Dog Diarrhoea: Causes and What to Feed Your Dog

A problem that every dog owner will eventually face is dog diarrhoea, which is when the dog suffers from soft stools. Sometimes this is a sign of illness, but often diarrhoea indicates a feeding-related problem such as a detoxification process or food intolerance. Diarrhoea in dogs allows the intestine to quickly and efficiently rid itself of substances that are not tolerated.

Accompanying lethargy should only be seen if the diarrhoea lasts for days and the dog is not eating. In this case, the owner must quickly determine the cause and consult a vet. Causes of dog diarrhoea can include allergies, infections, parasites such as worms or giardia, stress or insecurity, and above all, medication (e.g. vaccinations, chemical worming treatments, tick spot-ons). We have compiled a list of other possible triggers and tips for gentle support.

View natural supplements for intestinal care in the shop

Diarrhoea in dogs – definition and background information

We refer to diarrhoea when a dog produces mushy or watery stools instead of solid or formed faeces, either once or over several days. This is often accompanied by sudden bowel movements, meaning that even dogs that are usually house-trained may soil the home. Occasional diarrhoea is often the body's way of cleansing itself after contact with toxins that irritate the intestines. However, persistent diarrhoea can indicate irritation of the intestinal mucosa and should be addressed.

Acute dog diarrhoea and feeding tips

Sudden diarrhoea should be monitored if the dog is otherwise fit and shows no other symptoms. In such cases, a little Canis Extra Granulated Carrot can help regulate the intestines. This type of cleansing is not unusual when changing food. 

 If your dog has acute diarrhoea accompanied by fever, loss of appetite and listlessness, you should first let your dog fast for a few hours and take them to the vet for a more thorough examination. If your dog’s diarrhoea is not caused by a serious condition and your vet does not recommend further treatment, natural home remedies such as Moro’s carrot soup for dogs can help support your dog’s digestion over the next few days. A recipe for the carrot soup can be found further down in this guide. A home-cooked bland diet for dogs made from rice and chicken may also help your dog regain its strength. Supplements such as our Canis Extra Granulated Carrot and Canis Extra Ceolife® can also be offered for feeding-related support of the digestion. You will find a bland diet recipe further down in the guide.

If you do not want to cook, you can also feed our Meal Rolls Canis Plus® Grass Fed Lamb with Millet and Goat’s Milk or Canis Plus® Beef Power Roll with Millet and Goat's Milk for a few days. The recipes are kept very simple and can therefore help to soothe the irritated digestive tract more quickly. Our Canis Plus® Chicken Complete Meal with Millet and Carrot and our Canis Plus® Lamb Complete Meal with Pumpkin and Apple are also suitable for adult dogs in this situation.

Chronic diarrhoea in dogs

Recurrent diarrhoea can indicate irritation of the intestinal mucosa and should be treated with care. First of all, however, it is important to find and eliminate the cause. This could be a food intolerance or synthetic additives in the food, as well as previous stress from chemical worming treatments and antibiotics. In many cases, it can be helpful to support the gut with products containing beneficial bacteria and to review your dog’s diet in the long term.

Does your dog have diarrhoea? What is the cause?

Allergies, intolerances, infections, parasites such as worms or giardia, stress or insecurity, but also medications such as vaccinations, chemical worming treatments or chemical tick spot-ons can trigger unwanted reactions such as diarrhoea in dogs. Adult dogs may react to a change in diet with softer stools. When it comes to vomiting and diarrhoea, the owner must react quickly and try to alleviate the symptoms as soon as possible, e.g. by consulting a vet.

Poisoning

If a dog has diarrhoea and is restless, panting and has cramps, the colour of its mucous membranes has changed, it is vomiting or there is blood in its faeces, poisoning may be suspected. In this case, you should take your pet to the vet immediately. Insecticides such as slug or rat poison, and even artificial fertilisers, are sometimes accidentally ingested by animals and pose a serious health risk. Dog owners need to remain calm and take immediate action. Even after the poisoning has been overcome, the intestinal flora should be supported with appropriate supplements. Gut rehabilitation can be very helpful here (if you would like to learn more about it, please take a look at our guide "Gut Rehabilitation in Dogs: Improving the Quality of Life for Your Dog"). Feeding dogs healthy natural food can help in the recovery of strained kidneys and the liver and to promote organ regeneration.

