Causes Of Diarrhoea In Dogs
Diarrhoea is defined as frequent, loose or watery poos. Unfortunately, this can be quite a common problem in dogs. If your pet is poorly, it is likely that you will see a drop in faeces quality alongside, or instead of, other symptoms. You may also notice other differences in your dogs toileting habits which can include a lot of flatulence, mucus in the faeces, and increased volume and frequency of stools.
Healthy Homemade Dog Food
Our Tasty Low Carb family not only consists of Joanie and Chris, but also two Havanese Sisters Lulu and Kiki! If you have pets you know how they become part of the family and an integral part of your life. Our dogs are dependent upon us for virtually everything in return they offer unconditional love and lots of fun. For that reason, we only make them Healthy Homemade Dog Food! We use only the best ingredients with no fillers or added sugars or spices. We also make all of their dog treats at home. Their food is very low carb!
Our furry family members are Chocolate Havanese. Often called silk dogs, most in this breed are white with brown or black markings. Some are brindle in color. Lulu and Kiki are each about 9 1/2 pounds in weight, although they look heavier with all their fur. They do require frequent brushing, but they are hypoallergenic and they do not shed. As you can tell, they are very much a part of our low-carb family you do get attached to your pets!
The Cause Of Recurring Diarrhoea In Dogs Is The Wrong Food
Everyone wants to know what they can put in to stop diarrhoea in dogs happening. However more important than what you put in at this point it what you take out of the diet, certainly for dogs where diarrhoea keeps happening. Far and away the most common cause of diarrhoea in dogs is wheat gluten . But there are a number of other causes too. If your dog is suffering recurring diarrhoea then its likely youre making some simple mistakes diet-wise. The first hes likely to be dry fed. Dogs should be fed species appropriate raw dog food. That aside, the most common causes of diarrhoea in dogs is wheat but also nasty food chemicals and terrible pet store treats. Thus, I suggest, once you fix the immediate issue with the advice below, then please check out the most popular article on our site Allergy in Dogs. It will explain the dietary cause and solution to this all-too-common in dogs.
Leave your drugs in the chemists pot if you can cure your patient with food
Hippocrates, founder of modern medicine, 400yrs BC
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How Can I Tell If My Dog Has A Food Allergy
- Itchy skin- The most common areas are around the hind end, stomach, paws, or ears.
- Hives –Itchy bumps may appear 6-24 hours after eating the offending ingredient.
- Irritated, reddened skin – Your pooch may start scratching, biting, and licking itchy spots, and this can lead to hair loss or skin infections.
- Facial swelling – – The lips, eyelids, ears, or ear flaps may become puffy and swollen.
- Gastrointestinal issues – Some dogs will have vomiting, gas, or diarrhea.
- Respiratory distress – Although rare, there are some cases where the allergic reaction will be so severe that Fido wont be able to breathe. If this happens, get him to the emergency clinic immediately.
NOTE:
Many of the same signs can also point to a food sensitivity, but the changes will be more gradual. True food allergies cause an immediate immune response, and fortunately, these immune reactions are rare. Either way, youll need to identify and eliminate the source of your furry friends woes.
Gentle Formulas To Ease Tummy Troubles
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The Spruce
If your pooch has a sensitive stomach, you might find that many foods cause loose stools, flatulence, or vomiting. There are many dog foods on the market that claim to be specially formulated for digestion and gut health, but it’s always a good idea to consult with your veterinarian to help find the best diet for your individual dog.
“Highly digestible proteins, carbs, and fat along with prebiotics and probiotics help dogs get back to normal quickly,” says Dr. Lewis Singleton, a veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital in Princeton, New Jersey.
We researched the market and consulted with Dr. Singleton to find the best dog foods for sensitive stomachs.
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Solid Gold Leaping Waters Sensitive Stomach Grain
Top Ingredients: Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Chickpeas, Lentils, Chicken Fat
This high-quality recipe features a selection of superfoods. It has stomach-friendly ingredients and is free from gluten, grains, wheat, corn, and soy. If your pup has a sensitive gastrointestinal tract, consider buying this amazing dog food for firm stools.
The recipe features wholesome ingredients like cold water salmon, ocean fish meal, chickpeas, carrots, and pumpkin that deliver a range of vital nutrients. Like other sensitive diets, the recipe provides probiotic support to strengthen your dogs digestive and immune health. It also contains omega fatty acids to nourish your pals skin and help them grow a lustrous coat.
Causes Of Too Much Dog Waste
If your pet poops too much, it can mean that his food disagrees with his digestion in some way. If, however, the problem persists even after changing his food, it may be a sign of an underlying disease.
This guide should cover the most common problems that can cause increased waste, and if you recognize some symptoms in your dog, you should take him to your vet immediately.
