There are multiple causes of diarrhea: it can be caused by dietary intolerance or indiscretion, the presence of intestinal parasites, as well as more serious disturbances. Firstly, it is important to distinguish acute diarrhea from chronic diarrhea : the former lasting only a few days, and the latter having been present for more than ten days. However, the change in the overall state of your companion should be of greater concern than the amount of time it is afflicted with diarrhea.
The first question to ask about a dog that has access to the outdoors is: did he go to the garbage or may have eaten something on your last walk? Many acute diarrhoeas pass quickly, with dietary measures (reducing the amount of food or even fasting) and you can help your dog through this difficult period with supplements such as montmorillonite and/or activated charcoal. You should also make sure that your dog drinks enough water.
If you have just changed your dog’s diet and it has diarrhoea, its intestinal flora may need some time to adapt. It is recommended to make a food transition over about six days: the first two days, two thirds of the old food mixed with one third of the new food; the next two days, half and half; and the last two days, one third of the old food mixed with two thirds of the new food. If your dog is known to have digestive sensitivity, you may want to add activated charcoal or even pre- and probiotics to its diet during the diatery transition to help it !
Finally, it is important to monitor its general condition: does it seem more tired, does it have less appetite, does it have a fever or vomiting, etc.? Also check its stools: are they very liquid or just a little softer? Is there any blood? These symptoms may be signs of a more serious underlying cause. It may be advisable to call your vet, especially if the measures mentioned above have not helped.
If your dog’s diarrhoea has lasted for more than three weeks, it is very likely that you have already seen your vet. This one will probably therfore have recommended you a first, or even two treatments, with dietary measures, a change of diet, a deworming protocol, antibiotics, etc. He may also have talked to you about blood or stool tests. It is not always easy to get rid of chronic diarrhoea, there are many causes and each case is different! Your vet may also suggest that you try different types of food in succession, so it is important to follow his recommendations. It is important to know that about sixty percent of chronic diarrhoea responds to a change in diet.
In addition to the treatments provided by your vet, it may be worthwhile to use supplements such as fibre, activated charcoal or montmorillonite. In the case of chronic diarrhoea, it is also important to fight against inflammation and to rebalance the digestive flora. In this case, consider giving your dog pre- and probiotics. In these situations, it is advisable to consult your vet.
