You have seen this many times; soft, runny poop found in a pile on the rug under the kitchen table. In this article, I’ll go over the common causes of canine diarrhea and how it’s diagnosed based on clinical signs. Finally, you will see the most common and effective home remedies to quickly stop your dog’s diarrhea.

Anything that upsets the digestive tract and results in water not being absorbed causes diarrhea. Some common causes include dietary indiscretion (eating compost), parasites (Giardia or roundworms), food allergy, infectious causes (Salmonella), inflammatory changes (inflammatory bowel disease; similar to Crohn’s disease in people), and pancreatic abnormalities. (pancreatic insufficiency, common in German shepherds).

Diarrhea in dogs is classified as small intestinal diarrhea (originates in the small intestine) or large intestinal diarrhea (originates in the colon). Small bowel diarrhea is usually large in volume, infrequent, sometimes with vomiting and weight loss. The causes of small intestine diarrhea are many, from parasites to infectious agents. Signs of large bowel diarrhea include frequent, straining bowel movements with occasional mucus and blood. Most large bowel diarrhea is classified as colitis and is caused by a dietary indiscretion.

Severe diarrhea that results in dehydration is a medical emergency and should be attended to by your vet. If you have an unvaccinated young dog, the diarrhea may have an infectious cause; the dog must be examined by a veterinarian. If your pet is still very alert, active, and drinking, try some of the following home remedies.

Stop feeding your pet for 24 hours (Day 1). This allows the intestines to rest and regenerate. Always have access to plenty of fresh water. After 24 hours, introduce soft foods for the next 24 hours (Day 2). Plain cooked white rice for dogs, feeding cups of rice equivalent to their normal diet. After a day of soft food mix 1/2 regular diet and 1/2 soft diet (Day 3). At the end of day 3, they should return to their normal diet.

Probiotics help restore the natural bacteria in the intestine, normalizing the intestinal immune system. The most effective supplement is Lactobacillus acidophilus: give 1/4 capsule per 10 pounds of body weight twice daily. I recommend probiotics for all cases of diarrhea, but buy from a reputable source to ensure the probiotics are active.

Pepto-Bismol is an old standby that can be effective for dogs. The dose for dogs is 1 mL/10 pounds of body weight administered three times daily for no more than 7 days. Imodium (Loperamide) can be used with care, avoid giving it to Collie or Collie mixes. The dosage for dogs is 0.5 mg/10 lbs three times daily (give your 40 lb dog one 2 mg tablet three times daily).

Kaopectate has a newer version that is safer for dogs. It contains attapulgite clay as an active ingredient that binds toxins, decreases fluid in the intestinal tract and subsequent diarrhea. Dosage for dogs: 0.5-1.0 ml per pound orally every 4-6 hours. Treatment should only be necessary for 1-2 days.

There are a few herbs that I find helpful for dog diarrhea. Slippery elm in dried form may be helpful for chronic diarrhea such as inflammatory bowel disease in dogs. The dose of dried herb is 20 mg/lb of body weight twice daily. Mint helps with intestinal gas and cramps; Give 25 mg/lb of body weight twice daily of the dried herb or 1 drop/lb of body weight twice daily of the tincture.

One homeopathic in particular stands out as being especially helpful for most cases of diarrhea in dogs. It’s called Arsenicum Album, and it’s my favorite homeopathic remedy for dogs with Garbage Gut. Dosage: 1 tab of 30C per 20 pounds every 2-4 hours.

You should now have a good understanding of what are the signs and symptoms of dog diarrhea. You should be able to tell the difference between large bowel and small bowel diarrhea, and now know when to seek urgent veterinary attention or try some of my suggested home remedies. You now have a selection of home remedies to use the next time your dog has diarrhea, and now you can stop your dog’s diarrhea fast at home.