Should I rest my dog if he has diarrhea?

When you find that your dog's feces have become soft and mushy, or even have watery diarrhea, and the little guy that is usually lively and energetic has become listless, every owner's heart will be tightly gripped. Facing the situation of a dog having diarrhea, "whether it should be allowed to rest" has become a confusion in the minds of many owners. For a dog with diarrhea, rest is not simply "letting it lie down", but an important part related to its physical recovery, which contains scientific considerations and the owner's full love.

The reasons behind a dog's diarrhea are complex. Understanding the cause of the disease is the basis for determining whether the dog needs to rest and how to provide proper care. Improper diet is a common factor leading to a dog's diarrhea. For example, suddenly changing the dog food, accidentally eating spoiled food, or feeding too much greasy or irritating food, etc. Just like when humans have an upset stomach due to eating something bad, a dog's stomach and intestines, after being stimulated by bad food, will try to expel harmful substances through diarrhea. In addition, intestinal parasitic infections, such as roundworms, tapeworms, etc., which multiply in large numbers in the intestine and damage the intestinal mucosa, can also cause diarrhea symptoms. Viral or bacterial infections cannot be ignored either. The invasion of pathogens such as canine parvovirus, coronavirus, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli will seriously affect the dog's intestinal function, leading to frequent diarrhea. When a dog has diarrhea, regardless of the cause, its intestine is in a relatively fragile state and needs time and proper care to return to normal.

From a professional perspective, it is very necessary to let a dog with diarrhea rest properly. During the period of diarrhea, a dog's body will lose a large amount of water and electrolytes, which can easily lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, and then make the body weak. At this time, excessive activity will further consume the dog's already limited physical strength, which is not conducive to physical recovery. Rest can reduce energy consumption, allowing the body to focus more energy on repairing damaged intestinal tissues, combating pathogens, and restoring normal digestive function. Just like when people are sick and need to stay in bed to rest, dogs also need to adjust their physical state through quiet rest. A quiet resting environment can also reduce external stimuli, helping the dog relieve the anxiety caused by physical discomfort and allowing it to recover health in a relatively peaceful state.

During the process of letting the dog rest, the owner needs to take a series of meticulous care measures. First of all, ensure that the dog can drink clean water at any time to prevent dehydration. You can prepare a clean water basin and place it where the dog rests for it to drink at any time. For dogs with mild dehydration, an appropriate amount of pet-specific oral rehydration salts can also be added to the water to help replenish the lost electrolytes. In terms of diet, in the initial stage of diarrhea, the dog should be fasted temporarily for 12 to 24 hours to allow the intestine to have a full rest. After the fasting period ends, gradually introduce light and easily digestible foods, such as well-cooked and mashed white rice porridge and chicken porridge (the chicken needs to be skinned and deboned). These foods are easy to digest and absorb and will not cause too much burden on the intestine. When feeding, follow the principle of feeding small meals frequently to avoid feeding too much at one time and causing irritation to the intestine again.

In addition to ensuring rest and adjusting the diet, closely observing the dog's condition is also crucial. The owner should pay attention to the frequency of the dog's diarrhea, the color and texture of the feces, and whether there are other symptoms such as vomiting, fever, and depression. If the dog's diarrhea does not improve continuously, or there are situations such as bloody stools, frequent vomiting, and a high body temperature, it indicates that the condition may be serious, and the dog should be taken to a pet hospital immediately for professional diagnosis and treatment. During the process of waiting for medical treatment, keep the dog quiet and resting, and try to reduce movement to avoid aggravating the physical discomfort.

Looking at the dog with diarrhea lying quietly on the mat, with weakness and dependence in its eyes, the owner's heart is full of heartache and anxiety. Every time you prepare clean drinking water for the dog and feed it carefully, it is a deep love for it. Although you can't take the pain for the dog, by giving it sufficient rest and scientific care, the owner can provide the most solid support for the dog in this "battle" against the disease. When the dog, under the careful care of the owner, gradually regains its spirit, the feces return to normal, and it wags its tail happily again, the sense of relief and achievement will make all the efforts extremely worthwhile. This is not only a victory for the dog's physical recovery but also a testament to the deep affection between the owner and the dog, making their companionship warmer and more precious.