Organ diseases

Diarrhoea can be a result of irritation in other organs, usually those involved in digestion. The liver, for example, is also responsible for detoxification. If it is overwhelmed, substances that are not intended for the intestine but can no longer be processed by the liver enter the intestine. The result is diarrhoea, which is intended to quickly rid the intestine of these indigestible substances. In this case, it is important to identify the cause of the organ weakness so that the regeneration of the affected organs can be supported.

Feeding unfamiliar food

If a dog's digestive system is only used to one type of food, it is possible that switching to a new type of food, e.g. due to an allergy or organ disease, will initially result in soft stools. This does not necessarily mean that the new food is not tolerated, but rather that the intestine initially uses its protective mechanisms in the form of diarrhoea to get rid of the unfamiliar substance. In this case, a gentle change of food can help the intestine to slowly get used to the new food.

Allergies

Repeated diarrhoea without severe accompanying symptoms can indicate food intolerance or, in the further course, an allergy. Of course, it is important to find out which ingredient the dog is reacting to and to change the food accordingly. You can find out more about this topic in our article "My Dog Is Allergic - What Now?". Allergies originate in the intestine, as this is where the main part of the immune system is located. In the case of an allergy, it is therefore important to also support the intestine for a better digestion of the newly chosen food.

Behavioural problems: hyperactivity, insecurity/anxiety or stress

Some things are so commonplace for us that we don't pay much attention to them. That's why behavioural problems are so rarely recognised as triggers for diarrhoea. Dogs have always jumped around excitedly as soon as you pick up their leash, or panted heavily at the start of or during a walk – so what does that mean? However, behavioural problems such as insecurity, anxiety or stress can literally upset the stomach and result in soft stools or diarrhoea in dogs.

So watch out for signs such as stress panting, trembling, increased salivation or mouth licking, as well as signs of appeasement, such as a tucked tail, looking away and yawning, etc. If your dog shows you these signs, he is probably stressed. Together with an experienced dog trainer, you can find out what is causing the stress and which training methods you can use to help your dog in these situations. Stress-related diarrhoea can be quickly brought under control and the relationship between you and your dog also benefits from it.

Mild diarrhoea in dogs – these acute measures can help

If your dog's soft stools or mild diarrhoea is due to a busy day, a new snack or similar factors it is not necessary to see a vet immediately. As long as your dog continues to eat and is lively and active, you can support them with a few feeding-related measures to get mild diarrhoea under control without the help of a vet. 

• Observe your dog. How often does the diarrhoea occur? Does the dog remain lively? Does the mild diarrhoea last less than 24 hours?
• Provide sufficient fluids. As dogs lose a lot of fluid when they have diarrhoea, you should make sure they drink enough.
• Avoid Snacks, Chews & Treats. You should currently avoid anything that can irritate the dogs intestines. This includes unfamiliar type of foods, snacks, solid chews and greasy treats.
• Prepare a bland diet. You can offer your dog cooked rice with carrots and chicken (unsalted, of course), as this bland diet can help calm the stomach. Do not feed cold food ("fresh" from the refrigerator), as this can promote dog diarrhoea. As an alternative to home-cooked bland food, you can feed our complete meals with chicken or lamb and offer our Canis Extra Granulated Carrot or try offering Moro’s carrot soup (you will find a recipe suggestion for the carrot soup further down in the guide). Feed several small meals a day, as these are easier on the digestive system.
• Visit to the vet. If the diarrhoea has not improved noticeably after 24 to 48 hours, consult a vet. Ideally, bring a stool sample with you for examination.

Home remedies for dog diarrhoea 

There are some home remedies for dog diarrhoea that are said to help - and in some cases they certainly do. However, you should be aware that, depending on the cause, the various measures can either improve or worsen the situation. If your dog is already unwell, you should not experiment for too long, but consult a vet immediately.

However, if your dog only has soft stools and is otherwise fine, you can try these home remedies. If they do not improve the situation and your dog has diarrhoea for longer than 24 to 48 hours, please consult a vet.

Moro´s carrot soup for dog diarrhoea  

For all kinds of gastrointestinal complaints, a long-cooked carrot soup, known as Moro´s carrot soup or Moro Soup, has long been recommended to support the intestinal flora. Carrots that have been cooked long enough form a slimy film that is said to protect the intestinal walls. They are also said to bind harmful bacteria in the intestine, thereby stabilising and promoting the dog's intestinal flora.

