Best Dog Anti-Diarrhea Medicine to Comfort Your Pup in Pain

Learn all about anti-diarrhea medicine for dogs, all the considerations and things to avoid in this guide.

Causes of Diarrhea in Dogs

Dogs can have an upset stomach due to numerous reasons. Change in diet, antibiotics, parasites, or general anxiety can cause diarrhea in dogs. Some common triggers for diarrhea in dogs include:

• Intolerance to a particular type of food.
• Parasites like roundworms, coccidian, whipworms, hookworms, and giardia directly affect weak immune systems in older dogs and puppies.
• Bacterial infections, including salmonella.
• Emotional distress and general dog anxiety coming from places, changes, and people.
• Medication or antibiotics can also cause diarrhea as a side effect.
• Liver or kidney diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, and cancer can cause an upset stomach.
• Intake of a poisonous plant or substance.
• Viral infections like distemper, coronavirus, parvovirus.
• Swallowing indigestible things like toys or rocks.
• Eating spoiled food, overeating, and consuming garbage can also cause diarrhea.
• A change in your dog’s regular diet can also upset the digestive system to adapt to the new proteins.

What Are Some OTC Antidiarrheals for Dogs?

You can treat mild dog diarrhea at home with the help of some common over-the-counter medicines. This includes:

Pepto-bismol

Pepto Bismol, or bismuth subsalicylate, is used to treat general stomach issues in humans. It is declared safe for the treatment of diarrhea in dogs as well. However, it is always better to consult a vet to decide the dosage according to your dog’s condition. Overdosing may also cause gastric bleeding.

Imodium

Imodium anti-diarrhea medicine is the most common cure for diarrhea in dogs. It’s made from a drug called Loperamide that creates bulk and slows down the movement of food in your dog’s gut. Imodium increases water absorption in the body and results in firm stools. It also aids in better absorption of nutrients and moisture by the body.

However, Imodium is not safe for old dogs, puppies, pregnant and lactating dogs. Imodium concentration is also important to consider. For instance, liquid Imodium is a lot milder than solid tablets that contain about 2mg of the drug.

Pepcid-AC

Pepcid-AC or Famotidine is an acid neutralizer that treats acid reflux and upset stomach due to acidity. Only 0.25 to 0.5 milligram per pound of this drug is recommended for dogs. It works to relieve gas and heartburn as well.

How To Treat Diarrhea in Dogs?

It is never advised to rush and give medication to your dog as a first response to diarrhea. Most of the time, dog diarrhea clears up on its own in just a matter of days. If it persists, make sure you visit a vet and rule out any serious health problems that might be causing it.

Some of the common dog diarrhea treatments to combat regular bouts of dog diarrhea are:

• Monitoring and controlling liquid intake and then rehydration
• Food deprivation
• Using digestive supplements and dog diarrhea remedies
• Adjusting your dog’s diet
• Switching to a bland diet to allow the digestive system to easily process the food and not “work hard.” It could be steamed chicken or boiled white rice.

These are some “natural” ways of treating or controlling dog diarrhea while waiting for it to run its course. They should be the only initial treatment that you try on your own. If the condition lasts for more than 48 hours, you should immediately speak to a vet for further diagnosis.

Your vet will prescribe anti-diarrhea medicine, dewormer, or probiotics that support the digestive system and treat irritation. Supplements and probiotics are also helpful in fulfilling the nutritional requirements of dogs suffering from diarrhea..

When to Visit a Vet if Your Dog Has Diarrhea?

If your dog has just had a single episode of diarrhea and is actively playing and behaving normally, you needn’t worry about anything. However, you should keep an eye on your pup’s bowel movements from then on to make sure that they’re back to normal.

If your dog has a second episode, it’s probably better to get them to a vet for a checkup. If you observe your dog straining and struggling to pass stool or has small and frequent watery stools, it could be because of an obstruction. Dogs can swallow rocks, toys, or anything small they feel is fun to eat. This is a serious case and needs immediate professional care.

Other than that, recurring bouts of diarrhea in a limited period can be a symptom of a serious underlying health issue. It could be from a bacterial infection, which is predominantly a cause of concern if your dog is old or very young.

To narrow it down, you can observe if Diarrhea accompanies the following symptoms. If so, immediately take them to the vet:

• Blood in stool
• Weakness
• Unusual or excessive drooling
• Dehydration that one can spot from sunken eyes, sticky or dry gums, and dry nose
• Lack of appetite
• Lethargy and decreased interest in playing

Make sure you never give human medication to treat diarrhea in dogs without consulting it with the vet. It can seriously harm their digestive tract, cause bleeding, or may sometimes even prove fatal.

Conclusion

Dog parents often have to deal with diarrhea. But as common as it is, there could be several serious reasons that may have caused it. Specific diagnosis, the severity of diarrhea, and the dog’s response to initial treatment determine the prognosis in any case. Dog anti-diarrhea medicine helps ease the pain and discomfort caused by irritated intestine walls and stomach cramps.

This guide recommends some of the best dog anti-diarrhea medicines in 2021, along with some tips and home remedies to treat your dog. Nonetheless, it should be stated that your first step should be to consult a veterinarian after an episode of diarrhea.