Dog Diarrhoea Relief: Why is it Important?

Diarrhoea in dogs isn’t a particular disease but a symptom of a lot of possible health problems. In dogs with diarrhoea, the food passes so fast through the digestive system without enough time for the body to get the needed water, nutrients, and electrolytes. As a consequence, the dog poop turns into soft and diarrheic rather than hard and well-defined. The diarrhoea may also be preceded or accompanied by blood and mucus.

Diarrhoea in dogs is actually very uncomfortable for your dog. However, it also has severe side effects as a result of fluid loss. Diarrhoea in puppies may be fatal because a puppy’s immune system is not strong enough to combat dehydration. Providing the right pet supplements—including probiotics, digestive enzymes, and electrolyte support—can play a key role in managing diarrhoea and helping your dog bounce back quickly. Diarrhoea in senior dogs and dogs with compromised immune systems is also dangerous.

Diarrhoea can be bad for your dog due to the depletion of nutrients in the body. Therefore, it is important to seek ways to provide diarrhoea relief, which can help restore gut balance and support faster recovery. In some cases, intestinal parasites may be the underlying cause, and deworming treatments like Drontal are essential to eliminate worms that contribute to digestive upset. If the liver is affected during or after a bout of diarrhoea, especially in dogs with pre-existing liver conditions, a supplement such as Denamarin can help support healthy liver function and aid recovery. Most affected dogs can be managed at home through a process of rest, giving the dog water, and temporary food restriction. However, in very acute situations or where a particular organism is thought to be involved, your vet may prescribe anti-diarrhoea medication.

Dog Diarrhea Medication Types

Dog diarrhoea medicine is not hard to come by in the market. However, not all leashes are created equal, and some may even harm your dog more than they help him.

For your reference, here is a brief comparison between over-the-counter medication for treating diarrhoea in dogs, as well as probiotics and prescription drugs.

1.  OTC anti-diarrheal medicines

You may have noticed OTC anti-diarrheal drugs such as Imodium, Kaopectate, and Pepto Bismol in your nearest supermarket or drugstore. These medicines help to reduce diarrhoea and other forms of GI symptoms, including stomach aches, nausea, and vomiting.

Imodium is an anti-diarrheal drug that achieves its purpose by reducing the rate at which food passes through the gastrointestinal tract. Kaopectate and Pepto Bismol contain components that act as a protective barrier over the lining of the intestines.

But remember that these human medicines might be dangerous to your dogs. For instance, the substances that are used in the production of Pepto Bismol and Kaopectate can harm dogs. However, Imodium has side effects that could be dangerous to your dog if they occur.

Never use these medicines to treat your dog’s diarrhoea without your veterinarian’s approval! If your veterinarian suggests an OTC diarrhoea medication for your pet, be sure to administer it as your veterinarian advises. Also, always inform your veterinarian of any problems or alterations in your dogs’ health. For a safer, vet-approved alternative, consider using a pet-specific supplement like Protexin Gut Balancer, which supports digestive health and helps restore the natural balance of gut bacteria in dogs experiencing diarrhoea.

2.  Probiotic supplements

Like the human body, the stomach of a dog is home to as many as ten times a billion helpful bacteria. It assists in digestion, boosts the immune system and keeps away bad bacteria from dominating the tummy. It affects the beneficial microbes in your body, and one such is diarrhoea.

Probiotic supplements are useful in controlling dog diarrhoea as they contain the good bacteria that the dog’s stomach needs. That brings the gut back into harmony and encourages the proper functioning of the digestive system.

For targeted support, Welzo Pet Probiotics (2 Billion CFU) offer a high-potency, chicken-flavoured formula designed specifically for dogs to promote gut balance and digestive health.

There are many probiotics for human consumption in the market in the form of supplements. These are harmless to your dog, but a probiotic specially formulated for dogs is recommended. This means that people and dogs have different types of intestines. The species-specific probiotic will be most beneficial for your dog and wallet.

If you're looking for a natural, whole-food-based option suitable for both cats and dogs, Dr. Mercola's Digestive Probiotic provides comprehensive digestive support made from high-quality ingredients.

