What can you feed a dog with diarrhea?

A dog with diarrhea; this is absolutely unpleasant for both the dog and the owner. However, every dog experiences diarrhea at some point, and it is not always something to worry about immediately. Diet plays an important role in cases of diarrhea. But what can you feed a dog with diarrhea, and what should you avoid? In this blog, we give you some tips on what you can best feed your four-legged friend when their digestive system is a bit upset.

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is defined as a dog having one or more days of loose or watery stools instead of firm and solid stools. A dog with diarrhea may also defecate more frequently and in quick succession. Diarrhea often appears suddenly, and it can happen that a normally well-trained dog can no longer hold its stool and therefore has accidents inside the house out of necessity. In most cases, diarrhea is a natural reaction of the dog's body, where the body tries to cleanse the intestines. A dog can suffer from acute diarrhea, which means the dog has diarrhea for only one to a few days, and in most cases, it resolves on its own. When it lasts longer, it is called chronic diarrhea.

Intestinal disorders are common in dogs, and although diarrhea is the most common intestinal disorder in dogs, diarrhea is a symptom of an underlying problem. An example of a cause of acute diarrhea can be diet, where the dog no longer properly digests the food it receives. Other causes can be parasites, spoiled food, a viral infection, or swallowing an indigestible object. Chronic diarrhea can result from a food allergy or intolerance, where the dog reacts allergically to one or more ingredients in the food. Other examples of causes of chronic diarrhea include organ problems (such as the pancreas and liver) or tumors in the stomach and/or intestines. It is therefore important to identify the cause of your dog's diarrhea to treat it properly.

When should you see the vet?

If your dog has acute diarrhea, it is not necessary to consult the vet immediately. Think about it this way: when we have diarrhea ourselves, we don't immediately go to the doctor.

However, if it is chronic diarrhea and the dog shows other symptoms, it is a different story. Contact the vet if your dog has diarrhea along with fever, lethargy, blood in the stool, refuses to eat or drink, or shows signs of dehydration. These symptoms combined with diarrhea can be so severe for a dog's body that it can be life-threatening, so quick action is necessary. When in doubt, always call the vet. As cliché as it sounds, it's true: it's better to call the vet one time too many than too few…

Boiled chicken with rice is outdated

It is often advised to give dogs with diarrhea boiled rice with chicken because it is supposedly easy to digest and gives the dog's intestines a chance to rest. Actually, this is a strange approach. A dog's gastrointestinal tract needs 6 to 8 weeks to get used to new food, so why completely change your dog's diet when their intestines are already upset?

Besides the fact that a dog needs time to adjust to new food, a dog's body can also process very little rice. Dogs are not able to digest large amounts of rice, and rice also contains little nutritional value.

What can a dog with diarrhea eat?

So what can you feed a dog with diarrhea? Choose easily digestible food with high-quality nutrients, but do not suddenly switch food types. Does your dog normally eat fresh meat or wet food? Then choose meat with an easily digestible protein source, such as turkey or venison. If your dog's daily menu consists of kibble, we advise dividing the amount of kibble into smaller portions and feeding your dog throughout the day (for example, every 2 to 3 hours). Also, skip giving snacks and other extras for the time being.

Riverwood Adult Venison & Lamb with Rabbit dog kibble contains easily digestible protein sources. There are also various options with easily digestible protein sources from the Riverwood Mono Protein wet food range available in our assortment. Both the Riverwood Venison & Lamb with Rabbit dry food variant and the different easily digestible Riverwood Mono Protein wet food variants are suitable for dogs with diarrhea.