Fibre for mild diarrhoea in dogs

A similar principle applies here as with Moro's carrot soup, because the positive effect on diarrhoea is also attributed to the soluble fibre. Fibre is an indigestible component of food. In appropriate amounts, they slow down intestinal transit, nourish the intestinal flora and bind fluid. This gives the digestive tract more time to absorb excess fluid, while some of the excess fluid is bound by the fibre. Foods rich in fibre include psyllium husks, carrots and oatmeal.

Healing clay for diarrhoea in dogs

Healing clay is said to bind toxins produced by pathogenic bacteria in disturbed intestinal flora, ensuring that they are excreted more quickly.

Feeding dogs with mild diarrhoea

If your dog has mild diarrhoea and is otherwise well, it needs a stomach-friendly and easily digestible diet to recover. Make sure you offer it several small portions throughout the day. These relieve the digestive system, as they are easier for an overstimulated digestive system to process than large portions.

Our Canis Plus® Chicken Complete Meal contains tender, easily digestible chicken meat, with millet and carrots rounding off the special recipe. For dogs with poultry allergies, our Canis Plus® Lamb Complete Meal is a great alternative. Lamb meat is also particularly tender and easily digestible, and pumpkin, courgette and apple support regular digestion. 

In cases of mild irritation of the digestive tract, switching to our Canis Plus® Complete Tinned Meals for a while is usually enough to quickly regulate digestion, saving you the trouble of cooking bland meals. If necessary, you can also mix our Canis Extra Granulated Carrot or Moro’s carrot soup (see recipe below in this guide) into the Complete Tinned Meals.

What to feed a dog with diarrhoea – our bland diet guide

It may be that the mild irritation of the digestive tract has already progressed a bit further. An otherwise healthy and fit dog should then fast for a few hours so that its digestive tract can calm down. After this short fasting period, you can begin by offering a small portion of a bland diet for dogs with diarrhoea. If your dog tolerates this well, a second small meal can be given a few hours later. It is important to start with small portions and carefully monitor your dog’s response. If diarrhoea returns immediately, this may indicate a more serious issue, and you should consult a veterinarian.

For dogs with more advanced digestive problems, a reduced-meat bland diet can be beneficial at the beginning. A commonly recommended ratio is around 50% lean meat and 50% easily digestible carbohydrates, such as cooked rice and boiled carrots. The total amount of food should always be adjusted according to your dog’s body weight.

Bland diet recipe for dogs with diarrhoea: what to feed and how much of it 

Adult dogs should receive approx. 3-5% of their body weight in food per day; for older dogs and seniors, this is reduced to approx. 2.5-3%. In our example, a dog who is 6 years old, weighing 20kg will tolerate 4% very well.

20kg x 4% = 0.8kg total food amount per day

• 800g is the total amount of food your dog should eat per day.

800g x 50% = 400g meat per day

• You can use our Canis Plus® Pure Chicken or Canis Plus® Pure Lamb or another meat source from our Meat Pots or Meat Rolls if your dog has allergies. Alternatively, you can also offer cooked chicken or turkey.
   

800g x 50% = 400g vegetable side dish per day

• The vegetable side dish should consist of 50% cooked rice or millet and 50% cooked carrots:
  400g x 50% = 200g cooked rice or millet
  400g x 50% = 200g cooked carrots

The bland diet for a 20kg dog therefore consists of 400g meat, 200g cooked rice or millet and 200g cooked carrots. You now just need to divide these amounts by the number of meals you want to feed per day. Please note: the more small meals you feed per day, the better for your dog. In this example, the dog should be fed five meals a day: 

400g meat divided by 5 meals = 80g
200g rice or millet divided by 5 meals = 40g
200g cooked carrots = 40g

• With five meals a day, the dog should receive 80g of meat, 40g of cooked rice or millet and 40g of cooked carrots per meal.
• You can add our Canis Extra Granulated Carrot, if necessary.

Moro’s carrot soup for dogs

In addition to meat-reduced bland diet meals, your dog can benefit from cooked carrot soup. If you prepare this yourself, it is important to simmer the soup for at least 90 minutes, as this is the only way to produce the effective oligosaccharides.

Moro’s carrot soup recipe for dogs 

You will need 500g of carrots, at least 1 litre of water and time.

• Peel the carrots and cut them into pieces.
• Simmer the carrots in a litre of water for at least 90 minutes.
• Puree the carrots or pass them through a sieve.
• You can add water to the resulting purée to create about 1 litre of carrot soup.
• You can mix light broth, a pinch of salt, some organic coconut oil or a small amount of our full-cream goat's milk powder into the carrot soup if your dog does not like to eat it otherwise.
   

