Dog Diarrhea from Eating Watermelon: Causes and Prevent

When it comes to the sugar content in watermelons, also known as carbohydrates, it ranges from 5.5 to 7.9 grams per 100 grams. This level of sugar is relatively low compared to other sweet fruits. Watermelon is predominantly made up of water; a 10kilogram watermelon contains at least 9 kilograms of water. The remaining components include other nutrients, with sugar making up only a small fraction of the total.

Therefore, dogs can actually enjoy watermelons, excluding those with colds, illnesses, or pregnant dogs. As long as the portion size is controlled, it's perfectly fine. Even with lower sugar content, consuming too much will lead to an increased intake of sugars. Offering a small piece of watermelon to your dog, while ensuring they maintain their regular diet and water intake, is sufficient. Avoid giving your dog half a watermelon without any restrictions, and remember to account for the watermelon in their daily water consumption when assessing their diet.

Before feeding your dog watermelon, it's best to remove the seeds. Most fruit seeds contain cyanide, a substance that can cause symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.

It's also important to be mindful of the timing and frequency of feeding watermelon to your dog. Avoid feeding it before or after meals, as it can disrupt the digestion process. Do not feed watermelon too frequently within a 24hour period, as it is a cold and raw fruit that can lead to diarrhea, especially when chilled. Opt for room temperature watermelon to prevent bacterial dysentery.

In traditional Chinese veterinary medicine, watermelonrelated diarrhea falls under the category of "deficient cold diarrhea," often caused by external cold invasion or deficiency in the spleen and kidney Yang. Spleen deficiency diarrhea is characterized by symptoms such as depression, emaciation, and dry hair. Initially, the feces may not be wellformed and there may be frequent diarrhea. In the middle stage, the dog may drink more and eat less, with cold ears and nose, a preference for lying down, and a loud stomach rumble. The feces may be thin and watery, containing undigested food. In the later stage, the dog may become listless, have copious diarrhea, swelling in the limbs, and a pale tongue with a faint red hue. Over time, this condition can progress to both spleen and kidney deficiency.

Treatment for spleen deficiency diarrhea involves invigorating Qi and strengthening the spleen, as well as drying dampness and stopping diarrhea.

Formula 1: 6g each of Codonopsis, Atractylodes, Myrobalan, Magnolia bark, and Cinnamon bark; 8g each of Poria, Chinese yam, and Poria cocos; 5g each of Tangerine peel, Dry ginger, and Pericarpium citri reticulatae; 15g of Plantago asiatica; and 3g of Licorice. For dogs with poor appetite and digestion, add 10g of Amomum villosum and 5g of Costus and hawthorn. Boil the ingredients in water and take 1 dose daily for 3 to 5 days.

Formula 2: 9g each of Codonopsis, Atractylodes, Dried hawthorn, Poria, and Coptis; 6g each of Prunus mume, Cornus, and Licorice. Boil 500ml of water, then strain and collect 50ml of concentrated juice. Repeat the process to get another 50ml of juice. Mix the juices and give 50ml first, then 50ml 6 hours later. Take 1 dose daily for 3 to 5 days (this formula is more suitable for puppies with poor digestion and absorption due to diarrhea).

Western medicine formula: 3g of Lactase, 3g of Pepsin, and Montmorillonite powder. Take once daily, twice a day, for 3 days. For severe diarrhea, use 1.5g of Sulfadimethoxine twice a day for 2 days.