Find out what you need to know about Rottweiler Upset Stomach, Diarrhea Treatment & Prevention. There’s nothing is worse than watching your beloved Rottie experience stomach pain and/or diarrhea…except maybe cleaning it out of the carpet!
Like humans, some dogs have a stomach that seems to tolerate just about anything, and some have digestive systems that are easily thrown out of balance.
The first thing to do is to take a look at your Rottie’s stool. I know, not pleasant but you need to make sure there are no worms in the stool. If there are any visible worms, blood or mucus present, give your veterinarian a call right away!
Whether your Rottie has an “iron-clad” stomach or is a “dainty daisy” he may occasionally experience a stomach upset which may or may not include a bout of diarrhea. And like us, there could be an underlying medical issue behind his painful gas and/or diarrhea.
Take heart, though! A little research, combined with a lot of trial and error, can go a long way! Today we will look at 3 things you can do that will help keep your Rottweiler’s system in balance and promote good health, strong bones and teeth, and a shiny coat.
These are:
- Discovery
- Treatment
- Prevention
Having a healthy and comfortable Rottweiler simply makes life simpler, for you and him/her!
Before getting into the 3 key components, I want to give you some information for Rottweiler Upset Stomach & Diarrhea, So your buddy can get some relief …
Quick Treatment for Rottweiler Diarrhea
CANNED PUMPKIN: Mix canned pure pumpkin into his regular food. Do NOT use pumpkin pie filling! Pure pumpkin contains dietary fiber that soothes the digestive tract and absorbs moisture from the stool.
Use 1-2 teaspoons for smaller dogs and 2-4 tablespoons for larger dogs (up to a ½ cup).
OATMEAL: Cook some oatmeal. Do NOT use the flavored kind in a packet, use real whole oats or quick cook oats. Let it cool off. Mix ¼ cup to ½ cup with some of their regular food for smaller dogs.
Medium to Large dogs should get about 1-2 cups. No salt or anything added.
COTTAGE CHEESE OR YOGURT: A spoonful or two (or more for bigger dogs) of cottage cheese or plain yogurt in his food can also be beneficial for firming stool without causing constipation if your Rottie tolerates dairy products well.
No salt or anything added. I personally haven’t used this for diarrhea.
BLAND FOOD: Cooked chicken or rice or both, plain with no seasoning added. You can add it to your Rotties regular food, or just feed him/her the chicken and rice.
Every time your Rottweiler moves his bowels, you must look at it for color, to make sure there are no worms, foreign objects he/she may have eaten, and there isn’t any blood or mucus present. This is so important!
If diarrhea doesn’t clear within 48 hours, you could try Kaopectate, an over-the-counter kaolin/pectin product, according to his weight. You could give your vet a call and see if it’s ok for your Rottie. I haven’t tried any products.
If diarrhea hasn’t slowed, his/her stool hasn’t firmed up in 72 hours, there is any sign of blood or mucus, consult your veterinarian.
What I Do When My Rottie Has Diarrhea
When my Rottie gets diarrhea, I give him either pumpkin or cooked oatmeal in his next bowl of food and make sure he has plenty of water available to him.
This usually takes care of the problem in a day or so. He will usually sleep a lot but other than that, he’s ok. If it continues or I see blood in his stool, I’ll call the vet.
Excessive diarrhea, mucus or blood in your rottweiler’s stool could be cause for a more medically serious issue. It’s very important to LOOK AT YOUR ROTTWEILER’S POOP EACH DAY! I know…it’s not a fun thing to do, but it is necessary.
Especially for catching something medically right away before it escalates into a bigger issue.
Now on to the 3 key components (Discovery, Treatment, Prevention) to help keep your Rottweiler’s system in balance and promote good health…
Discovery: What Has Your Rottweiler Eaten or Gotten Into?
Ut, oh…your Rottie has a distended belly, obvious discomfort and/or…YIKES… diarrhea! What now? It’s time to discover the source! Here are 4 questions to guide you in discovering the culprit:
- Have you introduced a new food in the last 3 days?
- Did he get into something dangerous for him on his own (See the list of dangerous things below.)
- Could there be a mystery element introduced when he was unattended?
- Have you fed your Rottweiler any kind of bones- raw, cooked or rawhide?
Poisonous Things for Your Rottie (and all dogs)
Certain Plants: Crocus, Azalea, Lilies, Oleander, Daffodils, Sage Palm, Tulips, Hyacinths, Alocasia, Aloe, Arrowhead and Desert Rose. These are only a few of them! You may want to refer to the exhaustive list provided by the ASPCA, which includes an emergency phone number, found (here).
Radiator Fluid/Antifreeze: Some vehicles may leak a little fluid under where they are parked. A thirsty dog may be tempted to lap that fluid up. This can prove deadly! Be sure to be sure that any leaks or spills of radiator fluid are cleaned up quickly and properly!
