Diarrhea Due to Diet in Dogs

Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 04/26/2017Updated: 03/28/2023
Veterinary reviewed by Michele K.
Diarrhea Due to Diet in Dogs - Signs, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost

What is Diarrhea Due to Diet?

There are instances when your dog will suffer from bouts of loose stools or diarrhea. Often,  diarrhea will be the result of an illness but there are also instances when diarrhea is caused by your dog’s diet. This can be from eating too much, eating spoiled food or eating out of the garbage. A food intolerance or allergy can also cause your dog to experience diarrhea.

Changing your dog’s diet can also cause your dog to develop diarrhea. When you change your dog’s food it can take a few days for your dog’s digestive system to fully adapt to the new food. It is recommended that you slowly change your dog’s food from one source to another by mixing the two together equally and then slowly decrease the amount of the first food.

When your dog eats, the food will travel down the esophagus quickly and enter the stomach in large pieces or chunks. Their salivary enzymes are not designed to break down the food but to kill bacteria. The acids within the stomach will break down the food, disperse the nutrients and rid the body of waste in the form of well-formed stool and urine.

Youtube Play

Symptoms of Diarrhea Due to Diet in Dogs

When your dog is suffering from diarrhea they will likely have frequent bowel movements that are loose or watery. There are other signs to watch for that will indicate that your dog has diarrhea. Diarrhea can quickly become a concern because your dog can become dehydrated. Call your veterinarian for an appointment if you suspect your dog has diarrhea. Other symptoms of diarrhea to watch for include:

  • Anxiously needing to go outside quickly
  • Having bowel movements in the house
  • Straining
  • Stomach ache
  • Fever
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dehydration

Causes of Diarrhea Due to Diet in Dogs

Diarrhea can occur for many different reasons in dogs. Commonly it is illness that causes your dog to develop diarrhea. However, diarrhea due to diet should not be ruled out. Many times your dog will get into something that they should not have eaten and that can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. 

Changing your dog’s food can cause diarrhea if not done slowly so their digestive tract can adjust to the new food. Allowing your dog to eat too much or eating garbage can also cause diarrhea. A food allergy or intolerance can cause gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea.

Diagnosis of Diarrhea Due to Diet in Dogs

When you bring your dog to your veterinarian, a stool sample will need to be given. If you are unable to collect one, your veterinarian can do so. Your dog’s medical history will need to be given as well as a detailed list of what your dog eats or might have eaten. 

The stool sample will be used in a fecal exam to look for internal parasites. Internal parasites can cause diarrhea in dogs. A urinalysis, complete blood count and biochemistry panel may also be recommended to rule out other illnesses or conditions. A hands-on physical examination will be conducted by your veterinarian. They will palpate your dog’s abdomen, check their vitals and take their temperature.

Your veterinarian will need to know how quickly the signs came on and if there were any changes in the environment. Once all the tests have come back and the physical examination is completed, your veterinarian will be able to narrow the cause of your dog’s diarrhea to their diet; either overeating, intolerance or allergy, or change in food.

Treatment of Diarrhea Due to Diet in Dogs

Many cases of chronic diarrhea may require fluid therapy to stop dehydration from occurring. This may require a stay in the animal hospital until the diarrhea is stopped and the threat of dehydration has passed. Anti-diarrhea medication may also be prescribed.

Food may need to be withheld for at least 24 hours. Small amounts of water will need to be given frequently to keep them hydrated if they are not already dehydrated. A bland diet can be given after 24 hours. If there is no more diarrhea your dog can slowly be changed back to their regular diet.

In the case of your dog having an allergy or intolerance to an ingredient in their food, their diet will need to be permanently altered to avoid the ingredient that is problematic. Your veterinarian can suggest a food that will not have the ingredient that is causing diarrhea in your dog.

Petted logo

Worried about the cost of treating your pet's symptoms?

Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.

Get a quote

background

Recovery of Diarrhea Due to Diet in Dogs

When your dog is diagnosed with diarrhea due to their diet, your veterinarian will discuss with you what foods are best for your dog, whether you small breed food or large breed food. Once the diarrhea is stopped, you should be able to give your dog their regular food. If there is an allergy or intolerance, you will need to switch their food to one that will not cause diarrhea. 

If your dog has a history of getting into the garbage, secure your trash cans away from your dog to discourage him from eating the trash, as potentially fatal toxicities can occur from this behavior. Do not feed your dog leftovers from your own dinner plate. Human food can cause gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea.

Diarrhea Due to Diet Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals

dog-breed-icon

Boxer

dog-name-icon

dog-age-icon

Four Years

thumbs-up-icon

0 found this helpful

thumbs-up-icon

0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
I changed my dogs food suddenly and he has diarrhea. How can I get the diarrhea to stop?

July 30, 2020

Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM

0 Recommendations

Thank you for your question. If he is not vomiting, and the diarrhea started with the food change, you can try feeding a mixture of boiled white chicken and boiled white rice for a few days and see if that helps. If it does, you can start mixing the new food in with the bland diet mixture, slowly over a few days. If he is vomiting or the diarrhea is not improving after that, then it would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian. I hope that all goes well for him!

July 30, 2020

Was this question and answer helpful?
dog-breed-icon

German Shepherd

dog-name-icon

dog-age-icon

Six Years

thumbs-up-icon

0 found this helpful

thumbs-up-icon

0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Gave my dog same brand of food different blend. He ate one meal and had had diarrhea for 24 hours now. I took back the food I had gotten and replaced with his normal food. He has been drinking lots of water and food was held for 24 hours after diarrhea began. He was fed half a meal last night and has had diarrhea again this morning. His diarrhea is watery not solid at all. He has been gassy as well. It is normal color with a little bit of blood in it after the 24 hour mark of having it.

July 23, 2020

Answered by Jessica N. DVM

0 Recommendations

Hello- Thank you for your question.

July 23, 2020

Was this question and answer helpful?
Need pet insurance?
Need pet insurance?

Learn more in the Wag! app

Five starsFive starsFive starsFive starsFive stars

43k+ reviews

Install


© 2024 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved.