If your german shepherd is experiencing diarrhea, gas, upset stomach, or vomiting, life can be hell for both you and your beloved pooch.

German Shepherds can experience gastrointestinal issues for a myriad of reasons, but fortunately many of these issues can be alleviated at home with a few natural remedies or supplements. However, if your german shepherd is consistently experiencing diarrhea or vomiting, make an appointment with your veterinarian right away.

Here’s 5 remedies or supplements for your german shepherd’s tummy trouble today:

1. Fast Your German Shepherd for 12-24 Hours

Sometimes all a dog needs is time for their gastrointestinal tract to heal and reset. Withholding food for 12 – 24 hours allows the system to flush out whatever nastiness caused the issue and reboot to a healthy state. It’s important to keep your german shepherd hydrated, even during a fast. However, do not let them drink too much at once, as this could cause vomiting or set off another bout of diarrhea.

 

2. Give Your German Shepherd Bland Diet for a Few Days

At the end of a fast it’s best to slowly introduce a diet of bland, easily digestible food. Try boiled, unseasoned, skinless white meat chicken shredded over plain white rice. For dogs on grain-free diets, substitute mashed over-ripe banana or canned pumpkin. Feed a few spoon-fulls every 2 – 3 hours and gradually increase the quantity over a 24 hour period.

Next, begin a slow re-introduction of their normal food by serving a 75% bland/25% regular diet mix for a few meals, followed by a 50/50 mix, followed by a 75% regular/25% bland, until your dog is eating exclusively dog food again.

 

3. Use a Multi-Strain Probiotic for Your German Shepherd’s Diarrhea or Gas

Diarrhea not only clears away the unhealthy bacteria in the gut, it also destroys the healthy flora. To reintroduce these living, beneficial cultures, opt for a canine probiotic. Plain yogurt may help, but does not pack nearly the same punch as a high-potency probiotic packed with the right cultures. Make sure you choose a product that contains multiple strains of good bacteria, not just one. The probiotic soft chew we use here at iHeartDogs has 3 strains of probiotics.

This probiotic is also available on Amazon Prime.

Using a probiotic is also helpful for reducing your german shepherd’s gas, or transitioning them to a new food.

 

4. Give Your German Shepherd a Prebiotic Supplement or Pumpkin

Canned pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filler!), slippery elm, chia seeds, and plantains are all forms of prebiotics which are reported to offer natural GI-healing benefits. Prebiotics are a non-digestible ingredient that promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines. In other words, PRE-biotics are basically the food that PRO-biotics needs to thrive.

Pureed pumpkin is packed with fiber which helps to bulk up the stool. Slippery elm is said to coat and sooth mucus membranes – including the GI tract. Chia seeds are packed with fiber and absorb excess water, and plantains have antimocrobial properties. As always, consult your vet before making changes to your dog’s diet. Some high quality supplements, like this dog prebiotic chew, already contain pumpkin in them.

 

5. Try Giving Your German Shepherd Digestive Enzymes to Improve Digestion

Oftentimes the cause of your german shepherd’s stomach issue may be related to incomplete digestion. Some german shepherd’s have trouble digesting protein, fats, carbohydrates, or fiber. Digestive enzymes help your german shepherd break down and absorb each of these nutrients. Failure to absorb nutrients can result in bouts of runny poos, so these vital enzymes can help.

Protease: Breaks down proteins into amino acids, improving digestion of meats in particular
Amylase: Breaks down starches into carbohydrate molecules that your german shepherd’s can digest
Lipase: Breaks down fats in your german shepherd’s gut
Cellulase: Breaks down fiber from plants & grains.

Any good digestive enzyme supplement for dogs should include all 4 of these enzymes.

 

If you were to give your german shepherd one supplement, make it this one!

Providing all in one probiotic, prebiotic, & digestive enzyme supplement is the easiest way to ensure that your pup is getting the microflora they need to encourage an optimally functioning GI tract.

Learn About the 3-in-1 Probiotic, Prebiotic, & Digestive Enzyme Supplement Recommended by iHeartDogs

This probiotic is also available on Amazon Prime.

Additional FAQs About Your German Shepherd’s Gastroenteritis, Gas, Diarrhea, Bloating, or Vomiting

Should I Use a Probiotic When Transitioning My German Shepherd to a New Food?

Probiotics are also very useful in preventing diarrhea when transitioning your german shepherd to a new food. First, give your german shepherd a probiotic for a week or so before introducing the new food. Then slowly increase the amount of new food while continuing to feed some of the old. During this time, continue giving the probiotic until the transition to 100% of the new food is complete.

My German Shepherd Recently Was Given an Antibiotic. Should I also Give a Probiotic?

Yes! Antibiotics destroy both good and bad bacteria in your german shepherd’s body. Giving a probiotic while taking a antibiotic will help replenish the good strains of bacteria your dog needs in their gut.

Can a Probiotic Help My German Shepherd Stop Eating Poop?

It might. Poop-eating can be linked to poor digestion or nutrient absorption. A probiotic supports gut health, which may reduce the behavior, especially when combined with a balanced diet and training.

Can a Probiotic Reduce My German Shepherd’s Gas?

Can your german shepherd’s gas clear a room? Even something as trivial as your german shepherd’s smelly farts can be helped by a good quality probiotic. It’s an easy way to improve the air quality in your home!

What Causes Diarrhea & Vomiting with My German Shepherd? 

There are many possible causes of your german shepherd’s tummy troubles:

Certain viruses can cause stomach upset, such as parvovirus for puppies
Eating a food not appropriate for dogs, especially fatty foods
A food allergy or intolerance
Swallowing a foreign non-food object
Sudden changes in food. Most dogs need to be transitioned slowly to a new food brand while taking a probiotic
Side effect of a medication, especially a new one. Antibiotics are notorious for causing diarrhea in dogs.
Intestinal parasites
Poisons or toxins
Pancreatitis
Chronic disease such as IBD  (inflammatory bowel disease)
Stress due to boarding at a kennel, visiting a vet, or rehoming. Dogs in shelters are particularly prone to bouts of diarrhea.

Always note the color and consistency of your german shepherd’s poop or vomit. As unpleasant as it might be, take a picture of it that you can show your veterinarian.

 

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. No product is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional.

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