What to Feed a Dog with Diarrhea

Wondering what to feed a dog with diarrhea? If your dog is having digestive issues, you're probably looking for the fastest way to get her back to normal. There are a few tried-and-true things to feed a dog with digestive problems, but if the issue continues, you should consult your vet.

Rule out Health Problems
Dogs are notoriously un-picky eaters. You never know if your dog has picked up something off the street, in the back yard or at the local park and devoured it whole, leading to her current distress. Be aware that some very serious illnesses can also cause canine diarrhea. Call your vet if your dog's diarrhea continues unabated for more than 24 hours, or sooner if she's got other symptoms of a serious illness.

Feed Rice
One of the most common remedies for a dog with digestive problems is rice mixed with something nutritious. You could feed your dog rice with yogurt, or rice with pumpkin. The key is to make it a very bland mix, and to make it soft and easy to digest. Rice helps to clean your dog's body and restore a measure of normality to her digestive movements.

Be Careful with Proteins
If you need to feed your dog a special diet for a prolonged period of time, she'll need to get protein, but that can make the problem worse. Consider mixing in ¼ cup or ½ cup of boiled plain chicken with your dog's rice. Likewise, you could mix in lean ground beef, carefully drained. The key to adding proteins is to keep out any oils or other things that make your dog's food difficult to digest.

Try Prescription Dog Food
If you take your dog to the vet and your vet recommends a prepared, bland diet, you can get a prescription dog food that will meet your dog's nutritional requirements without making your dog's tummy worse. You can buy prescription meals at most veterinarian's offices, and even some dog food stores. Be sure to clear the diet with your vet.

Medical Dog Diarrhea Treatment
Dog diarrhea medicine works to soothe your dog's digestive system, or to treat the cause of digestive difficulties. Don't administer dog diarrhea medicine without consulting your vet.

One good diarrhea medication is Gastriplex. If your vet allows it, you may also be able to give your dog human-grade Immodium in very small doses. You can also add probiotics to your dog's food to help replace beneficial bacteria in her digestive system.