A fairly common occurrence in dogs is to get an upset digestive tract leading to vomiting or diarrhea. Both symptoms can be serious and should not be ignored or overlooked. Especially in the case of doggie diarrhea in puppies and seniors, who may become dehydrated in a matter of hours.
What is the cause, you ask? The reason for the doggie diarrhea can be linked to a number of causes ranging from eating something while on the prowl, to stress from the holidays, to a new dog food … or it can be more serious reasons like a viral bacteria or parasitic infection.
Be Prepared to Seek Medical Advice
Whatever the cause, you should be prepared to seek professional advice from your veterinarian. Sometimes your dog will have a mild, occasional case of dog diarrhea for which you know the cause. But if the diarrhea lasts longer than 24 hours, you need to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. In all cases, you’ll want to make sure your dog is drinking water.
There are other signs to watch for indicating it might be more serious and require immediate medical attention. If your dog exhibits any of these other signs, a trip to the vet is in order:
- If the dog is depressed or lethargic
- If the dog is vomiting along with the diarrhea
- If the dog is not eating or drinking water
- If the dog has a fever
- If the dog is straining to defecate
- If the dog’s stool is bloody or dark in color
Your veterinarian will be able to check for dehydration and other signs, as well as run the necessary diagnostic tests. In all cases, bring a stool sample to the vet. A lot can be determined or ruled out from examining their feces.
A Common Recommendation
Whether the underlying reason for the diarrhea is mild or serious, your dog’s digestive tract is upset. Veterinarian’s may prescribe antibiotics or other remedies, but quite often they will also recommend holding food for a 12 hour period and then feeding the dog a “bland diet” for the first few days to calm their tummies before feeding them their normal diet.
The bland diet consists of foods that are generally soft and low in dietary fiber. Commonly the vet tells you to go home and combine boiled chicken and cooked white rice. That sounds like a simple directive, but many times there are circumstances which make add stress to the situation. In most situations you won’t have the chicken or the rice at home. Can you imagine stopping at a grocery store on your way home? Not a great idea with a dog with diarrhea. Or you may not have the time in your hectic schedule. Or you just aren’t comfortable in the kitchen.
A Convenient Solution
Before now, there was no other option but to cook the bland diet yourself. A recent introduction to the market is Under the Weather™ Chicken & Rice. It contains freeze dried white meat chicken and quick cook rice, both sourced in the U.S.A. All you do is add hot water, let it rehydrate and cool down, and your bland diet is ready to feed.
In addition to convenience, Under the Weather™ Chicken & Rice has a long shelf life. You could keep a few bags on hand to be prepared for the next time you experience doggie diarrhea. Under the Weather™ Chicken & Rice is now available online. SHOP NOW
This blog is brought to you by Under the Weather, provider of products for sick dogs.