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What Are The Things To Look For In Dry Dog Food For Loose Stools Caused By A Sensitive Stomach
There is so much variety and competition in the market, how to know which product is good for your dog and which product is just a part of the marketing gimmicks. The things one should look at while choosing the best dry dog food for loose stools are:-
- Easily digestible ingredients The product should have a single protein. The protein offered should be either chicken, lamb, salmon, duck, etc. These are easy to digest amino acids and dont affect the stomach too much.
They have easily processed carbohydrates from potatoes, peas and pumpkins. These provide fiber and help to firm up the stools.
The presence of high-fiber ingredients like sweet potato, pumpkin, oats gives bulk to the stool. Fibers are of two types-
- Soluble fiber These are the type of fibers which absorb the water and help slow down digestion. This helps the food to get digested and nutrition absorbed. Some of the soluble fiber are oatmeal, barley, fruits, etc
- Insoluble fiber These are the fibers that add bulk to the stools. It helps speed up the digestion process. This causes proper digestion. Some of them are- quinoa, vegetables and other whole grains.
- Moderate content of fat-
Dogs too require good fats in their diet. These fats are essential in maintaining the quality of their coat, skin, and eyesight. Fats should be healthy fats and ones that burn fast and give energy.
- Minerals and Vitamins-
- Balanced Ratio of Macronutrients
Complete Best Dog Food For Diarrhea Guide
The benefits of a well-balanced diet go well beyond easing a sensitive tummy and helping your dog digesting their food.
A balanced diet can help extend their life and keep them healthier longer, along with providing them the energy they need to run and play.
So how do you choose the best product? Well cover that below.
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Potential Link Between Grain
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found a potential link between canine dilated cardiomyopathy and dogs eating certain grain-free pet foods after reviewing more than 500 recent cases of DCM. In nearly all of these cases, the dog had been regularly eating a mostly grain-free product, the FDA report said.
Most of these products came from the brands 4Health, Acana, Blue Buffalo, California Natural, Fromm, Earthborn Holistic, Merrick, Natural Balance, Natures Domain, Natures Variety, NutriSource, Nutro, Orijen, Rachael Ray Nutrish, Taste of the Wild and Zignature.
These products contain a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds , and/or potatoes in various forms as main ingredients .
We at Canine Journal urge you to use caution when feeding your dog an entirely grain-free diet until the FDA learns more about the increase of DCM and its potential link to certain diets or ingredients.
Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food Review
At a Glance
- Fiber: 4%
For a diet that earns high marks in both nutrition and value for a familys dog food dollar, Purina Pro Plan Adult is one diet that will not disappoint. This exceptional quality food has been carefully formulated to provide a vital help to dogs that suffer from skin and stomach sensitivities. Whole salmon is the primary ingredient, a meat that is easy to digest and that is rich in essential fatty acids to help repair damaged skin.
Though not a grain-free formula, Purina Pro Plan Adults carbohydrates are taken from whole grains that are known to be soothing to distressed stomachs. This diet, considered to be one of the best foods for dogs with loose stools, contains no corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, or flavors.
Pros
- Owners are very pleased with the price point of this food, feeling they get great quality nutrition for an affordable cost.
- Dogs love that this diet contains large chunks of chicken, making it exceptionally flavorful.
- Owners noted that this food did not have an overpowering or unpleasant smell to it.
- Dogs who previously had poor appetites ate this food with hearty abandon, looking forward to their every meal.
- Several owners noted their dogs had fewer bowel movements when fed this diet regularly.
Cons
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Recommended Serving Amounts For Homemade Dog Food
As a general rule, dogs will eat around 2 to 3 percent of their ideal body weight in fresh food daily. Larger breeds may need as little as 1 1/2 percent, and smaller breeds may need as much as 4 percent.
This works out to be approximately:
- 2 pounds of food per day for a 100-pound dog
- 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of food per day for a 50-pound dog
- 1/2 to 3/4 pound of food per day for a 25-pound dog
- 5 to 6 1/2 ounces of food per day for a 10-pound dog
There is much variation in what the ideal amount should be as it depends on how much your dog weighs and how active she is.
I feel that the best approach is to feed and watch if your dog is losing weight, give more, and if your dog is gaining weight, give less.
For our pugs, we feed a scoop each in the morning and a scoop each in the evening, plus all their supplements.
We have an easy system for this: homemade food is refrigerated in a sealed container with a measuring cup , and all the supplements are lined up together in a cupboard in the kitchen. Keeping your ingredients organized and accessible will make feeding time fast and smooth.
Compared to feeding commercial food, where you might scoop out kibbles or open up a can, feeding homemade food with all the supplements takes maybe 10 seconds more. And even if it took 10 minutes more, fresh wholesome food for our furbabies is worth it.
