Need help with diarrhea

[Gregoire]

My Gregoire was having so many pooping accidents that we have started crated him at night to see if he can really hold it. Which *YAY* he can. The part I need help with is that for the last few mornings he has had diarrhea, or extremely soft movements. It will last for about 4-6 hours. Does anyone think crating him is contributing to this? Do you think he is having a flashback to when he was in a shelter? Anything that I can give him to settle his stomach??

[ViralMD]

It has nothing to do with crating him. Have you changed his food recently? This always has to be done VERY slowly - over 10 days or so. Gradually. Or, your puppy could have diarrhea because he as gastroenteritis - most likely from a virus.

Feed VERY small meals - I would suggest overcooked rice and tiny pieces of poached chicken. If you see ANY blood in his stool you should get him to the vet. Make sure he has plenty of water around to drink and doesn't get dehydrated (gums are nice and pink in a well-hydrated dog).

[Gregoire]

No, we have not changed his food. He's had the same kind for 7 months. I've also made sure he has plenty of water so he does not get dehydrated. His poop is firm at night after his meals; they only seem to get really soft/runny after he comes out of crate in the morning. I wasn’t sure if the crate was making him anxious and that was upsetting his stomach. Thanks for the info on the rice.

[shande71]

I recommend "Nature's Miracle" for cleaning up the messes. Not only do they make a liquid that you saturate the stain (whether it's feces, urine or vomit) with; they also make a dry, sawdust-like solution that you use to soak up the liquid messes with first - before you use the liquid stain remover. It's AWESOME!
BTW - Nature's Miracle is also good for removing blood stains and mustard stains from clothes!

[ViralMD]

For blood NOTHING beats hydrogen peroxide - as interns and residents we were responsible for our own whites - and hydrogen peroxide is magic. Just before you launder, drench the fabric with the blood on it.