Common Foods That Can Trigger Diarrhea In Dogs
Milk or dairy can cause diarrhea in dogs, especially if not non-fat or low-fat. Fatty foods can cause diarrhea by themselves, but as dogs cannot process fat as well as people, they can also cause an illness called pancreatitis which may result in other gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and/or decreased appetite.
Diarrhea With Vomiting In Dogs
When dog diarrhea occurs with vomiting, a new section of the gastrointestinal tract has entered the picture. Gastroenteritis is the group term for inflammation of both the stomach and the upper GI tract.
Sometimes a high-fat treat, even a small one, can trigger pancreatitisa condition wherein the pancreas, which produces digestive enzymes, among other things, becomes inflamed. This condition can cause acute vomiting and diarrhea as well as abdominal pain. In very severe cases, pancreatitis can even be fatal.
Vomit that contains blood can look red, brown, or black. Unlike a small amount of blood in the stool, any amount of blood in vomit is concerning and should result in a trip to the vet right away.
How To Treat Diarrhea In Dogs
Here are some useful tips for treating diarrhea in dogs.
Never give your dog human medications without consulting your veterinarian. Many over-the-counter medications that work well for people can be toxic to dogs, and this is not an advisable way on how to stop diarrhea in dogs.
If your dog has had one or two runny or soft stools, you may want to give your dog some time to recover by simply fasting for 12 – 24 hours.
A bland diet for a day or two may help your pup’s problem. Plain-cooked white rice with some chicken and canned plain pumpkin may help your pup’s stomach feel better. Once your dog has recovered, gradually reintroduce its regular food.
Natural yogurt, probiotics, peeled boiled potatoes, cottage cheese, egg with no oil added, specially formulated dog foods, and medications prescribed by your veterinarian may also help to soothe your dog’s upset stomach.
When it comes to your best friend’s health, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. By bringing your dog in for an examination, your veterinarian will be able to determine the underlying cause of your pup’s diarrhea and recommend the most effective treatment.
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Dog Diarrhea 6 Reasons Why Your German Shepherd Might Have Diarrhea
Could your German Shepherd be suffering from dog diarrhea? If so, you probably already know that it causes a lot of crap for both you and your dog. Seriously though, dog diarrhea is no fun for anyone.
You want to identify the signs so you can help your pooch out ASAP, preferably with your vets help if the problem lasts longer than 24 hours. What are the warning signs of dog diarrhea?
- Is your German Shepherds stool loose and/or watery?
- Has your German Shepherd shown signs of dehydration, such as sunken eyes and lethargy?
- Is your German Shepherd showing any signs of abdominal pain and/or discomfort?
- Has the smell of your German Shepherds stool changed?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, your dog just might have diarrhea. Once you believe that your German Shepherd has dog diarrhea, its a good idea to identify why your dog has diarrhea. Down below in this article, we will go over six reasons why your dog might have diarrhea.
How Serious Is Diarrhea In Dogs
The seriousness of diarrhea depends on how long it persists and how many other clinical signs accompany it. If your dog has severe bloody diarrhea or is showing more generalized signs of illness such as weakness, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, or dehydration, the cause may be more serious and medical attention should be sought as soon as possible. For example, diarrhea is one of the first signs seen in parvovirus, a viral infection that can cause life-threatening illness in susceptible dogs.
“…diarrhea is one of the first signs seen in parvovirus, a viral infection that can cause life-threatening illness in susceptible dogs.”
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What Do You Feed A German Shepherd With Diarrhea
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I think you will agree that your German Shepherds runny poop is unpleasant to deal with, but its normal for dogs to suffer from diarrhea now and again. Your dog will probably not want to eat his usual food, to make matters worse. So, what do you feed a German Shepherd with diarrhea?
To feed a German Shepherd with diarrhea, give small frequent meals of bland, easily digestible foods such as white rice with cooked chicken. Other alternatives are pasta, pumpkin, sweet potato, or yogurt. Once your dogs stools return to normal, start slowly transitioning to his regular food.
Luckily my German Shepherd rarely suffers from diarrhea, but this may not be the case for your dog.
So, lets dig deeper and look at what to feed a German Shepherd with diarrhea and how to go about it. This article will also investigate why German Shepherds get diarrhea and advice on how to prevent it. Lets get started!
