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Why does my dog have monthly diarrhea? Should I change food or chews?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 7 years and 6 months old | 80 lbs

we have always fed Zoe IAMS brand, currently she gets the blue bag for optimal weight, she also receives a dentastix & some type of rawhide during the day. since this past October she's had diarrhea once a month, at which time we resorted to white rice & chicken broth to reset her system. Should we change the brand of food? If so, whats your specific recommendation for food brand? Are dentastix helpful for teeth or is this unnecessary? & what's a healthy chew option to replace the rawhide?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Susan England-Foster

Veterinarian

Published on January 23rd, 2018

It is unlikely that Zoe has developed diarrhea from her food if this has been a consistent food through out the years. I would be more concerned about colitis, parasites, gastric upset or even disease that can cause irritation of the bowel. I would recommend taking her to the vet for a fecal exam to make sure there is no underlying disease. I hope that helps

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 30th, 2019

    I think it's something else, and two weeks is a long time to have diarrhea. If Zoey is still acting and doesn't act sick, it could be intestinal worms. She needs to see a vet, please take her into one in the morning.

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    Answered By Ana M, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 6th, 2018

    Thank you for submitting your question regarding Zoey. If her stool is still not normal by tomorrow, I would have her evaluated by her veterinarian. Four days is long enough that if she still has diarrhea, I worry it will not resolve without a medication. She should have fecal testing to rule out any parasites or a bacterial overgrowth. The tick is not likely the cause of the diarrhea. While they can spread diseases, it would unusual for her to have signs so quickly. In the meantime, offer plenty of water so that she does not become dehydrated. It is also generally safe to to withhold food for 18-24 hours if Zoey has been otherwise healthy. This will sometimes resolve the diarrhea by resting the GI tract. I hope this information helps!

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