Why Does My Husky Have Diarrhea: (Fixes & Recovery Tips)

When your Husky has diarrhea it’s hard to know how to help them. You’ll want to know why it’s happened, and most important, the next steps to take in order to help them get back to normal.

Reasons Why Your Husky Has Diarrhea

Of course, it’s hard to know exactly what the reason is which is why it’s best to visit a vet if symptoms don’t improve quick.

However, when it comes to huskies, they are known to have sensitive stomachs. So in most cases, diarrhea is usually caused by something they’ve eaten that they disagree with. It could be table scraps, getting in the trash, or a new food/treat.

Here are the known causes of diarrhea for huskies:

Best Solutions for a Husky with Diarrhea

When your Husky is suffering from diarrhea, it can be both concerning for you and uncomfortable for them. Here are some effective solutions to help your furry friend feel better.

1. Fasting

Fasting can be a helpful first step for adult Huskies experiencing mild diarrhea, as it gives their digestive system a break to heal. Typically, withholding food for 12 to 24 hours can help their stomachs settle. However, it’s important to continue providing water to prevent dehydration. This is supported by PetMD

Why It Works: Fasting helps clear the stomach and intestines of any irritants or problematic substances, reducing the workload on the digestive system. This pause can allow inflammation to decrease and can be especially beneficial if the diarrhea was caused by dietary indiscretion.

Tips to Implement: Always ensure your Husky has access to clean, fresh water during the fasting period. Monitor them closely for signs of further distress or dehydration, and if symptoms persist or worsen, consult your veterinarian. Remember, fasting is not suitable for puppies, senior dogs, or those with health conditions requiring regular medication.

2. Bland Food Diet

After a period of fasting, or immediately for puppies, seniors, or medicated dogs, transitioning to a bland diet can be soothing for a Husky’s upset stomach. A bland diet typically consists of boiled chicken and rice, which are easy on the stomach and provide essential nutrients.

Why It Works: The simplicity of a bland diet helps to reduce irritation in the digestive tract. Boiled chicken provides protein, while rice is a gentle carbohydrate that can help firm up stools. This combination offers a balance of nutrition while being easy to digest.

Tips to Implement: Start with small, frequent meals of boiled chicken and white rice (no spices or oils). Gradually reintroduce their regular food by mixing it with the bland diet over a 3-4 days, increasing the regular food’s proportion as their stool becomes more formed. This is supporet by Arlington Animal Hospital.

3. Probiotics or Prebiotics

Probiotics (beneficial bacteria) or prebiotics (fibers that feed beneficial bacteria) can be vital in restoring your Husky’s gut health. These supplements support the growth of good bacteria, which is essential for a healthy digestive system.

Why It Works: Probiotics help balance the intestinal flora, reducing the symptoms of diarrhea by outcompeting bad bacteria for resources and space. Prebiotics, on the other hand, nourish the good bacteria, enhancing their effectiveness. This is supported by the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Tips to Implement: Probiotics and prebiotics can be found in certain dog foods, supplements, or natural sources like yogurt (for probiotics) and fibrous vegetables (for prebiotics). Introduce them gradually to avoid further upsetting their stomach. Always check with your vet before adding these to your Husky’s diet, especially if they have underlying health issues.

4. Hydration with Pedialyte or Meat Broth

Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, making it crucial to keep your Husky well-hydrated. Adding Pedialyte or meat broth to their water can encourage them to drink more and replenish lost electrolytes.

Why It Works: Pedialyte provides essential electrolytes that help maintain fluid balance, while meat broth can entice dogs to drink more due to its flavor. Both options help prevent dehydration, a common complication of diarrhea.

Tips to Implement: Ensure the meat broth is low in sodium and contains no harmful ingredients like onions or garlic. For Pedialyte, consult your vet for the appropriate amount to add to their water. Offer small amounts frequently to encourage drinking without overwhelming their digestive system.

Implementing these solutions can greatly aid in your Husky’s recovery from diarrhea. Always monitor their progress closely and consult your veterinarian if symptoms persist or worsen. Their guidance can ensure your Husky returns to their happy, healthy self in no time.

When To Take Your Husky to a Vet

When dealing with a Husky experiencing diarrhea, it’s essential to recognize when home remedies aren’t enough and veterinary intervention is required.

