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My dog has diarrhea but is eating. Should I give meds or see vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Goldendoodle | Female | spayed | 40 lbs

My dog has had diarrhea for 4 days but is eating and drinking pretty normal. Do dogs typically need medication to get better?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 7th, 2019

It really depends on the cause of the diarrhea. Some dogs will get better without medications but some need to be treated. You could withhold food for 12 hours and then try a bland diet, boiled chicken and white rice, for a few days and see if it resolves. If it continues then she should be examined by a vet for treatment. Your vet can test a stool sample for parasites and then prescribe medications to treat. You can also add a probiotic (Fortiflora or Proviable) to her diet and see if that helps.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 8th, 2017

    Your pup may need treatment for the diarrhea, but given that she is acting normally and drinking plenty of water, I can give you a home remedy to try to see if that helps. Make sure she is up to date on her deworming treatments, as intestinal worms can cause diarrhea. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in her normal diet. If the diarrhea continues on the bland diet, she starts vomiting food, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, she will need to see a vet right away.

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 15th, 2017

    She might have eaten something spoiled that is causing this. withhold food for 12 hours then offer Jess boiled boneless chicken and rice every 6 hours in small portions. if she is eating and not vomiting, continue with this diet for 2 days. After 2 days, you can put her back gradually on her normal food. If the diarrhea doe not resolve, take her to the vet to get treatment.

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    Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 7th, 2018

    I am sorry to hear about Lucca! We can see diarrhea for a variety of reasons in dogs, including intestinal parasites (worms but also protozoal parasites like coccidia and giardia), eating something that caused inflammation/irritation in the intestines, colitis, and more. If Lucca is energetic as normal and eating with no vomiting, you can try a bland diet such as plain cooked rice with boiled chicken breast or lean ground meat with a probiotic (these are available at many pet stores or your vet's office and online, my favorite is purina Forti-flora and Prostora) for a few days. If he becomes lethargic or has vomiting or decreased appetite, or blood in the stool then he needs to see a vet.

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