Common Causes of Diarrhea in Dogs & How to Stop It | Falls Road Animal Hospital

Few symptoms are more concerning (and perhaps messy!) for pet parents than when their dog has diarrhea. Our Baltimore vets understand that if your pup has diarrhea, you need a cure quickly. Here are some of the most common causes of diarrhea in dogs and what you can do to help resolve the distressing issue. 

Diarrhea in Dogs

Many dogs will have issues with diarrhea in their lifetimes, for a wide range of reasons. 

Mild bouts of diarrhea are common in our canine friends and can be caused by mild intestinal distress, often because your dog has eaten a small amount of something that doesn’t agree with them, such as scraps from the dinner table, or just as a result of switching to a new flavor or brand of food. 

That said, many serious health issues can cause your dog to suffer from diarrhea. Today, our Baltimore vets will list these issues, recommend when to contact your vet and describe common treatments.  

What causes diarrhea in dogs?

Here are some of the most common reasons for diarrhea in dogs:

• Eating garbage or spoiled food
• Medications such as antibiotics 
• Stress or anxiety 
• Intestinal cancer
• Colitis
• Pancreatitis 
• Change in treats or overall diet 
• Ingesting poisons or toxins 
• Ingestion of foreign objects such as fabric, bones and toys 
• Viral infections such as distemper, coronavirus or parvovirus 
• Liver or kidney disease 
• Inflammatory bowel disease 
• Parasites — Giardia, coccidia, whipworms, roundworms or hookworms 
• Bacterial infections, including salmonella

With all these potential causes, how do you know whether your dog will need to visit the vet?

When should you contact your vet?

If your dog has had a single episode of diarrhea but is otherwise acting normal, it’s likely not a cause for concern. Track your dog’s bowel movements to see whether your pup starts to feel better on his or her own. More than two episodes might be cause for concern as these could indicate a health problem, so it’s a good idea to contact your vet if your pooch experiences two or more bouts of diarrhea.  

If your pup is straining to pass a stool but only passing small amounts of watery diarrhea, they could be experiencing a painful blockage due to the ingestion of a foreign object such as a toy. This is a veterinary emergency and needs veterinary attention right away. Contact your vet or head to the nearest emergency animal hospital for care.

Recurring bouts of diarrhea over a short period of time could be a sign of a very serious health issue, particularly if your pup is very old, very young, or has a compromised immune system. Infections such as parvovirus are extremely serious, contagious and life-threatening. Contact your vet right away if your pooch is experiencing repeated episodes of diarrhea.

Dogs showing other symptoms as well as diarrhea should also be seen by a vet as soon as possible. If your dog has any of the following symptoms, contact your vet right away to make an appointment:

• Lack of Appetite
• Blood in stool
• Signs of dehydration (Sunken dry-looking eyes, dry nose, or dry, sticky gums)
• Unusual drooling
• Weakness
• Vomiting

If your pooch is displaying any symptoms that cause you concern, contact your veterinarian. Your vet will let you know whether your pet’s symptoms indicate that an examination is necessary.

How can you stop diarrhea in dogs?

When it comes to treating diarrhea in dogs it’s essential that you never give your dog medications formulated for people before consulting your vet. Many human medications are toxic to dogs and could cause further health complications for your pooch.

If your pup 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 to 24 hours.

A bland diet for 24 to 48 hours may help to resolve your pup’s issue. Plain-cooked white rice with a little chicken and some canned plain pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) may help to make your pup’s tummy feel better. Once your pooch feels better, gradually reintroduce their regular food.

Other things that might help to soothe your dog’s upset tummy include natural yogurt, probiotics, peeled boiled potatoes, cottage cheese, egg with no oil added, specially formulated dog foods, and medications prescribed by your vet.

When it comes to your pup’s health it is always best to err on the side of caution. By taking your pooch in for an examination you give your vet the opportunity to determine the underlying cause of your pup’s diarrhea and recommend the most effective treatment.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

Chronic diarrhea in dogs is a serious health issue.

If your pup is suffering from diarrhea, contact our Baltimore vets today to schedule an appointment. We can treat your dog’s diarrhea and help your pooch feel better.

How to stop diarrhea – any medicine or remedy suggestions?

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 21, 2022.

Looking for any tips on how to get rid of diarrhea. What drugs or home remedies worked and what foods should you eat or avoid?

What is the best treatment for diarrhea?

The most common medicines used to treat diarrhea are loperamide (Imodium), atropine/diphenoxylate (Lomotil) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). These have the potential to stop diarrhea; however, they do not treat the underlying cause, and as soon as the effects of the medicine wear off, your diarrhea will return.