If your Husky’s diarrhea persists for more than 48 hours, shows signs of blood, or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, or signs of dehydration, it’s time to visit the vet. These symptoms could indicate a more serious underlying condition that needs professional diagnosis and treatment.

Additionally, if your Husky is very young, elderly, or has pre-existing health conditions, it’s advisable to err on the side of caution and consult with your veterinarian sooner rather than later. Puppies, in particular, are at higher risk of dehydration and complications from diarrhea.

Preventing Diarrhea in Huskies

Prevention is always better than cure, as the saying goes. I understand that some things can’t be prevented, but you can still do a lot to keep your Husky as healthy as he should be.

The no.1 cause for diarrhea in Huskies is when they don’t agree with the dog food they’re eating. Huskies have very sensitive stomachs and it can take a while before you find an option that works for them. It helps to know this and gives you a good starting point when trying to investigate why your Husky has diarrhea.

Some tips to help prevent diarrhea in Huskies:

• Start with a limited ingredient dog food for sensitive stomachs
• Ensure fresh cold water at all times
• Daily exercise. One hour in the morning and one in the evening
• Avoid giving your husky these common toxic foods
• Keep your Husky up to date with vaccinations
• Keep your Husky’s bed area clean and free from bacteria
• Ensure a stress-free life for your Husky

14 Best Foods For a Husky With Diarrhea

I explained earlier that you should first fast your Husky if he isn’t a puppy or senior, then switch him over to a bland food diet, instead of his usual dog food.

This is one of the most effective ways to help your Husky and it will give his digestive system a chance to recover.

I covered some of the bland foods you can feed your Husky above, but here’s a complete list containing more foods:

• Sweet potato
• White potato
• Banana
• Apple sauce
• Oatmeal
• Watermelon (no seeds or pips)
• Boiled egg
• Cooked carrots (mashed)
• Boiled chicken breast
• Dairy-free yogurt
• Pumpkin
• Cottage cheese
• Cooked macaroni
• White rice

All of these are great options for your Husky after he has completed a fast.

In most cases, it’s best to opt for just white rice and plain boiled chicken. It’s best to keep things simple when your husky’s stomach isn’t at it’s strongest!

It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the best types of commercial dog food, most appropriate for Huskies. You can see that article just below:

Related Article: The Best Foods for a Husky With a Sensitive Stomach
https://www.myhappyhusky.com/best-food-for-husky-with-sensitive-stomach/

Extra tips for avoiding diarrhea

It’s always helpful to know what may or may not cause diarrhea so here are a few more things to consider.

1) Introduce new foods or treats slowly

Whenever changing foods or trying out a new treat, it’s important to do it gradually and slowly. Of course, a tiny small treat won’t make much difference, but a huge beef bone likely will… When switching diets or food, you should do so gradually over the course of a week.

The slower the better, and it will give him time to adjust.

2) Learn the list of common allergens and toxic food

I bet you didn’t know that chicken can be a common allergen. wait, what!? Yep, and it’s in literally everything.

It may just be that your Husky doesn’t get along with chicken, and because you think it’s so normal, you would never expect it. The list is pretty long, but its something that you’ll benefit from knowing.

List of common allergens in dogs – Cesarsway.com
List of toxic fruits and ingredients for dogs – This site

3) Huskies and the raw diet

This topic is surrounded by heavy debate. Raw diet vs commercial dog food diet. I think it can be a great diet for some huskies.

Many people swear that it’s healthier and more beneficial for a husky to eat a raw diet, but to this day there is still little to actually prove this to be true.

If you’ve had your Husky for at least a few years and know them very well, you could try it. But thorough research must be done first. You should NOT rush into a raw-food diet, and it’s advised to consult your veterinarian for a tailored plan first.

Summary

If your Husky has diarrhea, you must help him as quickly as possible.

If you can’t off the top of your head think of a valid reason your Husky could have diarrhea, it’s best to play it safe and see a veterinarian as soon as possible.

If you do have an idea, and it’s not something serious, the above tips and tricks will help your Husky overcome diarrhea in no time.

Other Resources:
https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/common-emergencies/e_dg_diarrhea
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508351/
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/forums/topic/siberian-husky-with-diarrhea/