How to Cure Your Dog’s Diarrhoea for New Dog Parents

There is nothing quite as bad as realising that your little canine companion is having a problem with their bowels and are expelling a loose, watery stool like diarrhoea.
Whether they do their business on a pad in the house, or on a walk through the neighbourhood, this is never an easy thing to clean and the discomfort it can give to dogs is heartbreaking.
We think dogs should not have to suffer through a bout of diarrhoea, violent or not, so we have compiled this list of preventative measures you can take as well as treatments for if it has already struck.

Causes

One of the most common reasons why a dog will get diarrhoea is ingesting harmful bacteria. This bacteria can be found in spoiled foods, on chew toys that have not been properly cleaned, or even the fabric of soft furnishings in your home.
These objects can contain parasites, like coccidia or giardia. These parasites can build up in the intestines of your dog and cause discomfort and sickness.
Another common problem that causes diarrhoea in dogs is feeding them the wrong food or feeding them too little or too much. Try switching to healthier dog food to reduce the problem. It is also recommended that you consult with your veterinarian about the proper amounts and the feeding schedule to which you should adhere.
There are so many other causes for diarrhoea in dogs, including the ingestion of poisonous plants, allergies that have recently developed, or food intolerance that may start to get worse. When your dog is dealing with diarrhoea, reduce their food intake to a bland, soft diet, and do not give them an excess of exercise.
All of these steps can help you prevent diarrhoea from striking your pup in the future, but what should you do if it has already struck?

Treatment

The majority of cases of diarrhoea that strikes dogs are very mild cases, not requiring a visit to the office of your vet. However, it is good to consult a vet when you are thinking of making a change in your dog’s life, like updating the type of food they eat, increasing their exercise, or any other changes that might have an effect on your dog’s health.
This is a really common, really disgusting problem that most people with dogs have had to face at some point in their lives. There are a ton of at-home treatments designed to give your pup some comfort while also cleaning out their intestines and ‘drying’ up their diarrhoea.
Some treatments are simply dog-safe human food, like rice water (leftover water after boiling rice) or pumpkin mash. The seeds from a pumpkin contain chemicals that may make your problem worse, so it is only recommended to feed the flesh, mashed up well, to your pooch. You can get the canned variety, but ensure it is not the pie filling. The sugar and spices are not good for a sensitive stomach.
Really, unless your dog seems to be in a lot of pain, the diarrhoea just doesn’t stop, or it is presenting with other symptoms (for example, vomiting), a visit to the clinic is probably not necessary. However, the bond between a dog parent and their baby is a strong one, so it really is up to you to decide if they need that sort of attention or not.

Clean Up

When your baby is producing the most horrific liquid, understanding the best way to clean it up is so important to know. On walks, on the sidewalk, it does not matter as much, but in the home, promptly cleaning your dog’s messes is crucial to keeping it a nice and inviting place.
Lay puppy pads down on the floor to catch any dribble, and instantly attack any dirty spots with a rag and soapy water. This is much easier on a hardwood or tile floor, but if you have a carpet, you will want to be extra vigilant.
You need to clean up the diarrhoea, including harder chunks and the (disgusting) liquid. Get to carpets first to prevent diarrhoea from soaking into the carpet fibers and ruining the whole floor covering. Diarrhoea can contain chemicals that can harm your skin, especially if it is sensitive, so a pair of sturdy latex or other plastic gloves is essential.

Prevent the Next Attack

Watching your pooch suffer through the pain and humiliation of a bout with diarrhoea should function as a wake-up call that you need to prevent it from striking again. The easiest way to do this is to change your pup’s food and be extra vigilant about them eating non-food items.
It is nearly impossible to police a dog at all times and prevent them from ingesting something they want to ingest. However, if you switch up their food to one that is better on their digestive systems and keep their toys and surfaces in your home clean and free from parasites, that should be sufficient.

Keep your cleaning supplies close at hand, as well as some samples of food and treats that might calm an upset stomach. If this is a problem that your dog often has, speak to your vet about implementing a whole new plan revolving around the specific needs of your pooch.