrong. I do that with my car now too instead of acting “surprised” when there is a car repair, etc. It will help you enormously to do that instead of being a “victim” of not having money. I’ve learned to plan for the inevitable issues that will come up and it makes life so much easier and then I don’t feel guilty about not taking my dog or cat to the vet. I hope this helps and doesn’t come off as too critical. I took a class called Financial Peace and it helped me enormously with these issues. All the best to you.

  • Molly Fleming

    I have a 2 1/2 month old puppy. He hasn’t had a actual solid poop since we got him a few weeks ago. Last night he kept vomiting (4 times in an hour) and I’m very worried. I just need advice on if I should take him in, or try one of these? He’s very happy, and playful and energetic and drinks plenty of water. Doesn’t seem “sick” at all.

    • With a young puppy that’s vomiting, I wouldn’t waste time trying to “guess” what’s wrong. If the vomiting continues, I would take your puppy to the vet right away.

      • Molly Fleming

        He hasn’t since the other night, other wise I definitely would have. What about his loose stool? Should I still take him in, or is it just sensitive tummy do you think? We feed him Blue Buffalo puppy chow. I feel like I’m overeating – first time puppy mom

        • You’re smart to be concerned. You’re being a good first time puppy mom 😀 Glad to hear the vomiting didn’t last long. If it reappears, I’d head to the vet because SOMETHING is causing it. But since it seems to be done, I think you don’t need to be overly concerned about the semi-loose stools on their own. If they’re completely runny and watery – that’s not good – take to the vet. But if they’re just mushy and not 100% solid yet, I’d try the bland diet (described above) for a 1-2 days to see if you notice any change. It should help to firm things up a bit. After that, either slowly reintroduce the Blue Buffalo, or slowly introduce some other puppy food instead. You never know… all dog food brands don’t work well for all dogs.

          • Molly Fleming

            Over -reacting ** not over eating haha. But! Thank you so much! I truly appreciate your replies and advice. And Leif (the pup) also thanks you because now I can be a little more relaxed and get things (hopefully) under control soon 🙂

  • Bette-Ann Libin

    There is never a time to treat diarrhea with human OTC meds without Vet consult…never….If you can’t afford the Vet-DON’T get the pet

    • JustMeandMyselfandI

      Dear Betty-Ann..
      I used to agree with your statement wholeheartedly. In fact, I was quite judgemental towards those with pets that were barely afforded. Their basic needs seemed to be covered but a vet bill was never something these owners were prepared for. Admittedly though, love and affection, time and effort with obedience and training was never a problem and generally these were good doggie mommies and daddies. But still, I judged. Why not, at the time I was perched high on my career pedastal bringing in $240,000/year-$275,000. I could afford all my pets needs whether foreseen or accidental. Then came the cancer. Treatments next. Followed by lethargy, pain, panic and anxiety that rolled up into a big ball of guilt when I realized I was one of “them”. You know, “them”, the ones that couldn’t afford the constant unknowns that have their way of coming virtually back to back only when you’re unable to cope it seems. After more than 2 years of not working and having used up nearly all I had saved up for the so called emergencies in life, my sweet little furred child gets sick and even though it was but 30 months prior I could afford his extensive surgery required for some masses that enlarged and ruptured, I now faced the plague that many lower income families face when they have all the unconditional love in the world to give a homeless dog that would otherwise be euthanized in a shelter when it requires a vet suddenly in their care. I questioned my rights, my abilities, my past, my future, my goals, my…
      WHO the heck was I to own an animal I could no longer afford due to circumstances I never figured into my future at such a young age? What a loser I was I believed and what a horrible person I had become by doing this to the dog I had loved for so long. I weighed my options, ALL my options. I could put my dog down. I could give my dog away. I could deliver my dog to the pound. I could…. No! I hadn’t changed! I hadn’t become a loser or any less a great dog owner. All that had changed were my finances and none of the abovementioned options are open to any responsible, loving dog owner and definitely were not open to me. Though things did work out in the very end, I did spend a couple nights crying and feeling so terribly stupid and even unworthy but had things not worked out I would condone someone giving it EVERYTHING they had (even if not money enough for the unseen vet bill) while rescuing a dog and giving it the darn best life every hour of every day than to allow the poor sole to rot in a shelter right up until it’s certain death. If it’s going to die one way or the other I’d rest better knowing he loved life first! For it is these people that will move heaven and earth to get that needed treatment and for the most part it works out.
      The lessons I learned throughout were invaluable. I learned that sh*t happens to anyone and everyone no matter how prepared you think you are and I learned that life is much happier when you stop judging others. But more importantly, when you stop judging yourself! In summary Betty-Ann, I oppose your belief that not affording a vet should equal not raising a pet. Not being able to love a pet unconditionally or not being able to afford the basics should be the only reason to leave a beautiful creature like a loving dog behind bars. How many of us have suffered monetary woes in life? It’s always been but temporary anyway! When that happens AFTER you’ve already been mommy for awhile, then what Betty-Ann? I both congratulate and envy you Ms. Libin that you have obviously not suffered the sh*t that can and does happen, YET. But when it does, I can only hope that you find the strength needed to carry on and that special person to help you through it because trust me, going it alone is difficult and downright sucks. At least I had my furry farts to get me through it, right up to present day
      I’d lIke to add that I’ve witnessed owners without.means try harder and for longer with more love than those with plenty of financial means. In fact, I’ve seen many put their money towards the needle alot faster and for very little reason at the same time watching a family cry harder at the mere possibility of losing their pet while they searched for the necessary funds.
      Sorry for the book length post 😉

