One of the key factors behind the survival of canines is their digestive system. For starters, it is adapted to an omnivorous diet meaning the dog can eat a wide variety of foods. Secondly, it’s able to process just about anything the dog eats, and with their poorly developed sense of taste, dogs eat some stuff you don’t even want to know about.

So it is not surprising that dogs sometimes get diarrhea. In fact, you have to wonder why they don’t get it more often.

Dog diarrhea can have any number of causes including an upset intestinal tract, worms or parasites, anxiety, or more serious diseases. It may also just be an upset tummy, but you can never be sure, so it is best to speak to your vet.

Most of the time it will be something minor and a simple medication will clear it up. Or you could use a natural remedy that is known to work.

Here are a few home remedies that work. These are effective for mild diarrhea, quite obviously, chronic and disease related diarrhea needs to be treated by a vet.

Homeopathic Medicine

Common homeopathic cures for dog diarrhea include, aloe and arsenicum album. The best remedy to use depends on symptoms like the consistency of the dog’s stool.

Herbal Remedies

Bayberry is an infective remedy for clearing up bacterial infections, while catnip is good for reducing flatulence. L-Glutamine and Slippery Elm both help to reduce inflammation of the intestinal walls.

High Fiber Diet

Fiber rich foods are excellent for promoting good intestinal health. Not only do they soften the stool in the case of constipation, but they also clear toxins from the system, thus eliminating a common cause of diarrhea.

In the wild, dogs get most of their fiber from grasses, but feeding foods like brown rice or pasta, pumpkin and oatmeal on a regular basis is an effective way to ensure a healthy digestive system.

Probiotic FoodsProbiotic foods contain live bacteria cultures, so you are actually introducing bacteria to the body. The difference is that these are “good” bacteria that restore balance to the system.

The best way to introduce this to your dog’s diet is to buy a probiotic powder (there are a number marketed specifically for dogs). The powder is tasteless and can be mixed in with your dog’s food.

Bland Diet

If your dog has diarrhea, or is recovering from a bout of diarrhea, it is important that he takes in food and water. However, you don’t want to feed the dog anything that will make the problem worse.

On day one, ensure that the dog gets plenty of water, but withhold all food. Then from the second day start with a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice. Keep this up until the dog’s condition returns to normal. During this time ensure that your dog takes in lots of water as dehydration is a serious risk in cases of diarrhea.

As advised earlier, you should always consult a vet first if your dog has diarrhea. However, once the vet has ruled out anything serious, the methods above are often just as effective as medication.

To find out more about dog diarrhea, dog behavior, dog health and other interesting dog advice drop in at dogsanddogtraining.com