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What Is Causing My Dog’s Diarrhea
Dogs can develop diarrhea for any number of reasons including stress associated with travel, significant changes in their routine or staying at a pet boarding facility. In instances like these, your dog’s diarrhea should clear up after a day or two. However, this condition can also be a sign of infection or illness affecting your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. This can include food allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, intestinal parasites, internal injuries and more.
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How To Stop German Shepherds Rolling In The Dirt
Its difficult to curb instinctual dog behaviors. Nonetheless, one way to stop your GSD from rolling in the dirt is to use basic obedience commands that youve already taught your dog. You could use No! or Leave it! to stop your German Shepherd from starting to roll in dirt or Heel! to encourage him to keep walking beside you when you notice him giving attention to a pile of poop!
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Your German Shepherd Might Have Eaten Something Off
Yes, we know, most German Shepherds will literally eat anything they can possibly get close to. Its in a dogs nature, but as dog owners, we must try to prevent this. Not only can eating something off-limits give your Shepherd a nasty case of dog diarrhea, it could also make them extremely sick, or worse.
Until your dog is well-trained on what is okay to eat and what isnt, it is important to supervise them whenever possible. Dog-proofing your home and areas your dog will be in can also help prevent this. Whenever you and your dog go out for a walk, be sure to pay close attention as you never know what may be laying on the ground.
There are certain things your dog can eat that are certain to give him diarrhea, such as
- Grass and other plants
- Meaty bones can contain harmful, diarrhea-inducing bacteria
- Rotten food, whether its human or dog food
- Certain human foods, which is why vets recommend sticking with dog food
If there is a chance your German Shepherd may have eaten something harmful, you should take him to the vet immediately to prevent anything worse than diarrhea from happening.
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Genetic Research Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease May Lead To New Treatments
When a German Shepherd Dog experiences idiopathic diarrhea and vomiting, veterinarians generally suspect canine inflammatory bowel disease . This is because the breed is predisposed to the chronic gastrointestinal condition. A disease that occurs more commonly in middle-aged large-breed dogs, IBD cannot be cured. Veterinarians manage the condition using medications to address the signs.
Efforts to learn more about IBD in German Shepherd Dogs led to the recent discovery of polymorphisms in the TLR4 and TLR5 genes. The research was supported by the Morris Animal Foundation and the American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation .
Lead investigator Karin Allenspach, Dr.med.vet., Ph.D., head of the Clinical Investigation Center at The Royal Veterinary College of the University of London, says, “It appears German Shepherd Dogs with chronic enteropathies have a distinctly different microbiome from healthy dogs, as well as from other breeds with IBD. This includes overrepresentation of certain traditionally labeled ‘beneficial’ bacteria in the duodenum, specifically sequences of the order of Lactobacilalles.
The need for consistencies diagnosing and determining the severity of gastrointestinal diseases sparked the formation of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association International GI Standardization Group in 2004. Ultimately, the group developed standards to be used by veterinarians when diagnosing IBD and other gastrointestinal-related diseases.
Diagnosing & Treating IBD
Why Does My German Shepherd Have Digestive Problems
If he ingested something other than dog food, he may be allergic, intolerant, unable to digest it, or even worse, it could have given him an infection. Also, some breeds, such as German shepherds, Great Danes, and Schnauzers, are more prone to digestive issues. Here are seven digestive problems in dogs you should be aware of.
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How Is The Cause Of Diarrhea Determined
The nature of the diarrhea, such as its color, consistency, smell, and frequency, is important in determining the cause. Your veterinarian will usually request a sample of fresh fecal material be brought to your appointment. You may also be asked to provide answers to a series of questions. To help you prepare this information for your veterinarian, see the handout “Diarrhea Questionnaire for Dogs”.
In mild cases of diarrhea, further diagnostic testing may be deferred unless initial treatment fails, or the condition worsens. Additional tests may include blood work, stool and rectal swab samples for parasite examination, DNA testing, bacterial culture, radiographs , ultrasound, and endoscopic exam.
How To Treat Diarrhea In German Shepherds
To treat German Shepherd diarrhea, stop feeding for an initial 12 hours to allow whatever is in your dogs system to work its way through but keep your dog hydrated. You can then feed bland binding foods like plain white cooked rice, little and often.
However, if your German Shepherd has not vomited and has mild dog diarrhea with no other symptoms, treatment consists of slowly feeding the white rice with some cooked lean chicken meat.
