What To Feed Your Dog When Treating Diarrhoea

There are many reasons why your dog might have diarrhoea, including causes that are not food related. Diarrhoea can be a symptom of stress, for instance, due to a house move, separation anxiety or an introduction to a new pet. It can also be a side effect to a medication, a sign that your dog has inflammatory bowel disease, or that they have an underlying infection.

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Then there are the dietary causes. There are plenty of human foods out there that might seem fine to treat your furry friend but are in fact toxic (chocolate, caffeine, grapes, raisins, etc.). You can read a detailed overview here. Generally, though, always avoid feeding your canine companion:

- Milk/dairy

- Fatty or rich foods

Besides toxic foods, there are other dietary reasons why your dog might have diarrhoea. This includes a food intolerance, such as a chicken intolerance. It could also be due to a change in their diet. To avoid an upset tummy, make sure you transition your pooch gradually when moving them from one diet to another. Puppies especially will need to be kept on the food they first began eating for the first few weeks until their stomachs settle.

If your pooch has diarrhoea, there are a few ways you can help. Firstly, it’s important to keep them hydrated, so make sure they have access to plenty of water. Secondly, if you believe your dog has a sensitive stomach, feed them food made to help support their digestive systems (your vet can advise you on this). Thirdly, feed your pooch small amounts and do so often, until their diarrhoea has ended.

Below are a couple of other ways you can further support your four-legged friend during this not-so-fun period.

While your canine companion has diarrhoea, it’s best to take them off their usual diet until their digestive system has settled down. I recommend instead feeding them easily digestible bland foods, such as sweet potato or pumpkin mashed with some lean protein like chicken or white fish. If you can, pick up formulated food that has been tailored specifically for dogs who are recovering.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can help restore a healthy harmony of gut microflora in your dog’s gut. There are lots of natural foods that contain probiotics that happen to be safe for dogs to eat, such as cottage cheese and live yoghurt. You can also add probiotic supplements into their regular food or look for formulated dog food with probiotics within its ingredients. Just always consult your veterinarian first before introducing your pooch to probiotics. You can learn more here.

Feeding your dog prebiotics and fibre-rich foods can help reduce your dog’s diarrhoea and digestive problems. Prebiotics are types of fibre that feed the good bacteria in the digestive system. They can be found in foods that have high levels of soluble fibre, including lentils, beans, pumpkin, sweet potato and raw oats. You can also add prebiotic supplements to your dog’s diet or opt for formulated dog food containing it, again, making sure to discuss with your vet first beforehand.

Pet owners should always avoid common dietary triggers, and this is especially important when their dog is suffering from diarrhoea. Triggers include dairy, high fat foods and inflammatory ingredients. I also advise cutting back on their treats! Instead, stick to fibre-rich/prebiotic treats to avoid incurring further harm to their digestive system.

Once your pooch has recovered from a bout of diarrhoea, you can begin reintroducing them to their regular diet. This needs care and thought—immediately feeding them their normal routine of meals could make things worse. I suggest going slow and steady, mixing 50/50 of their usual recipe with the diet you were treating them with. Only transfer fully back to their normal food once you are confident that their gut health is back to normal, contacting your vet if you’re not fully sure.

If, despite taking careful measures, symptoms of diarrhoea do end up reoccurring or persist, it’s time to take a closer look at your furry friend’s condition to identify what could be causing it. Make an appointment with your veterinarian, who will do a full health check and talk to you about the possible causes. They may even take a faecal sample.

Your vet can advise you on the best possible treatment for your dog. It might help to look out for symptoms, such as the colour and consistency of the diarrhoea, to help your vet identify the issue.

The information in this article is intended as a guide to help pets and pet parents on their journey together. It is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for professional advice from a vet, behaviourist, trainer or other professional. We encourage all pet parents to consult with their vet and/or behaviourist to ensure their pet’s specific needs are met.