Tummy Trouble: Pet Owner’s Guide to GI Upset and Diarrhea

Top Causes, Home Remedies and When to Call the Vet

In this episode of the Marty and Laura Show, we dive into one of the messiest and most urgent reasons pet owners rush to the clinic: doggie diarrhea.

Veterinarian Dr. Marty Greer and host Laura Reeves explore the top triggers of GI upset, from the dreaded “dietary indiscretion” (eating garbage, scraps or wildlife droppings) to internal parasites and sudden food changes. We discuss the realities of managing “bad potty” and when it’s safe to treat it at home versus when it’s time to seek professional medical intervention.

Episode Highlights:

• The Top Culprits: Why eating out of the garbage, sudden changes to a puppy’s water or food, and scavenging for “tasty nuggets” in the snow lead to disaster.
• Home Remedies that Work: How to use bland diets like boiled chicken, hamburger and rice, and the proper way to use plain yogurt and veterinary kaopectate.
• Dangerous Mistakes to Avoid: Why giving your dog “sugar-free” yogurt can cause xylitol poisoning, and why a whole Pepto-Bismol tablet will look exactly like a swallowed coin on an X-ray.
• When to Rush to the Vet: Learn to identify red flags like vomiting paired with diarrhea, large amounts of blood, or extreme lethargy, which could indicate life-threatening conditions like hemorrhagic gastroenteritis or parvovirus.
• The Poop-Eating Problem: The frustrating truth about coprophagia and why most deterrents (even hot sauce!) rarely stop dogs from snacking in the yard.

Pro Tip: If your dog gets sick, try to bring a stool sample to the vet using a plastic spoon. If you can’t scoop it, take a clear photo of the mess with a size reference next to it, like a ruler or a quarter, to act as “evidence” for your vet!