Vets recommend feeding small amounts throughout the day. Just boil the rice and dont add any salt or seasonings:
I think it is best to go with multiple smaller meals of something thats easily digestible. That means a low fat, mostly carbohydrate diet.
Below are some other recommended bland foods to give a German Shepherd with diarrhea. Its also important to consult your vet first if your dog is new to any of these foods and make sure you cook them where appropriate:
- Pasta
- Low fat cottage cheese
- Yogurt
Pro-Tip! Always cook potatoes as raw potato contains a compound called solanine that is toxic to dogs.
Pro-Tip! Yogurt has beneficial bacteria that can help restore balance in your German Shepherds tummy and firm up stools.
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Getting A Medical Diagnosis
Tips To Prevent Future Diarrhea In Your German Shepherd
While your GSD will most likely experience diarrhea more than once, it is still important that you keep in mind the following steps to minimize the chances of it happening again:
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What Is The Treatment For Diarrhea
For otherwise healthy adult dogs, your veterinarian may advise you to withhold food for up to 24 hours or to feed small quantities of a veterinary diet for gastrointestinal problems. These diets are specifically formulated with a balance of fibers that feed the good bacteria found in your dogs intestine and with certain antioxidants that support your dogs immune system while recovering.
“Anti-diarrheal agents, de-wormers, and/or probiotics may be prescribed.”
Anti-diarrheal agents, de-wormers, and/or probiotics may be prescribed. There are several probiotic products that may be helpful in dogs with diarrhea. As the quality and effectiveness of these products are not always known, consult your veterinarian before offering anything to your dog. Many cases of acute diarrhea respond quite readily to this conservative treatment, allowing the body’s healing mechanisms to correct the problem, without the initial cause ever being established. As the stools return to normal, your dogs regular diet can usually be transitioned from the prescribed veterinary diet over seven to ten days.
If your dog is not improving within two to four days, further tests or more aggressive treatment may be necessary. Severe or prolonged diarrhea can result in significant dehydration and metabolic disturbances due to fluid loss and your dog may require hospitalization for intravenous fluid therapy or other, more intensive, treatments.
Main Causes Of Diarrhea In German Shepherd Puppies
Puppyhood is a time of extreme transition for German Shepherds. As a large breed dog, a GSD puppy is growing up fast and every day is different.
Everything is subject to change at a moments notice, from the food they eat to where they live to what their day is like.
Some of the major milestones in a GSD puppys life are related to the gut and the digestive system.
It can take up to 12 months before a German Shepherd puppys gastrointestinal system is fully developed and stabilized.
A GSD puppy may change foods three or more times during this period transitioning from their mothers milk to puppy food and then to adult food.
Since German Shepherds are genetically predisposed to have issues with sensitive stomachs, each food change has the potential to cause diarrhea.
As well, other major stressors can cause temporary bouts of diarrhea. As the German Shepherd Dog Club of America explains, all of these stressors may cause a puppy to experience diarrhea:
- Change in their water.
- Change in their environment .
- Too many dog treats or people food scraps.
- Stress .
- Eating things they shouldnt .
- Worms and parasites, a viral or bacterial infection.
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Symptoms Of Diarrhoea In German Shepherds
If your German Shepherd is displaying any of the following symptoms of diarrhoea, it is important that you make a note of things like quantities and frequency. Your veterinarian will ask you questions about the symptoms when they are trying to decide on the appropriate treatment.
- Diarrhoea contains blood and is black or dark red in colour.
- Frequent passing of poop. Sometimes your dog might poo up to 5 times in a day or even more often depend on the nature of the diarrhoea.
- Quantity of poo. Large quantities less frequently point to a problem in your dogs small intestine. Smaller quantities more often suggest that the problem is in the large intestine.
- Pain or difficulty when passing the diarrhoea should be noted.
- Your dog might vomit as well as pass diarrhoea.
- You may be able to hear the gases in your dogs stomach
- Loss of appetite can often accompany an attack.
- Your dog may be feverish.
- Bloating and pain from the build-up of gases will cause lethargy.
- Your dog may show signs of uneasiness and have short tempers.
- You might notice your dog drinking much more water than usual.
- The diarrhoea your dog produces might smell particularly badly. The diarrhoea will probably be yellowish in colour.