Diarrhea
Diarrhea is very common in dogs. Most cases are caused by "garbage-gut syndrome," when a pet eats something that he shouldn't. But diarrhea can also be a sign of more serious diseases like distemper or parvovirus, which usually also include vomiting and a fever, and these need medical care as soon as possible.
One of the most dangerous things about diarrhea is the loss of water from the body, which leads to dehydration. The more fluid the diarrhea contains, the more likely that dehydration will occur, especially if the pet is not eating or drinking and the episodes are frequent. If the dog is having frequent bouts of watery diarrhea, take him to the vet right away.
Puppies that are less than 8 to 10 months of age are much more likely than older pets to contract infectious diseases. If you have a young pet with diarrhea, call your vet for specific advice on what kind of first aid you can administer safely at home.
For adult dogs, give them a break from food. Keeping the stomach empty for 12 to 24 hours will rest the gut and give the inflammation time to heal. If there's nothing in the intestines, there won't be anything to come out. In rare cases, there are adult dogs who cannot maintain blood sugar concentrations appropriately when fasting. If your pet seems very lethargic, sleepy, or weak during a fast, you should rub a sugar solution like Karo syrup or honey on his gums and get the dog to a vet right away.
Keep the dog hydrated. Make sure that there is water available at all times so that the dog doesn't become dehydrated. An explosive, watery stool can pull huge amounts of fluids and important minerals out of the body. You can counter that with rehydration fluid like Pedialyte- mix it 50/50 with water.
You can also use OTC (over the counter) medicines to help control diarrhea. Dogs tend to hate the taste of Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate, so you may need help restraining your pet to get a dose in him. You can use a needleless syringe or a turkey baster to squirt the medicine into his mouth. The usual dose for both Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate for dogs is 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per five pounds of body weight, to a maximum of 2 tablespoons up to three times a day. For exact dosage for your pet, consult your vet.
If your dog exhibits any of the following signs, get him to a vet immediately:
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It may take a day or two for your dogs stomach to settle down after a severe upset, so ease the recovery period with some bland food and small meals. Cook plain white rice and mix it 50/50 with boiled skinless, boneless chicken or ground beef (boiled). Offer small but frequent meals three to four times a day for 24 hours. If the diarrhea is gone, increase the quantity and decrease the frequency of the meals for an additional 1 to 2 days. After that, gradually begin mixing your pet's regular food in with the rice and meat until he is back to his old feeding patterns.
Some common causes of diarrhea include:
Stress:
If your pet is not used to riding in a car, going to the vet, being boarded at a kennel, it is not uncommon for them to get diarrhea. Usually this will clear up very fast on its own once the dog settles down.
Sudden food change:
Changing a pets food should always be done gradually, over a 1-2 week period. To do this, start with giving the pet mostly his old food, but mix in a tad of the new. Each day add a little more of the new food to the mixture until the old food is gone or until at least 1 week has passed. Some breeds are very sensitive to a sudden food change and can literally cause horrible reactions and the dog may have to be hospitalized.
Turkey:
During the holidays, we all love to share with the dog...but you must do so in moderation. Never give a dog a lot of turkey- it will cause him to get diarrhea. A couple small pieces (teaspoon size) should be fine. Remember to never give the dog bones from your Thanksgiving feast! These bones can, and will splinter in your dogs system, and cause horrible results- it can actually puncture the stomach, bowels, etc., and cause your dog to need surgery or it may even cause death. Don't risk it.