How do I treat diarrhea in my 5 year old dog?

Hi Jamie, good question and one that I cant answer completely because I cannot diagnose and treat your pet without physically examining him but here are some general guidelines.

For mild diarrhea (like what you are describing), normally it is best to starve your pet for 12 - 24 hours (allow access to water as required) and then introduce food in small amounts. Something fairly light on the stomach such as cooked chicken (boiled, skinless and no seasoning) and boiled rice or canned pumpkin (similar to what we would do for ourselves) works well although there are some commercially available foods like Hills I/D. 3 - 5 days of this bland diet should settle things down and then you can start to reintroduce the regular diet.

If he is unwell with the diarrhea in any way it is best to get him checked by your veterinarian.

| 04.23.15 @ 17:25

DR. Brooks. What do you think about using cooked sweet potatoes or canned pumpkin to help. Also, what can you tell us about food allergies and diarrhea? | 09.03.15 @ 02:30

Hi Jennifer yes canned pumpkin (100%) is great for diarrhea too as it is rich in soluble fiber which has a tendency to slow down gastro-intestinal transit times. Pumpkin is also a great source of potassium which can help to restore lost electrolytes.

Sweet potato is a good alternative to pumpkin

| 09.08.15 @ 18:24