Flea and Tick Prevention Products
Fertilizers
Herbicides
Insecticides
Pest Control Products
Medication
Cleaning Agents
Health Supplements
Never assume that your Rottweiler will avoid the things that are harmful or poisonous to him! As you would do with having small children in your home, also do when you have a dog in your home. Consider it “doggy proofing”!
Be sure your plants aren’t toxic by looking each one up and be sure any potentially harmful products (listed above) are out of your Rottie’s reach. Do not underestimate his intelligence, either!
If something piques his/her curiosity or interest, your Rottie will AMAZE you with their ingenuity to reach it! Cabinet “locks” are readily available and inexpensive at any hardware store and in the Children’s Departments of department stores.
Treatment: Treat Your Rottweiler’s Upset Stomach and Diarrhea
According to the 3 questions above, we will now take a look at treatment options for digestive issues your Rottie may be experiencing, from the smallest to the most dangerous (and even life-threatening!)
If you have introduced a new food in the last 3 days, and your Rottie shows signs of digestive distress (bloating, smelly gas and/or diarrhea) here is what you can do to help:
- Discontinue new food (or treat) immediately! You may want to try reintroducing said food at a later date in smaller increments or discontinue it altogether.
- Give his stomach a break by with-holding food for 12-18 hours, then feed him half portions for a day.
- For diarrhea caused by new food, encourage the dog to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
- Try giving him/her a small meal of white chicken meat boiled with 1/2 cup brown rice may work as a binding agent. Let meals cool before serving. On the next meal, try the chicken and rice and add a ½ cup of new food. Gradually increase the portion of food every couple of days until they’re eating all food.
IMPORTANT TIP: Sometimes the dog food manufacturer will change something in the production of your Rottie’s food.
What else may help…Activated charcoal or digestive enzymes can aid in relieving gas, as well. You’ll find these over-the-counter remedies at your local Pet Food Market, but please do the research before selecting which product you’ll use!
Prevention: Stop Stomach Issues When Changing Dog Food
There’s a simple way to prevent stomach issues in your Rottweiler when you change their food.
Slowly introduce the new dog food over a week’s time. Mix 75% old food with 25% of new food for two days. See how he/she does. Then mix the foods 50/50 for two days. Next will be 75% new food and 25% old. After two days of that, you can feed your Rottie 100% new food.
This is important to know when introducing new food to your Rottweiler puppy or when you get a new rottweiler through rescue or however you’re bringing this beautiful breed into your home.
It will save a lot of unnecessary stomach issues for your Rottie and make his/her transition to a new food to go smoothly for you!
If the cause of your Rottweiler’s digestive upset is from his consumption of a poisonous substance (listed above) OR it is a complete mystery, or it is explosive and/or obviously painful for him, it is best to consult your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY!
Daily Rottweiler Diarrhea Prevention
What if We Don’t Know Why Our Rottweiler Has an Upset Stomach or Diarrhea?
Many times we may not know why our Rottweiler has an upset stomach and/or diarrhea. Part of preventing diarrhea can be done by simply watching your Rottie when he/she is outside, or have others keep an eye on them.
Keep things picked up on the floor or ground outside that they may eat, or could possibly hurt them. Take a look at the vegetation and area in your yard, or where he or she plays. Look for dead animals, trash, plastic toys, metal materials or nails…and so many other things. I think you get my point though.
If you haven’t changed your Rottie’s food and know they didn’t eat anything poisonous, one last question…Have you fed your Rottie any bones at all…raw or cooked?
Cooked bones, like the ones you can purchase in the stores, are very brittle, break off into chards and slivers and SHOULD NOT be given to your Rottweiler, NEVER! They can also cause bleeding in your Rotties mouth and in their stool.
If you’d like to know more about bones, check out “Can a Rottweiler Eat Chicken Bones?”
If you haven’t given your Rottweiler any bones, then you can assume they got ahold of something somewhere!! You’ll find that sometimes they will just have a loose stool every once in a while, especially if they are outside a lot.
I don’t feed my Maximus rawhide so I know he wouldn’t have a blockage from that. When he gets diarrhea, it’s usually because he has eaten a lizard or a bug out on the pool patio…usually a lizard 🙂
What to do if your Rottweiler did have rawhide or ate a toy, small piece of clothing or something… Keep a close eye on him and call your veterinarian Some things you can do that may help…
- Belly rubbing can help ease the discomfort of bloating, and even a warm compress can be useful.
- Increasing exercise can help your dog release his gas in a natural way.