The practical Moro soup alternative with our Canis Extra Granulated Carrot

A quicker option: carrot soup made from granulated carrots

You will need our Canis Extra Granulated Carrot, 750-1000ml of water and a little time to boil this quick Moro soup alternative.

• Pour approx. 500ml of cold water into a saucepan.
• Mix approx. 50g of Canis Extra Granulated Carrot into the water.
• Slowly bring the water and carrot granulate mixture to the boil, stirring regularly.
• You can add water to the resulting porridge a little at a time to give it a soup consistency.
• You can mix light broth, a pinch of salt, some organic coconut oil or a small amount of our whole goat's milk powder into the carrot soup if your dog does not like it otherwise.
   

How long does Moro Soup last? Shelf life of Moro’s Carrot Soup

You can transfer the finished Moro carrot soup as well as the quick carrot soup alternative made with our granulated carrots into clean preserving jars. Then seal them airtight and store them in the refrigerator. The carrot soup will keep for three to four days. Before feeding, take it out of the refrigerator, stir it and warm it up slightly so that it reaches at least room temperature. Your dog may eat the soup slightly warmed, but never hot. 

Alternatively, you can freeze the carrot soup in portions – this way, you will always have carrot soup at home in case of an emergency (please note, however, that frozen carrot soup should also be consumed within a few months). Before use, allow the frozen carrot soup to thaw slowly and stir it. You can feed it to your dog when it has reached at least room temperature, or alternatively you can feed it slightly warmed (never hot!). 

How much Moro Soup should you feed a dog?

The amount of Moro´s carrot soup you should offer your dog depends on its body weight. In addition, you should never force your dog to eat the carrot soup, but simply offer it to them every 2-3 hours, warmed to room temperature. You can calculate approximately 30ml of carrot soup per kg of body weight.

The following recommendations are rough guidelines:

• Small dogs (under 5kg): up to approx. 150ml
• Medium-sized dogs (up to 20kg): up to approx. 600ml
• Large dogs (over 20kg): up to approx. 1000ml 

How long should a dog stay on a bland diet for diarrhoea?

In the case of mild gastrointestinal irritation, you can offer your dog a bland diet for 3-5 days after the symptoms have subsided, after which the problem should have resolved itself. Once your dog has recovered and you want to switch him back to his old dog food, slowly mix the old dog food into the bland meals day by day. 
Make sure your dog drinks enough water per day. Provide a second bowl for this purpose, adding a dash of Canis Extra Mineralmoor, Canis Extra Salmon Oil, quark or vegetable broth to the drinking water. You can then also carry out an gut rehabilitation and feed Canis Extra Petflora to replenish lost intestinal bacteria.

If your dog has not recovered, you should consult a vet. Depending on the vet's treatment plan, you can still support your dog's recovery process with our bland diet recipe.

Veterinary treatment & dietary change

A change in diet should always be in favour of the naturalness of the new food. So do not be afraid to read the ingredients of the newly recommended food carefully. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that no synthetic additives or synthetic vitamins are used and that the food contains genuine, pure ingredients. Only then can the intestinal situation improve in the long term.

When should a dog with diarrhoea be taken to the vet?

If you suspect a severe parasite or giardia infection, you should have your vet examine your dog's faeces. You should also take your dog to the vet if it has prolonged diarrhoea, or diarrhoea accompanied by extreme lethargy or restlessness, such as panting or cramping, discoloured mucous membranes, or even blood in its faeces or vomit. However, in the case of small dogs, dogs that are very thin, petite or sensitive, older dogs and especially young dogs and puppies, you should see a vet immediately. Diarrhoea always causes a high loss of fluids, which can lead to serious problems depending on the animal's constitution.

Appropriate feeding for your dog to prevent diarrhoea

Change of diet

A change in diet can be made abruptly in healthy dogs without gastrointestinal problems. In the case of pre-existing digestive tract problems, a gradual change should be discussed with our team of experts, starting with small portions. Under no circumstances should extruded food be mixed with cold pressed food. Supporting the intestines with Canis Extra Petflora can also help with the changeover of the food.

Ready-made food versus homemade dog food

High-quality ready-made food that contains only natural ingredients in an open declaration is a first-class and convenient way of feeding your dog in all situations. Home-cooked food has advantages when it comes to exclusion diets or if you want to spoil your pet individually. However, you should remember to add all the supplements your dog needs, e.g. natural sources of calcium and cold pressed oils. We are happy to help with advice over the phone.