Diarrhea is a way for our body to purge itself of infection or to deal with a disruption in our stomach or bowel. Sometimes it is better to let your body get rid of the toxins; however, there are always circumstances when it is just not practical or possible to constantly be within a short distance of a toilet. Anti-diarrhea medicines may be used occasionally to provide symptom relief from acute diarrhea.

People who experience chronic or long-term diarrhea should only use these medications under a doctor’s supervision. Anti-diarrhea medicines may also help with symptoms such as abdominal cramps.

How do anti-diarrhea medicines work and how fast do they work?

Loperamide works on receptors inside the bowel to help slow down peristalsis (this is when the muscles of the bowel wall contract – contraction is increased during diarrhea). This allows more water to be absorbed back into the body, making the stool less watery and decreasing the number of bowel movements. Loperamide may take anywhere between 2.5 and 5 hours to have an effect, although some effects are seen within 20 minutes.

Atropine/diphenoxylate (only available on prescription) acts directly on the smooth muscle inside the bowel wall to prolong the transit time of bowel contents. It is not an innocuous drug and may not be suitable for everybody, especially seniors. It should not be used in children aged less than two and recommended dosages should be followed strictly. Time to onset of effect varies, but some anecdotal reports indicate some people experience excessive slowing of the bowel for several days after just a few tablets.

Bismuth subsalicylate may be used to treat indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea. The way bismuth subsalicylate works to stop diarrhea is not completely understood; however, it is thought to reduce secretions in the digestive tract, reduce inflammation and, inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses. It generally has a weak effect on reducing diarrhea and it may take several hours and multiple doses before an effect is seen. Because it contains salicylate, it should not be used by people with bleeding problems, those already taking salicylates such as aspirin) or with allergies to salicylates or NSAIDs. It may cause temporary and harmless darkening of the tongue and stool, and should only be taken as directed on the label.

Saccharomyces boulardii lyo (Florastor) is a yeast with probiotic effects; it works by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria in the stomach and intestines and may be more effective when used to treat diarrhea associated with antibiotic or feeding-tube use. It may take hours to days to have an effect.

Are there any home remedies that stop diarrhea?

Several foods found around the home may help reduce some symptoms of diarrhea, although most likely only have a weak effect. Yogurt that contains live bacterial cultures such as lactobacillus acidophilus or bifidobacterium can help restore levels of good bacteria in the bowel and may help with antibiotic-induced diarrhea. Dried goldenseal has an antibacterial effect and may help with E.coli-induced diarrhea. Black tea and other tannin-rich foods such as blackberries can help reduce bowel inflammation. Foods such as carrots and bananas, as well as being bland, contain high amounts of pectin, a soluble fiber that can soak up extra fluid in the intestine. Ground psyllium seeds can also help bulk up the stool and slow its transit.

What foods should I eat or avoid?

Keeping hydrated is the most important thing you can do when you have diarrhea. This does not mean drinking copious amounts of water – although water can be drunk, it is important you also replace lost electrolytes with properly formulated electrolyte replacement drinks (not sugary sports drinks that you can buy from a supermarket). Herbal teas and nutritious soups (such as chicken soup) are also good for providing antioxidants and extra minerals.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, fruit, or spicy food until 48 hours after all symptoms have disappeared. Stay away from chewing gum or products with sweeteners such as sorbitol or xylitol as these can make your diarrhea worse.

Try to avoid milk and milk products until three days after your symptoms have gone because many diarrhea-causing viruses can make your gut sensitive to milk products. If you have a baby with diarrhea, you should talk to your pediatrician about how you should feed your baby, as withholding milk from babies is not recommended. Greasy foods are also usually not well tolerated.

Begin eating mild, bland type foods (such as bread, crackers) as soon as you fell up to it. Stay away from foods that are likely to cause bloating (for example, legumes, corn, prunes, chickpeas, broccoli).

References

1. Lomotil (diphenoxylate hydrochloride and atropine sulfate) [Package Insert] Revised 10/2016 G.D. Searle LLC Division of Pfizer Inc www.drugs.com/pro/lomotil.html
2. Diarrhea. Harvard Health Publications. www.drugs.com/health-guide/diarrhea.html
3. Saccharomyces boulardii lyo (Florastor) [Package Insert] Drugs.com www.drugs.com/mtm/florastor.html
4. Medications for diarrhea.Drugs.com. www.drugs.com/condition/diarrhea.html

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Drug information

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Medical Disclaimer

Diarrhea after taking antibiotics : Treatment

Any drug can cause AAD, but the risk is higher with amoxicillin, cephalosporins or clindamycin [1]. This stool disorder usually lasts about a week, but can last up to 10 days or longer [4].
In this article, we will answer questions about how to treat diarrhea after an antibiotic, why it occurs and how it can be prevented.

