Every dog suffers from diarrhea and upset stomach at some time or another, but what is the best remedy and what do these issues say about their overall gut health? For such a simple-sounding problem, dog diarrhea can have some very complicated causes!

In this post, we will delve into those causes, discuss the potential treatments and home remedies, and let you know when it’s time to see a veterinarian about your dog’s diarrhea and gut health.

Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea?

Persistent or recurring dog diarrhea can be very frustrating for pet parents. You may be tempted to change your dog’s food or try a trendy home remedy. But before you decide what to do, it’s important to understand what causes diarrhea in dogs.

Potential Dog Diarrhea Causes

Diet Change

While humans enjoy a varied diet, dogs are extremely sensitive to any change in their food or treats. Abruptly changing your dog’s diet could cause diarrhea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal upset.

If you intend to make a dietary change, transition your dog onto the new food slowly over a seven-day period like this:

Days One and Two: 25% new diet and 75% old diet.
Days Three and Four: 50% new diet and 50% old diet.
Days Five and Six: 75% new diet and 25% old diet.
Day Seven: 100% new diet.

If your dog is especially sensitive or has food allergies, you may want to extend the transition period even more.

“Garbage Gut”

This term refers to what happens to a dog’s gut health when they get into the trash, snag food off the counter, or indulge in too many table scraps. This dietary indiscretion is particularly common around the holidays when rich, fatty foods are abundant.

If you have a particularly sneaky pup, be sure to keep table food safely out of reach and garbage cans tightly sealed.

Food Intolerance

Like humans, some dogs are intolerant to certain foods like lactose, meaning they lack the enzyme needed to properly digest it. This can result in vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Food Allergies

Food allergies are a bit different. Rather than a deficiency of digestion enzymes, food allergies are caused by an immune response. According to Tufts University:

"Food allergies occur when an animal's immune system misidentifies a protein from a food as an invader rather than a food item and mounts an immune response. The end result of this response can be itchy skin or ear and skin infections in some pets, while it may cause vomiting or diarrhea in others."

Parasites

Intestinal parasites are a common cause of diarrhea in puppies and can have a major impact on a dog’s gut health. Not all intestinal parasites cause diarrhea. The major culprits are Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms, Coccidia, and Giardia.

If you have a young pup, a newly adopted dog, or a pooch with a weakened immune system, parasites may be causing their diarrhea. Collect a stool sample to bring to your vet for fecal analysis.

Viruses

Common canine viruses such as Parvovirus, Distemper, and Canine Coronavirus can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms in dogs. All of these viruses are quite serious and require prompt veterinary care. Note that these viruses can all be prevented with routine vaccinations.

Bacteria

Salmonella and other bacteria that impact gut health are less likely to affect dogs than humans, but it does happen, and it can certainly lead to dog diarrhea. Very young, very old, and dogs with underdeveloped or compromised immune systems are most likely to suffer from bacteria-related diarrhea.

Dogs taking antibiotics may also be susceptible. These medications do not discriminate, attacking the healthy bacteria that line the digestive tract as well as the “bad” bacteria in the body. This can cause major imbalances in your dog’s gut health.

Systemic Illness

Diarrhea in dogs could be a side effect of gastrointestinal diseases like colitis or inflammatory bowel disease. It can also be caused by kidney disease, liver disease, or certain types of cancer.

Poison

Certain poisonous plants, foods, and substances can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea and vomiting. This post from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) breaks down the most common household toxins for dogs.

If you suspect your dog may have ingested a poisonous substance, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at (888) 426-4435.

Foreign Bodies

Dogs manage to swallow and digest some crazy objects, from drywall to tennis balls. But sometimes, swallowed material becomes lodged in the digestive tract, resulting in a life-threatening emergency. Some dogs with foreign bodies suffer from diarrhea, while others are unable to produce stool at all. If you think your dog has swallowed a possible obstruction, contact your vet immediately.

