Should I feed a puppy with diarrhea?

Veterinarians often suggest that older dogs skip meals when they’re experiencing bouts of diarrhea. For growing puppies, fasting is usually not advisable. Bland, stomach-soothing foods like boiled chicken, rice, and pureed pumpkin can temporarily help your pup manage symptoms while keeping something in their tummies.

Diarrhea will probably occur even in a healthy puppy at some point. Due to their immature immune systems, puppies may be slightly more sensitive to changes and potential infection sources than adult dogs. Even though mild cases of diarrhea may go away on their own rather quickly, other causes may indicate a more serious issue. When your puppy has diarrhea, you should know what to look out for and what to do next.

Is My Dog’s Diarrhea an Emergency?

Before we even discuss how to feed a dog with diarrhea, you must rule out any serious medical conditions that require emergency veterinary care. In dogs, diarrhea is occasionally not a big deal, but it can also be severe or even fatal. Signs that your dog needs to see a vet include:

  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Bloody diarrhea, or diarrhea that has digested blood, which looks like coffee grounds
  • Diarrhea that has lasted longer than two days
  • Signs of dehydration, including dry gums and skin tenting (aka skin that doesn’t snap back into place when you pull it)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Signs of abdominal pain (bloating, groaning, panting rapidly, not wanting to be touched, or “prayer position,” aka a stance with the dog’s rear up in the air and their front legs and head on the floor)
  • Acting excessively tired or weak
  • In some dogs, diarrhea is always an emergency. At the first sign of diarrhea in these animals, contact your veterinarian:

  • Puppies
  • Senior dogs
  • Dogs who are already sick or debilitated due to a pre-existing condition such as diabetes or heart disease
  • Dogs on new medication (which could be causing the diarrhea)
  • Call your veterinarian right away for guidance if your dog meets any of these requirements.

    How do I know if my dog has diarrhoea?

    Diarrhea is characterized by frequent, liquid stools that range in color from the typical brown to yellow. It might smell, have mucus or jelly in it or even have blood splatters. Your dog might struggle to pass it or display irritation near his anus If necessary, provide your veterinarian with a thorough description of the problem or even a sample so they can identify the cause.

    You can frequently try a bland diet at home before rushing to the vet if your dog is healthy overall, has no other health issues, is not a puppy or geriatric. However, if your pet is vomiting or exhibiting other symptoms of illness, or if there is blood or something else very unusual in the diarrhoea, we would advise you to contact your vet for guidance.

    Often sources will say feed a bland diet, but what does this actually mean? How much should you feed?

    Typically, a bland diet is advised; by bland, we mean that there shouldn’t be any rich ingredients, gravy, or other extras in their food. The brand-name product, frequently referred to as gastrointestinal, is typically a combination of highly digestible chicken and rice. Dogs adore this, and eating it helps them stay energetic. They also have helpful feeding guides, which is significant because it lets you know how much to feed them and how much they are already eating.

    FAQ

    Should I feed my puppy more if he has diarrhea?

    Encourage your dog to go without food for a short while so that his digestive system can rest and heal, then have him eat bland foods for a few days, like cooked chicken and rice. When eating a fatty meal or changing your diet suddenly causes GI upset, this is frequently advantageous.

    What do I feed a puppy with diarrhea?

    Introduce bland foods like white rice, boiled chicken, vegetable broth. To restore regular bowel movements, try fiber-rich foods like canned pumpkin or cooked sweet potatoes. Give probiotics to replenish your puppy’s gut health. They are available in many different forms, including powders, capsules, chews, yogurt, and kefir.

    Should you withhold food from a puppy with diarrhea?

    The first thing you want to do is deprive your dog of food for 12 hours if you notice that he has diarrhea but is otherwise acting normally. This enables the intestinal tract to clear everything out and gives the intestines a chance to rest.

    How much do I feed my puppy with diarrhea?

    The objective is to rest the GI tract, so gradually reintroduce bland food. One or two large meals a day are preferable to several small ones. Start by giving only a tiny amount of food—1-2 tablespoons—every 2-3 hours.