More Than Just an Upset Tummy Understanding Diarrhea in Your Aging Dog

This is an important concern for any senior dog owner. Diarrhea in an older dog should always be taken seriously, as senior dogs are more susceptible to dehydration and complications.

Common Causes of Diarrhea in Older Dogs

While "dietary indiscretion" (eating something they shouldn't) is a common cause at any age, diarrhea in senior dogs can often be a symptom of a more serious underlying health issue:

Gastrointestinal (GI) issues in dogs : inflammatory bowel disease (ibd), chronic pancreatitis, or intestinal parasites (even if previously dewormed).

Systemic Illnesses : kidney or liver disease, cushing's or addison's disease, or diabetes.

Cancer: tumors or cancers affecting the GI tract can cause persistent diarrhea.

Medication Side Effects: many older dogs take medication (for arthritis, heart, etc.) that can disrupt the natural balance of the gut (e.g., NSAIDs or antibiotics).

Dietary Changes : sudden change in food or a new sensitivity to ingredients they used to tolerate.

Stress:  Anxiety related to changes in routine or environment.

Initial Supportive Care at home

Hydration: Ensure your dog has constant access to fresh, clean water. Dehydration is the biggest risk.

Bland Diet: If recommended by your vet, you can offer a temporary bland diet for a few days to rest the gut. Feed small amounts frequently (e.g., 4-6 small meals per day). A classic blend is:

1/3 well-cooked, lean protein (boiled, skinless, boneless chicken or lean ground beef)

+

2/3 plain, cooked white rice or boiled potato (no skin, no butter/seasoning).

Vet recommended dog anti-diarrhea remedy: GastroBalance dog diarrhoea relief

This natural dog diarrhoea medicine is more efficient than dog diarrhea tablets or dog diarrhea treatment powder because it's easy to add it to dog food !

Finally, your vet may also recommend a veterinary-specific probiotic supplement to help restore healthy gut flora and soothe stomach discomfort of your senior dog. Once again GastroBalance will help you! GastroBalance advanced probiotics for dogs improve nutrient absorption and especially efficient for recovery after antibiotics treatment of your lovely dog 🐶