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My dog ate sugar-free ice cream. What can I give him for diarrhea?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Male | unneutered | 9 lbs

I have an 8 year old 9 pound male chihauhau. He ate a small amount of vanilla no-sugar added ice cream last night. I looked at ingredients and it has a little malitol and aspartame in it. This morning he's had a very loose stool and several watery small amounts of stool. He vomited once.Doesn't seem to be in acute distress of pain, but I can tell he has a stomach ache. Please advise what to give him to help. I'm pushing a few cc's of water every other hour.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Lauren M. Jones, VMD

Answered By Lauren M. Jones, VMD

Veterinarian

Published on June 29th, 2017

Fortunately, neither malitol nor aspartame are toxic to dogs unless ingested in huge quantities. However, they can cause some mild gastrointestinal upset, as Bentley is now experiencing. I'm glad that you're giving him small, frequent volumes of water because this will help to maintain his hydration despite the fluid loss from his diarrhea. Since he is acting fairly normally, you can try withholding food for the next 12-24 hours, then offer him a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice (1 cup divided into 3-4 smaller meals) for the next few days. After a few days of the bland diet, gradually mix the bland diet with his normal food over another 5-7 days. If Bentley vomits more, if the diarrhea continues in another day or two, or if he becomes lethargic, he will need to go to his vet and may need additional supportive medications and fluids. I hope that he feels better soon!
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr Stafford, BVetMed, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    The sweetness may have upset his tummy but they will be in small quantities, u would be more concerned about the ice cream as dogs are lactose intolerant. He should be fine but I would starve him 24 hours then feed plain chicken and rice. This should give his tummy a chance to settle. If he deteriorates I would go to the vet.

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    0Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 14th, 2019

    If Axel is otherwise acting normally you can try this:

    1. Give ONE dose of immodium. They come in 2mg tablets. Give him 1/2 tablet. Please, ONE dose only or you will cause other issues. You can use generic - loperamide.
    2. No food for 6 hours. Water is OK.
    3. After 6 hours you can start feeding small amounts of a bland diet every few hours. Bland foods like: scrambled eggs, plain rice, plain pasta, boiled chicken or turkey, human baby foods (meat flavors). No oil, butter or spices on the food.
    4. Also, start him on a probiotic made for dogs. No human products. You can buy them at any large pet store. I would give it for a minimum of two weeks.

    You can do the bland diet until the stools look normal and then start to transition him back to his regular food. If he doesn't improve then he really needs to see a vet.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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