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I’ve had dogs all my life, and I’ve tried a number of different dog diarrhea home remedies through the years.
With my previous dogs, they would pretty much eat whatever I gave them to try — from a bland baked potato, to cooked rice, to scrambled eggs.
Not this dog!
Tenor had a bout with diarrhea yesterday, and I spent all morning trying to find the perfect combination of human foods that he would eat.
These foods have been proven to help with dog diarrhea:
- Cooked white rice – no go. My dog wouldn’t touch it.
- Scrambled egg – nope. Not having that either.
- Canned pumpkin – ah hah! He was interested at first, but then no way.
By noon, I was struggling to find a food that would help to bind him up and put an end to the diarrhea that he would actually eat.
Then, I found it!…
Chicken Soup Is Good For The Soul
Finally, I remembered… chicken broth!
Since I had all of this leftover cooked rice, scrambled eggs, and pumpkin spice stored in the refrigerator, I decided to try one last thing. I combined all of that with a little chicken broth — for my homemade dog diarrhea treatment.
It worked!
Oh, and I also added a few chunks of his all-time favorite kibble that I keep stored away for special occasions (like to put in his treat toys).
For the rest of the day, he couldn’t get enough of that combination of diarrhea-curing foods.
And by late evening, his diarrhea was completely gone. I’ve never been able to clear up a case of diarrhea in dogs that quickly before. Usually it takes overnight. Two days is typically the norm before I take my dog to the vet for a professional diagnosis and dog diarrhea treatment.
A Word About Pumpkin For Dogs
For what it’s worth, 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 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls is all that is needed. Source
How To Treat Diarrhea In Dogs
Some tips when treating dog diarrhea yourself at home:
- Feed your dog only very small portions of these human foods at one time. (about a palmful each time)
- Feed your dog the foods that will help to bind his stool several times throughout the day. (about 4 or 5 times)
- Don’t feed your dog his normal food during this time. (only a few bits mixed in, if you need to get him to notice the new foods)
- Don’t let the diarrhea continue for long without phoning or visiting the vet. (diarrhea in dogs can quickly get worse, and it might signal something more serious is going on)
- At the very least, an all-natural probiotic like Diarrice will help alleviate the symptoms of dog diarrhea, even for puppies. (it works practically overnight)
Must read: Vet or No Vet When Your Dog Has Diarrhea?
More Good Foods, Less Time Squatting
Finally, (and this is a difficult one)… don’t let your dog outside to go to the bathroom too many times in a row.
Only you will know what your dog’s signals for going outside are. And you should be able to tell when he really needs to go — as opposed to when he’s just uncomfortable and keeps thinking he has to go.
Once you get to the point that straight liquid is coming out, I’ve found that it’s helpful if you can help those dog diarrhea home remedy foods do their work by letting them sit inside the dog’s tummy to “bind” for awhile.
Otherwise, your dog will indeed keep squirting liquid, and you’re likely to have a dog with a sore behind in no time. Plus, the diarrhea will take longer to cure.
That’s just what I’ve learned with my 3 dogs through the years. Everyone may not feel the same way on this, but even if you can get your dog to wait 5 extra minutes each time — that could make a difference in how quickly the diarrhea goes away. The idea is to play with your dog during this time and do things that take his mind off of having to go to the bathroom.
Of course, this only applies when your dog is not having any difficulty keeping the diarrhea inside him. If your dog’s diarrhea is to the point that he’s messing in the house, then by all means, let your dog do whatever he has to do… outside!
Must read: What To Do If Your Dog Has A Bad Case Of Diarrhea & The Vet Is Closed
I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about "outside the box" Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn't think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I've always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what's 'normal' and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I'm not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I've written over 500 articles for dog owners on this site!
