Madeleine Hull
Diarrhea in dogs can be caused by a variety of factors, including dietary changes. Dogs can develop diarrhea from consuming rotten or contaminated food, or something they are allergic to. Additionally, abrupt dietary changes can cause an inflammatory response in the intestinal lining, leading to gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea. This is due to the dog's digestive enzymes and microbiome being adapted to their previous diet, and a sudden change can result in improper digestion. However, this can usually be resolved within 1-3 days and prevented by gradually transitioning to the new diet over a week or more, depending on the dog's age and health sensitivities.
Is my dog having diarrhea due to a diet change?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Abrupt change in diet |
| Prevention | Transition to a new diet gradually over 7-28 days |
| Treatment | Withhold food for 6-12 hours, fluid therapy, antibiotics, anti-parasitics, monoclonal antibody treatment, probiotics, bland diet |
| Duration | 1-3 days |
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Abrupt diet changes
The greater the difference between their original and new foods, the more likely diarrhea will occur. For example, switching from one primary protein source to another (e.g. chicken to lamb) or changing carbohydrate sources (e.g. potato to oats) will lead to longer adaptation times.
To avoid this, it is recommended that you transition your dog to a new diet gradually, typically over a week, but sometimes up to 2-4 weeks for dogs with sensitive stomachs or dietary issues. This gives their gastrointestinal system time to adjust and produce the necessary enzymes to properly digest the new food.
If your dog has diarrhea, it is important to keep them hydrated with small amounts of water. You can withhold food for 6-12 hours to let their intestine calm down, and then feed a bland diet. If the diarrhea persists, take your dog to the vet, as it could be a sign of a more serious health issue.
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Food allergies
Diarrhea in dogs can be triggered by their diet. Food allergies in dogs are not very common but are becoming more prevalent. Dogs are more likely to have adverse reactions to food they have eaten for a long time. An allergy is an immune response to something the body repeatedly and mistakenly perceives as a threat. When an allergen shows up, the immune system overreacts by producing antibodies that then trigger a release of histamine and other chemicals.
If your dog has diarrhea, you should withhold food for 6 to 12 hours and monitor their condition. If there is no improvement, you should seek veterinary care. Your veterinarian may recommend a special diet that supports healthy digestion and helps balance the GI microbiome. They may also suggest a hydrolyzed diet, which involves breaking down animal protein into molecules that are too small to cause an immune response.
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Human food
If your dog has ingested rotten or contaminated food or a food ingredient they are allergic to, it often causes stomach upset. However, there are cases where the diarrhea isn’t caused by something harmful, contaminated, or spoiled. Sometimes even a perfectly balanced, well-formulated diet can cause diarrhea. This usually happens when an abrupt change from one diet to another occurs.
An abrupt change in the type of diet (change in brand or protein base) will cause an inflammatory response along the intestinal lining, leading to gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhea. This is what happens in cases of adverse food reactions due to sudden diet changes.
The key to a good diet transition is monitoring your dog’s individual response. If, at any point during the diet transition, your dog displays concerning signs such as changes in appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea, you should proceed more slowly.
If your dog has gastrointestinal upset due to their new food, it should clear up quite quickly without treatment. However, if it doesn’t stop, their diarrhea might be the result of a more serious health issue.
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Intestinal parasites
Diarrhea in dogs can be caused by a range of factors, including dietary changes, allergies, infections, and intestinal parasites. While dietary changes and allergies are common causes, it is important to consider and address the possibility of intestinal parasites, as they can pose serious health risks to dogs, especially young puppies.
The presence of intestinal parasites in dogs can have various clinical signs and symptoms. Infected dogs may experience weight loss, a dull coat, a potbellied appearance, and a lack of growth. In severe cases of hookworm infection, diarrhea with dark, tarry feces may occur. Puppies are at a higher risk of developing intestinal parasites, and the impact can be more severe, potentially leading to long-term anemia and poor growth.
Diagnosis and treatment of intestinal parasites in dogs are crucial. Roundworm infections can be diagnosed by detecting eggs in the feces using a microscope, and various compounds are available for treatment. Hookworm infections can cause anemia and are typically diagnosed through the presence of eggs in the feces or around the anus. Whipworm infections can be controlled through good sanitation, prompt removal, and proper disposal of feces, as they are susceptible to drying. Tapeworm infections may require a different approach, as they are not always detectable through fecal flotation; instead, segments may be observed in the feces or around the anus.
To prevent intestinal parasites in dogs, regular fecal examinations and heartworm tests are recommended as part of their routine annual health care program. Additionally, keeping your dog's vaccinations up to date, providing parasite prevention, and practicing good sanitation are essential.
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Treatment options
Diarrhea in dogs can be caused by a variety of factors, including dietary changes, food intolerance or allergies, and parasites. Treatment options will depend on the underlying cause and severity of the diarrhea. Here are some options to consider:
Withhold Food and Provide Fluids
Withholding food for 12 to 24 hours can allow the intestine to calm down and give the gastrointestinal tract a chance to settle. During this time, it is important to provide frequent small amounts of water to keep your dog hydrated. You can also offer diluted unflavored Pedialyte under the advice of your veterinarian to help maintain electrolyte balance.
Bland Diet
After withholding food, introduce a bland diet that is easy to digest and gives your dog's GI tract a break. Boiled chicken or low-fat ground beef, white rice, and cooked pasta are good options. Gradually increase the portions over a few days and then slowly reintroduce your dog's regular food until their stool returns to normal.
Veterinary Care
If diarrhea persists or is accompanied by other symptoms such as lethargy, fever, vomiting, or weakness, take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible. They may recommend a special diet that supports healthy digestion and helps balance the GI microbiome. They may also prescribe anti-diarrheal medications, antibiotics (in rare cases), or anti-parasitics if parasites are present. In severe cases of dehydration, fluid therapy may be required, which may involve a stay in the animal hospital.
Gradual Diet Transition
When introducing new food to your dog, do it gradually over a period of 7 to 14 days, increasing the ratio of new food while decreasing the old food. This gives your dog's digestive system time to adjust to the new ingredients and can help prevent diarrhea due to diet changes in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
Abrupt changes in a dog's diet can cause an inflammatory response along the intestinal lining, leading to gastrointestinal signs such as diarrhea. This can happen even when you switch to a healthier option.
To prevent diarrhea, it is recommended to transition from one diet to another gradually. You can do this by mixing the new food with the old food in increasing quantities over a week or so. This allows the gastrointestinal system to adjust and produce the necessary enzymes to digest the new food.
If your dog has diarrhea but is otherwise happy and behaving normally, you can try settling them at home. You can give them small amounts of water frequently to keep them hydrated and, after 24 hours, switch them to a bland diet. If there is no more diarrhea, you can slowly change them back to their new diet. If the diarrhea persists, you should seek guidance from your veterinarian.
Most dogs recover from diarrhea due to diet change within 1-3 days. If the diarrhea lasts longer than 3 days, you should take your dog to the vet.