      • Theone

        Very well said! I think you should write a book. : )

      • Pet owner of 2

        Very well said and soooo true for so many families…it’s so easy to judge without knowing the facts….sad but true…I’m glad u posted this!!!!

      • Jean Jordon Nuttall

        You are awesome. I could never have said it better and am glad you did. Thank you.

    • So anyone who can’t afford outrageous vet bills should never have pets. Countless numbers of puppies and kitten should just be killed at the animal shelter instead of being loved in moderate income homes because at some point the animals my face a deadly medical condition that their owners can not afford extraordinary treatments for? So, it’s better that a puppy is put down than having 11 years of happiness and love because it’s own can’t afford surgery and treatment that might let the pet live to be 12? GFY Be itch!

      • Rene Miller Emberson

        wow, I totally see your anger here, and totally agree. People need not be so judgemental, after all you are just trying to help your pet. I try not to drag my dog to the vet with every ailment, lets face it, that sh*t gets expensive But I think a decent vet you could at least call on the phone and ask advice without having to pay him, don’t you agree?….but also don’t call with every little thing and work it out on my own.

      • belinda

        I feel u on that. I have had my dog for 10 yrs she’s a mixed terrier. When I first got her I was working a very good job at a bank. Unfortunately now I don’t make the same amount of money. So because I can’t afford a visit to the vet I should give up my little girl yeah right I think people who say shit like that are very ignorant. I have no kids n my princess is my baby. I would do anything for her well being. So please stop saying dumb shit like that.

    • richard

      Pets can be more than just a animal to some . My father in his final days had my dog as a companion and best friend . She was literally a life saver and definitely prolonged his life . And there was no chance he could afford her care on ss. But I would of gladly given the life of a animal just for a extra day with him . Besides the many people who lost there homes and jobs and all financial security when our great country allowed so many lenders to give loans to those who couldnt afford them. A pet is exactly that a pet we love them and we cherish them and we do the best we can by them but if u have circumstances that require u to home medicate then that’s what you do . You do it smart and be diligent in ur research but that’s the way it is . some people don’t have the money or insurance for them self to go see a dr. Never the less a pet . But if u can take a animal out of the street feed and bath them and love them there in much better shape then going to the gas bin with other unwanted dogs . I think the onlything u need for pet ownership is smarts and love smarts being the lesser of the two .wish we all had 401ks and pet insurance but I have a heart and enough to make the animals I have feel happy and comfortable

    • Michael Molina

      I have 2-dogs (both rescues) and I make over $500K a year and have no debt and I will ABSOLUTELY give my dogs human OTC meds responsibly once I do the research if the situation demands it. My dogs are my kids and I would gladly spend any amount for their well being. I just dropped $7k without blinking for emergency surgery when one recently had a benign tumor suddenly burst and she was bleeding to death internally. When my babies are suffering, I want them better NOW. If I can safely do something to provide immediate relief for them that I know is safe, you can be damn sure I’m going to. Your view is narrow and judgmental. Just because YOU wouldn’t, don’t talk like you know “what’s best” or like you have the corner market on loving your pet and taking great care of them.

  • Ann Lujan

    my puppy is 6 months old has all his shots and this morning he woke up throwing up and diarrhea and yesterday he was very active with our older dog what can it be and what can I give him??