Why Choose A Dry Dog For Loose Stools
Dry dog food is important in alleviating some of the worrisome effects of loose stools. They help by:
- Providing proper nutrition When a dog suffers from chronic diarrhea he needs special nutritional care and a well-balanced diet to increase vitality. One needs to choose the best dry dog food for stools which are designed for the pets delicate digestive system. The right choice helps in a healthy gut. Nutritional experts use their experience to formulate a blend that helps your dog digest the food better. The proportion of nutrition in these foods is properly balanced and well proportioned.
The products do not contain any allergens, additives and coloring agents that affect the digestion.
- They add bulk to the stool Some of the food types add fiber that aid digestion by adding bulk to the stool. The careful combination of products helps alleviate the causes of loose stools. They also have prebiotics and probiotics that help restore the balance of healthy gut flora and fauna.
- Prevents allergies As discussed earlier, allergens are present in certain food types. These expertly formulated diet plans have low allergens and take care to not process anything causing allergies. Dry dog food for loose stools does not contain top allergens like wheat, soy, corn, gluten. They are all gluten-free. They are free from artificial colors, preservatives and additives.
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Does Grain Free Dog Food Cause Loose Stools
Grain-free dog food is often regarded as the holy grail of dog food, cutting out gluten and introducing more meat to your pups diet.
You know, since dogs are allergic to gluten and they actually need a diet that contains an abundance of raw meat and other forms of protein.
But, is it really that great? Are dogs really allergic to gluten and grain? Are there any side effects to grain-free food, like loose stools?
And, if so, how do you get around that? And, does grain-free food really contain more meat than the traditional alternative? Lets find out.
Significant Drawbacks Of On A Grain
- High carbohydrate content
A grain-free diet doesnt always imply that it has low carbohydrate content. Often, grains are replaced with other carbohydrates containing foods like quinoa, peas, lentils, potatoes, etc., which can hold a higher content of carbohydrates.
The high content of soluble carbohydrates presents a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of dogs. Excess levels of carbohydrates can lead to several health ailments such as obesity, arthritis, food intolerance, etc.
As such, it is essential to carefully read the ingredient list before purchasing a grain-free food supplement.
- Not a suitable diet for aged dogs
Since gluten-free diets are protein-rich from where energy is derived, it is not ideal for introducing it to older dogs with less activity. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity and the associated problems that it entails.
- High price/Expensive
Another downside of a grain-free diet is its cost. Grain-free food costs twice the amount of grain-based foods. As such, introducing your dog to a diet free from grains will not go easy on your wallet.
- Dogs food preferences
While some dogs gradually shift to grain-free foods with no fuss, the same doesnt apply to all. Some dogs are just picky eaters and refuse to eat their grain-free meals. In such cases, changing its diet may never happen.
- Associated heart disease
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Zignature Duck Limited Ingredient Formula Grain
Top 5 Ingredients: Duck, Duck Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Sunflower Oil
Zignature serves wholesome goodness to your precious furry friend. This special grain-free recipe makes excellent dry food for sensitive dogs. Avoid loose stools and other stomach issues with a meal prepared with a novel protein source, peas, and flaxseeds.
This recipe is free from all potential dietary allergens and perfectly fulfills your dogs nutritional requirements.
Hills Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach Dry Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal, Yellow Peas, Cracked Pearled Barley
Hills kibble is one of the best dog foods for firm stools. Its a great choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs and irregular bowel movements.
This diet dog food uses intestine-friendly ingredients for good health, like real chicken and prebiotic fiber. Other wholesome ingredients include dried beet pulp, brown rice, and yellow peas. Finally, the recipe delivers essential omega fatty acids and vitamin E to help promote healthy skin and coat.
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Benefits: How Can A Good Dog Food Help With Soft Stools And Chronic Diarrhea In Dogs
If the issue isnt viral, bacterial, or otherwise medical, you can often just change up your dogs diet. If your dog has a sensitive stomach or allergies, switching food is a good idea.
A portion of good dog food can stop diarrhea and prevent inflammatory bowel disease.
A balanced diet can also reduce allergic reactions and support your dogs immune system with the right nutrition.
On the right food, your dog will be more active, their skin will look healthy, and their stools will be firm and medium brown.
What About Long Term Use Of Grain
At first you may just wish to try out grain-free dog food in an effort to explore whether there will be any benefits. You may want to see if it solves a particular issue or if it will improve their coat or enhance their overall energy. If you should decide to explore the use of grain-free dog food it is important to stay with the transition even if you experience some mildly adverse reaction so you will then be able to judge the eventual outcome. If you quit too early you will never know how your dogs health may have improved. Even if your dog is experiencing some diarrhoea it is likely to be due to the change of diet and this is very common. It is best to stay with it and then there is no reason why you should not keep your dog on the new grain-free diet for good.
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