1. Pick a spot for them to recover that is easy to access and clean.

Give them ample opportunity to rest, by providing them with a quiet and comfortable area. Pick a well-ventilated spot that is close to an exit for emergencies, and one that is easy to clean up after any accidents.

3. Avoid rich foods and don’t give medications or supplements without veterinary advice.

Avoid fatty foods, treats and snacks for now as they can be harder to digest. Also, never give your dog any over the counter medications (e.g., anti-diarrhoeal) or supplements without veterinarian recommendation, as many over-the-counter products used in humans are toxic and dangerous for your dog.^6-9

4. Consult your veterinarian before considering withholding food from your dog.

You may have read information online that recommends withholding food from your dog if they have diarrhoea, but it’s important to understand that it’s not a blanket statement.

Fasting isn’t recommended in puppies as they may deteriorate very quickly, and any puppy with diarrhoea should be assessed by a veterinarian. Similarly, adult dogs with chronic diarrhoea shouldn’t be fasted as these cases are usually more complicated and require veterinary expertise to understand the underlying cause before treating it.¹⁰

There are mixed recommendations on whether adult dogs with mild or uncomplicated diarrhoea should be fasted initially for 6-24 hours. Some veterinarians suggest that this prevents overworking the gut and allows your dog’s digestive system to rest and recover, while other veterinarians recommend avoiding fasting entirely as evidence suggests nutritional support improves recovery of both, the gut, and the patient.^5-8 Always contact your veterinarian before considering withholding food from your dog, as they will recommend the best course of action.

5. For acute small bowel diarrhoea, use a ‘bland food’ diet approach.

If your dog’s diarrhoea started suddenly, they don’t strain or without much change in the frequency of defecation, and they pass watery, dark, and potentially fatty/frothy looking faeces, they likely have ‘acute small bowel diarrhoea’.^{7, 8, 11}

To help them recover, feed your dog simple, highly digestible, bland food, in the form of small and frequent meals. A common recommendation is a low-fat, single protein and simple carbohydrate combination such as boiled white rice and lean, skinless, boneless chicken, fed in small portions 3-6 times a day. Other options include tofu, lean beef, white fish, turkey, boiled egg, peeled boiled potatoes, tapioca, and porridge oatmeal, however, always check with your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet. Keep in mind that this isn’t nutritionally complete and balanced, and is only recommended while your dog’s gut is still recovering.^{5, 6, 8, 9, 12}

6. For acute large bowel diarrhoea, use a ‘high dietary fibre’ diet approach.

If your dog’s diarrhoea started suddenly, they are passing small amounts of semi-formed faeces, more often and after straining, with either blood and/or mucus in it, they likely have ‘acute large bowel diarrhoea’.^{7, 8, 11}

Increasing soluble and insoluble dietary fibre in the food may help the gut recover and reduce straining. Common recommendations for dietary fibre sources are adding canned pumpkin or unflavoured psyllium (e.g., 1 tsp/10 kg body weight) to your dog’s food. This may also help if your dog has stress-induced diarrhoea.^{5, 6, 12}

8. Ask your veterinarian about probiotics, prebiotics or synbiotics for your dog.

In humans, probiotics and prebiotics may support immunity and gut health, including helping prevent or treat certain types of diarrhoea.^13-15 Research shows mixed results in dogs, and the use of different strains, small number of trial participants and confounding factors makes it harder to compare results from different studies.1⁶

Based on currently available evidence, many veterinarians may recommend probiotics, prebiotics or synbiotics for dogs with diarrhoea as they may show potential for preventing or improving clinical symptoms. They may prevent or reduce diarrhoea associated with stress or antibiotic-use, and may reduce the duration or severity of acute or chronic diarrhoea in some dogs.^{5, 7, 10, 17-24}

9. After recovery, ensure a slow transition to their usual diet.

Once your dog shows signs of recovery, don’t rush to move them back to their usual diet. Instead, gradually re-introduce their usual food by mixing it into their bland diet, and slowly increasing the proportion of their usual food. ^{6, 9}

10. Trust your gut - when in doubt, always seek veterinary help.

If your dog shows other signs of being unwell, isn’t responding to supportive at-home care, or if it’s been more than two days of diarrhoea without improvement, it’s time to take your dog to the veterinarian. Your veterinarian will ask you some questions to understand the type and cause of diarrhoea, and based upon the information you provide, they will determine what diagnostic and laboratory tests are required and the best treatment options for your dog.

Your veterinarian may recommend dietary changes or prescribe medications to stop the diarrhoea, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, support repair and recovery of the gut, kill any infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, protozoa), deworm, reduce inflammation, or suppress the immune response.^{5, 7, 8, 10, 25}