  • springacres

    Great article! However, I would like to add a suggestion. Personally, when my dog gets diarrhea, I find the following regimen helps her return to normal:
    -24 hour starvation (no easy feat with a Lab/Coonhound mix…)
    -after that, feed small amounts of canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling) for 1 day, then gradually mix regular food back in over the course of about 2 weeks

    I would appreciate comments or feedback on this regimen, however. I would use the recipe described in the article, but in my dog’s case chicken and turkey tend to cause diarrhea instead of helping it.

    [ETA] I also don’t withhold water unless absolutely necessary, because of the risk of dehydration.

  • BOSSLADYNELLIE

    My dog been vomiting and having diarrhea since I switched his food to purina Light & Fit and he usually eats Rachael Ray… i wanted to try something different because he older in i thought it fine im so overwhelmed by my decision that im sad now hes has diarrhea and vomiting once but i read this article so ima feed him eggs

    • Regina Filangy

      Stop feeding him the Purina Light & Fit permanently.

  • Kristen Scott

    Thank you so much for creating this article! My 5 month old border collie pup has been having pretty bad diarrhea for the last two weeks. The vet gave us a medication to put him on for 7 days. The meds seemed to help the problem but after the 7 days was up and we ran out of pills, the diarrhea came back. I am going to try feeding him some bland food and taking him off his beef hide chews.

  • Esme Rose

    I’m annoyed by those people that say if you don’t have the money you shouldn’t have got the pet. No one walks into a pet store flat ass broke and says I’m going to get a pet today, there are so many different situations that a person could have been through to get to that point and once that bond is made with your pet it’s extremely hard to let them go. So please stop saying that s*** no ones stupid.

  • Kassandra Lopez

    I have a Jack Russell mixed with chihuahua. He does eat his food but we recently bought him and we are new dog owners. About 4 days with him in our home, he was pooping good but then today I saw he had all sorts of poo. Some where hard then some looked mushy but not watery. My boyfriend give him doggy bones but then eats that and not his food. Should we stop giving him doggy bones? Can I buy him doggy diapers too? What can I do so it won’t become so watery?

    • Kassandra, yes definitely stop the dog bones for awhile. He needs to get used to eating his dog food regularly. Bones should be only a rare treat once in awhile.

      • Kassandra Lopez

        And now all of a sudden he does a strange noise something like if he has a stuffy nose. When that happened then a day later his runny poo started happening. Now when his poo was coming out not normally, he starting to sleep more and wasn’t being active besides laying down. My boyfriend thinks he might be coming down with a cold with his runny poo and tiredness. Should I take him to the vet to be sure?

        • Yes – you should take him to the vet, Kassandra.

  • siah

    My dog had been vomiting for almost two days. She doesn’t like to eat. But she still drink some water. Then suddenly today her stool was like a blood. She doesn’t like to eat anything. What should I do. ? Are there any vitamins or meds you can recommend. Thank you

  • Peggy Stevens

    Thank you for a well written and informative article. It worked like a charm!

    • Glad to hear that Peggy. So happy that your dog is feeling better

  • Nun Ya

    hello my dog weighs less than 4 pounds (shorkie) and is not eating rice usually he would but not this time. how much pepto bismol should i give him if any? he’s also throwin up yellow.

  • kathleenbeck

    Sorry I’m late guys to the party, my Irish Wolfhound X after eating dry has a pooey backside, is it dirrahea or something else?

  • Suzie Falconer

    Tried the probiotics route. It worked like magic stopped diarrhea in its tracks.

  • DiarRice

    If you want to stop dog diarrhea quickly with an all natural probiotic developed just for diarrhea in dogs, try DiarRice. Dogs love the taste and is is formulated by a vet and pet food scientists just to treat dog diarrhea.

  • RAchel RAe Tlau

    Hello,my 6 weeks lab puppy is having diarrhea and its been 3 days now,took him to the vet but the doctor didn’t give me any medicine instead he just have my baby 5ml of worm medicine and a vitamin and He’s still having diarrhea,I don’t know what should I do now,I’m feeling really sad for him,he doesn’t wanna have his food too he just wants to sleep,his poop is watery and its kind of green and I only feed him baby food cerelac mixed with luke warm water,should I take my lil one to the vet again? And yes the doctor told me to come back on Sunday for his first vaccination,I feel its too early for vaccine now cause he’s only 6 weeks old but the doctor said so I think I should take him,meanwhile can you please tell me what should I do to stop his diarrhea cause he’s suffering alot and it hurts me to see him like this.

    • Hi Rachel – you’re right to be concerned. Diarrhea in small puppies can be especially dangerous. You need to make sure they don’t get dehydrated too. Personally, I would take your puppy to a DIFFERENT veterinarian before Sunday and get a second opinion.