Medications

As mentioned above, antibiotics can wreak havoc on your dog’s gut health, resulting in diarrhea. While these drugs are the most common culprit, other medications can have similar effects.

Stress

The gut is often referred to as the “second brain” because it is lined with more than 100 million nerve cells. This is why people (and dogs!) often experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea when they are nervous.

If your dog has recently experienced a stressful situation such as boarding or changing homes, it could be the cause of his impaired gut health.

What The Color And Consistency Of Dog Poop Says About Gut Health

Looking at poop is an unpleasant necessity of dog ownership. Luckily, the consistency and color of your dog’s diarrhea can give major clues to the cause of the problem. For example, mucus in the stool can indicate an inflamed colon. Orange or yellowish stool may signify a liver problem, while green stool may mean there is an issue with the gall bladder - or your dog ate too much grass!

On the other hand, a “perfect dog poop” is chocolate brown, compact, and log-shaped.

Note that black, tarry stool could signify internal bleeding and should warrant an immediate trip to the vet.

How To Treat Diarrhea In Dogs

Is There A Dog Diarrhea Home Remedy?

Diarrhea in dogs isn’t necessarily a veterinary emergency, but you also shouldn’t follow just any advice you read online. If loose stools are your dog’s only symptom, and he is otherwise acting normally, you can try a brief fast of 12 to 24 hours to allow the GI tract to settle and reset. You should give your dog small, frequent drinks of fresh water during this time to stave off dehydration.

Fasting may not be appropriate for puppies, seniors, or very small dogs. If in doubt, talk to your vet before withholding food from your dog.

What To Feed A Dog With Diarrhea

After a short fast, you can slowly reintroduce simple, bland, highly-digestible foods in small amounts. Common options include plain white rice, boiled, skinned white potatoes, fresh or canned pumpkin puree (be sure it is 100% pumpkin and not “pumpkin pie filling”), plain yogurt (regular or Greek), and plain, low-fat protein sources like boiled white meat chicken (be sure it is boneless, skinless, and prepared without butter, oil, or spices).

If you opt to see your vet, he or she may recommend specially formulated dry or canned dog foods. Avoid “over-the-counter” dog foods that claim to be good for sensitive stomachs unless you have specifically gotten approval from your vet.

These diets are temporary solutions and not intended for long-term use. Once your dog’s diarrhea has resolved, you can use the gradual diet transition schedule listed above to reintroduce their regular diet.

Over-the-Counter Medications For Dog Gut Health

While there are some over-the-counter anti-diarrheal drugs that are safe for use in dogs, they should be used with caution, and only on the advice of your veterinarian.

Probiotics For Dog Diarrhea And Gut Health

Probiotics can be very helpful to rebuild the healthy live bacteria that aid digestion in your dog’s gut. While yogurt does contain live cultures, they may not be enough to rebuild your dog’s intestinal microbiome.

Probiotics for dogs come in many forms including capsules, powders, and treats to make them easy to administer. While there are no studies showing probiotics made for humans will harm dogs, it is recommended that you give a formula made for and tested on dogs.

Learn more about probiotics for dogs with diarrhea.

When To See Your Vet About Your Dog’s Diarrhea/Gut Health

Some dogs can have diarrhea, yet still eat well and act completely normal. Others may have additional symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, and poor appetite. If your dog is one of the latter, it’s time to see your vet.

Even if your dog is acting normally, chronic or recurring diarrhea should also warrant a trip to the animal hospital.

If you are unsure whether or not to see your vet for your dog’s diarrhea, consider whether these factors are present:

Additional physical symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite, tacky or pale gums, fever, etc.
Diarrhea that does not resolve with home remedies that have worked before
Diarrhea lasting more than a few days
Medication use, ie: antibiotics
Mitigating factors such as very young or very old dogs, and those with diabetes, cancer, or other medical issues
Your gut: No one knows your dog better than you, so trust your instincts. When it comes to your dog’s gut health, stick to the motto, “it’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

Dog Gut Health: Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea?