My senior dog has diarrhea & bad smells on wet food. What to do?

These signs could be compatible with a colitis, which is an inflammation of the last part of the colon, usually related to dietary indiscretion. As a first approach, I would suggest to start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hello! It sounds as if you are dealing with some [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/article/diarrhea-in-dogs) in your dog! The not-so-simple answer to your question is…maybe. While the dog food itself may not be a direct cause of diarrhea, if the particular food is on recall (which you can look up on the [FDA website](https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/safetyhealth/recallswithdrawals/)), then it could be suspect. Other things, such as[ food allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies/), changes in food brand, or a sensitive stomach, are more likely to cause diarrhea in relation to a particular food. If you just started a new food, diarrhea can develop by [switching the food](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-transition-your-dog-or-cat-to-a-new-food/) too fast. Dogs are sensitive to changes in diet since they eat the same thing every day. A new food or new ingredient given suddenly can bring on bouts of diarrhea. Try mixing the old food in with the new food and slowly increasing the amount of new food you give while reducing the amount of the old food over the course of 7-9 days to help protect against bouts of diarrhea. [Food allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-allergies-vs-environmental-allergies-whats-the-difference) are a little more difficult to nail down, as it tend to occur due to a sensitivity to a particular ingredient in the food (like if your dog is allergic to chicken). If the diarrhea continues, this can be something to discuss with your vet, as it often takes a lot of diet changes and [food trials](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-trials-for-allergies-in-pets-what-to-expect) to narrow down the problematic ingredient. Aside from the food, other causes such as [intestinal parasites](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-worms), toxins, or almost any disease can cause a dog to develop diarrhea. It is always worthwhile to get a stool sample checked by your vet to see if there is something else aside from the food that might be causing your dog's issue. Mild diarrhea can sometimes be [managed at home](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-treat-your-dogs-upset-stomach) by fasting then offering a bland diet of plain boiled chicken breast mixed with plain cooked white rice for 2-3 days or until symptoms resolve. Gradually switch back to the normal diet afterwards. If the diarrhea continues or gets worse over that period, if you see blood in the stool, or if any other signs develop (such as vomiting, lethargy or loss of appetite), then it is time to have your pet evaluated by a veterinarian. Dehydration is a real concern when pets have profuse diarrhea. Good luck, and I hope your dog starts to feel better soon!

Honey's diarrhea could be due to food intolerance/sensitivity, chronic parasites like Giardia, IBD or even something in her small intestine like a pancreas issue. Most of these potential causes requires some type of lab test to diagnose so I recommend she be examined by her veterinarian. Sometimes a diet change is needed, other times medication.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ranger. If the diarrhea started after adding the canned food to his diet, then this is likely the cause. If the diarrhea has been intermittent or present prior to the diet change, then I worry that there is a different cause. In this case, he should see his veterinarian for fecal testing. Otherwise, you can try to add a probiotic such as Fortiflora. This can help with stool quality. A different brand of canned food or a smaller amount may help as well. Purina ProPlan Sensitive Skin and Stomach is a good formula for mild GI upset. I hope this information helps!

It sounds like she needs to be examined and treated by a vet right away. She may be getting dehydrated and need some fluids, either subcutaneously or intravenously. Your vet can also run some blood work and other tests to help determine the cause and evaluated the function of all her organs. It is very concerning that she is not eating and is very weak. I don't think this is something that should be treated at home with OTC medications. If she has a gum infection then she may need an antibiotic to treat the infection. Call your vet or take her to an emergency clinic for treatment. Hope she feels better soon!

I hate to hear this is happening. Any dogs with chronic diarrhea that does not respond to OTC diets needs to be examined by the veterinarian. She may have a parasite, a bacterial issue or she may need a prescription diet meant for dogs with dietary intolerance or food allergy. Blonca will need some diagnostics. And the doctor will need a good idea of what diets you have tried in the past. I hope this helps.

It may have been the food since she has never had it before. For some it is too rich and upsets their stomach. I would not worry about the odor. If it continues to happen then I would get her seen by a vet to make sure she does not get dehydrated. You can try boiled chicken and rice to help her stomach calm down before returning to her normal food