Eight home remedies for diarrhea and two that are dangerous for your pet
One of the most common reasons for unplanned veterinary visits is for tummy troubles. Diarrhea isn’t a disease itself but a symptom of something else that’s going on. It may be caused by an intestinal infection (e.g., parasites, bacteria or coccidia), a change in diet, dietary indiscretion (eating garbage, table scraps or spoiled food), stress or an underlying disorder.
If your pet is otherwise healthy, diarrhea can sometimes be managed with home remedies, but to be on the safe side, it’s always best to check in with your veterinary health-care team. They’ll ask you questions to help determine the cause and whether treatment is required.
Once given the green light to manage your pet’s diarrhea at home, start by fasting your pet for 12–24 hours to allow the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to “rest.” After the fast, begin offering small amounts of food that act as binders, which can help normalize stool consistency.
- Start with rice water. Cook 1 cup of high-quality white rice in 4 cups of water for about 30 minutes, and strain out the grains (save the cooked rice for later). Offer your pet the cooled-off starchy broth. Add a splash of unsalted chicken broth or unsalted tuna water to make the rice water more tempting for your pet.
- Feed your pet small amounts of plain cooked rice saved from making the rice water.
- Try small amounts of canned pureed pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) or a pet-specific canned pumpkin. High in soluble fiber, pumpkin can help bind your pet’s stool.
- Plain yogurt with active cultures can help pets who can tolerate milk and milk products.
- Feed your pet small amounts of plain boiled potatoes without the skin.
- Try small amounts of plain protein sources such as egg (cooked with no butter or oil) or chicken (without skin).
- Ask your veterinarian about specially formulated sensitive-stomach pet foods that can help soothe your pet’s tummy.
- Use probiotics, which promote live bacteria that aid digestion.
Always offer fresh, clean water to your pet. If there’s no improvement within four days, call your veterinarian, as further tests or more aggressive treatment may be needed. If your pet’s stool is primarily blood, take your pet to your veterinarian right away.
Over-the-counter human medications should be avoided. In fact, the following can be dangerous for your pet:
- Kaopectate and Pepto Bismol contain an ingredient called bismuth subsalicylate. If your dog gets too high of a dose, toxicity can result. Cats are more sensitive to toxicity with salicylates and should never be given this medication.
- Imodium works by slowing down the gastrointestinal tract, but if your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t have (e.g., toxic material or a foreign object) or have parasites that need to be moved through, Imodium can cause more problems.
Always administer medications as prescribed by your veterinarian.
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