Best Medicine for Dog Diarrhoea

Here are several diarrhoea medications for dogs that vets typically recommend for dog diarrhoea. And are worth considering:

1. Protexin Veterinary Pro-Fibre Advance: A Complete Guide to a Healthy Stomach and Intestine

Protexin Veterinary Pro-Fibre Advance is an expert-recommended formula that contains both probiotics and prebiotics in addition to soluble fibre to help prevent diarrhoea and improve gut health over time. It is especially useful in dogs with long-standing diarrhoeal disease caused by infections, stress or dietary modifications.

Key Ingredients and Benefits:

Probiotics (Enterococcus faecium): Probiotics support the natural microflora of the stomach and intestines and can help to reduce diarrhoea resulting from an illness or taking antibiotics. Some probiotics, for instance, Enterococcus faecium, have been revealed to reduce the duration of diarrhoea and improve recovery.

Soluble Fiber (Psyllium Husk): This type of fibre swells in the stomach and intestines and can help control the consistency of stools in both diarrhoea and constipation. It also enhances the proper bowel movement by controlling the movements of the gut in the body.

Prebiotics (Fructooligosaccharides): Prebiotics help in the growth of good bacteria in the digestive system, improve it, and protect against future diarrhoea.

Usage

Protexin Veterinary Pro-Fibre Advance is sold as a powder and can be added directly to your dog’s diet. The amount of the medication to be given depends on the size of your dog as well as the intensity of diarrhoea. Check with your vet on how much to give your dog.

2.  Oralade GI Support: Help to Stay Hydrated and Replace Electrolytes for Diarrhea Cure

Oralade GI Support is a specific liquid formula that helps to fight dehydration due to diarrhoea. It has a combination of electrolytes, glucose and amino acids to satisfy the loss of fluids and improve the health of the gastrointestinal tract.

Key Ingredients and Benefits:

Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride): These electrolytes are useful in the replacement of fluids lost during the occurrence of diarrhoea, a condition that is dangerous to dogs. Staying hydrated is one of the most important aspects of a person’s health, as well as sports performance and recovery of the gastrointestinal tract.

Amino Acids (Glutamine and Taurine): Glutamine helps to maintain the integrity of the gut lining, while taurine is great for the health of cells in general. Both amino acids have important functions in the restoration of the gut mucosa in diarrhoea conditions.

Glucose: A source of fast energy, it helps the intestines to absorb water and electrolytes, hence supporting the hydration process during diarrhoea healing.

Usage

Oralade GI Support comes in liquid form and can be administered orally or in addition to the pet’s meals. This is especially suitable for dogs with mild to severe diarrhoea and especially for dehydrated dogs. As a rule, it is necessary to administer the medication according to the package instructions, depending on your dog’s weight and state of health, as prescribed by your veterinarian.

Home Remedies for Dogs Diarrhoea

Most of the time, you can solve your dog’s diarrhoea at home, depending on the cause and seriousness of his diarrhoea.

Fast your dog by not giving it food for anything between 12 to 24 hours. Then, feed your dog a bland diet when their digestive tract has a chance to heal. Cooked white rice, boiled chicken, and low-fat hamburgers are common bland diets. A bland diet can be bad if your dog is allergic to the foods above.

If your dog’s diarrhoea started after a sudden change in the diet, then set your dog back on the original feed. It may be enough to kill off further stomach upset. Once they have been on the new food for a couple of weeks and their stools have firmed up, continue feeding the original food. Once you’ve got them over the first few days, you can begin to transition your dog over to a new food at a slow pace.

The best way to transition your dog from a new to old food is to slowly add the new food one day at a time for a couple of weeks a time and slowly take away the original food. It helps prevent your dog’s digestive system from adjusting because it gives it a chance.

Medication Tips For Dog Diarrhea 

You don’t want your dog to have diarrhoea or for your dog to keep having diarrhoea, so of course, you will want your dog’s diarrhoea resolved ASAP with long-term success. Here are a few tips to increase your chances of successfully treating your dog’s diarrhoea:

Start treatment as early as possible. If you have diarrhoea in your dog, call your vet. The quicker you act, the more quickly your dog can be back to their normal self!

Carefully follow your vet’s instructions. If your vet suggests home remedies or medication, please do as they ask to support the best possible treatment reaction.

Monitor your dog. If diarrhoea doesn’t start to clear up and your dog’s health is going downhill, alert your vet immediately.