Why can antibiotics cause diarrhea?

The action of this group of drugs is aimed at suppressing the growth and reproduction of bacteria. At the same time, in addition to the causative agent of infection, our own friendly intestinal bacteria also suffer and dysbacteriosis develops [1, 3].

Microbial imbalance can cause diarrhea due to intestinal disturbance. Another reason is that the intestinal microflora can lose control of harmful bacteria. In dysbacteriosis, they can take over the beneficial bacteria, resulting in infectious diarrhea. One of these bacteria is Clostridium difficile , which sometimes occurs in healthy people, but after antibiotic therapy can cause a serious illness [1, 3].

If diarrhea appears during the course of antibiotic therapy, do not stop it yourself, but consult your doctor. Mild cases of AAD usually resolve on their own after discontinuation of the drug. Here are some simple dietary recommendations that will help improve bowel problems [1, 3]:

• drink plenty of fluids avoid milk, sugary drinks and caffeine;
• be careful with fiber : Foods high in dietary fiber are good for health but may aggravate diarrhea;
• avoid fatty and spicy foods ;
• replenish potassium : this electrolyte is abundant in bananas, leafy greens and potatoes [5];
• eat easily digestible carbohydrates eg rice, white bread, noodles, baked or boiled potatoes and applesauce;
• choose lean protein sources : poultry and fish;
• make homemade yogurt as a source of live beneficial bacteria.

Treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea: antidiarrheals

Medicines that affect intestinal motility, such as loperamide, can reduce symptoms here and now. However, in the long term, they can affect how long diarrhea lasts after antibiotics. These drugs can delay recovery and cause complications when diarrhea is the body’s defense mechanism to help flush out toxins. Therefore, before taking it, it is advisable to consult a doctor [1].

Taking probiotics can restore the intestinal microflora and thereby eliminate the cause of stool disorder after taking antimicrobials [3]. However, not all probiotics are equally effective in AAD. Enterol has been proven to eliminate dysbacteriosis after taking antimicrobials and has a number of additional benefits [4]: ​​

• protects the unique microbial composition in the intestine;
• effective against infection C . dif ficile ;
• not destroyed by antibiotics → can be drunk in one go;
• does not contribute to the formation of resistance to them.

Prevention is the best treatment

Prevention of ADHD consists in protecting the intestinal microflora. An analysis of the results of studies on this topic showed that certain probiotics are effective protection against AAD and C. difficile infection [3]. However, it is important to pay attention to the type of probiotic microorganism. One of the best results in the prevention of diarrhea was shown by Saccharomyces boulardii, the main active ingredient of Enterol [3]. This probiotic preparation can be drunk simultaneously with an antibiotic starting from the first day of treatment.

When should you see a doctor?

Medical assistance is indispensable in cases when it bothers [1]:

• diarrhea more than 5 times a day;
• blood or mucus in stool;
• fever;
• abdominal pain.

Conclusions

Diarrhea after antibiotics in an adult or child is not uncommon. The reason for its development is an imbalance in the intestinal microflora. Usually the stool disorder lasts about a week and resolves on its own, however, there may be severe cases caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile . Therefore, during antibiotic therapy, do not forget about the protection of the intestinal microflora, because the best treatment is always prevention.

References:

1. What You Need to Know About Antibiotics and Diarrhea. Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. Written by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D. on November 19, 2019 https://www.healthline.com/health/antibiotics-diarrhea
2. Hadar Neuman, Paul Forsythe, Atara Uzan, Orly Avni, Omry Koren, Antibiotics in early life: dysbiosis and the damage done, FEMS Microbiology Reviews , Volume 42, Issue 4, July 2018, Pages 489–499, https://doi.org/10.1093/femsre/fuy018

Zhao Q. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Systematic review with network meta-analysis. United European Gastroenterol J. 2018 Mar;6(2):169-180. doi: 10.1177/2050640617736987.

3. Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 scientific dossier
4. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. D., R.N., CRNA — Written by Kristeen Cherney — Updated on March 26, 2019https://www.healthline.com/health/potassium

Enterol 222 09/13/21

Diarrhea in food poisoning: causes and remedies

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