My dog has diarrhea from rotating food. Is it IBS or something else?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

  Veterinarian

  Published on September 20th, 2019

  Poor Halo! The diarrhea could be due to many conditions including eating something he shouldn’t have, bacterial over growth, parasites or even organ disease. If the diarrhea has continued beyond 24 hours, I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian. With continued diarrhea, there are often bacterial shifts in the gut that will make matters worse regardless of the initial cause. Make sure to bring in a sample of fresh stool. The doctor will check him for parasites and bacterial over growth. Many times a bland diet can help and then a slow, gradual introduction to the normal food can be done. A bland diet can consist of 25% boiled white meat chicken and 75% boiled white rice. This should all be plain. A good diet in general is Royal Canin. It is low residue and highly digestible. I hope Halo starts feeling better quickly! Please feel free to post any additional questions.

  

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• Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on October 5th, 2018

  As they have been on a chicken and rice diet for a month now and there is no improvement, I would try a different protein. You may want to try feeding rice and lamb or rice and beef and see whether this works. There is a possibility that your dogs have a very sensitive digestive system. You may also want to try giving them bottled water instead of tap water. Do this separately, ie try the bottled water first for a week or two before changing the protein.
  German Shepherd dogs also have a breed disposition for exocrine pancreas insufficiency (EPI). Discuss this with your veterinarian as a possible cause for the diarrhea.

  

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• Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on October 25th, 2018

  Diarrhea is what happens when the intestine wants to get rid of something very fast....it then pushes ingesta and poop out quickly without letting it rest in the colon where normally the colon pulls out fluid and makes the poop firm.
  That said, diarrhea can have many causes such food over sensitivity, eating something that does not agree with the dog, intestinal parasites, an intestinal blockage, bacterial infection, viral infection, the weather, food change, stress, etc. 
  I would fast Charlie for 24 hours and then put him on bland food for two days, such as boiled white rice and boiled white boneless chicken meat, fed in small quantities over several feeds and then transition back to regular food slowly over a few days. If this does not clear up the diarrhea or if the vomiting increases, or if your dog gets lethargic, it needs to see a veterinarian for an exam as there may be something more serious such as an infection going on.
  

  

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