Other Possible Causes of Diarrhea in Rottweilers
- Parasites
- Antibiotics
- Pancreatitis
- Stress
- Cancer
- Intestinal Blockage
- Viral Infection
- Hypersensitive Digestive Tract
- Addison’s Disease
- Liver Disease
- Kidney Disease
Symptoms Accompanying Diarrhea that are Indicators of Needing Veterinarian Care
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Severe Pain
- Falling Down
- Disorientation (such as bumping into walls, spinning in circles, etc)
- Mucus or blood in the stool or on anus after a bowel movement
- Stool dripping or leaking from his anus.
Preventing Rottweiler Digestive Issues and Diarrhea
As soon as your pup is weaned, he will rely on you to be responsible for what he will eat, because he certainly won’t be! If it smells like food or appeals to him in any way whatsoever, be sure he will eat!
Rottweiler dogs have an inherent instinct to chew, as well as a need. What he will chew, however, is largely dependant upon his owner.
The first step in preventing digestive issues is ensuring he is offered a proper and nutritious diet, along with a supplement of treats or snacks to brighten his day.
Underfeeding and overfeeding are both dangerous to him, and he will not reach optimum health under either circumstance!
When your pup is ready to begin eating on his own, you may want to consider mixing wet food and dry kibble together until he becomes accustomed to solid foods.
Do research on the brand you select, making sure that meat is the primary ingredient. Steer clear of additives and preservatives as much as possible, as well as artificial colorings and flavors.
These chemicals are detrimental to his health in the exact same way they are detrimental to ours! It has even been suggested these ingredients can cause cancer to grow!
If you’d like some more info about dog food, you may want to check out “Is Pedigree Good For Rottweilers?”
DO NOT give your Rottweiler rawhide bones! They are made of manmade manufactured ingredients that your Rottie does not need, are not digestible to your dog and can cause obstructions in your Rottie’s colon. !
DO NOT give your Rottweiler table scraps, pieces of fat or any kind of human packaged foods. No sweets at all, chips, crackers…no fast food…these chemical-laden ‘foods’ are not good for their digestion at all!
They could make your Rottie sick and if continued, overweight. Eating these foods will no doubt bring about an upset stomach! “People food”, especially processed and fast food, are not meant for dogs.
Many dog owners opt to prepare their pup’s food in the homemade method, using fresh ingredients instead of buying packaged or canned food from the grocery store.
There is nothing wrong with this method, as long as the food you prepare meets his nutrition requirements. Dogs thrive on protein, healthy grains (for carbohydrates) and even vegetables!
Add zero seasonings to your dog’s food, and no extra fat. Both are unnecessary, and can cause stomach upset, digestive tract issues, diarrhea, and even health problems! Here is a simple recipe if you opt for homemade dog food:
Shouldn’t Dogs Eat Like Their Ancestors, Wolves?
No. Your Rottweiler might have the appetite and some mannerisms of wolves, but their digestive tracts are NOT the same!
Dogs have 10 key genes compared to wolves that allow them to better utilize grains in their diet. If you fed your Rottie only raw meat, the staple of a wolf’s diet, they would experience a nutritional deficiency. Like humans, your furbaby requires a well-rounded diet.
How Much Food Should a Rottweiler Eat?
Some owners make food available all day long. Some offer food at specific times, like breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The choice is yours and should match your lifestyle.
I feed my Rottweiler 2 cups twice a day. Once 6:00-6: 30 am and around 6:00 pm. A couple of days a week he gets an extra cup at lunch at his doggie daycare.
Do not overfeed or underfeed. You will find your dog’s appetite varies, just like your own. Some days he’ll want less food and that’s okay! Your Rottweiler will eat when hungry.
TIP: You don’t have to feed your Rottweiler what it says on the dog food bag! Their job is to sell as much dog food as they can.
Never “force” food on him, just offer it. On other days, especially during growth spurts, he may want a little more, and that’s okay, too!
In general, here is the amount of food your Rottie will most likely thrive on:
Pups: Make sure you get Large Breed Puppy Food for your growing Rottweiler At weaning, you can begin feeding your Rottie puppy from 1 1/2- 2 cups of food a day.
It is best to not feed it to them all at once but to break it down into at least 3 meals a day.
Smaller meals are easier for them to digest and will help prevent spikes in hunger and blood sugar. Keeping his appetite satiated several times a day will also make him less likely to go hunting for the things he shouldn’t be eating, like your slippers!
As your Rottweiler ages, you can gradually increase the amount of food per serving (as you see the need) until you reach the adult Rottweiler food requirement. And you can switch to giving two larger portions twice a day.
Adults: Rottweilers are generally considered adults at 2 years of age, but can still grow until their third year. Depending on their sex and heritage, an adult Rottweiler will grow to an astounding 75-130 pounds (48-68 KG)!
With hefty weights like those, your Rottie will eat a hefty amount of food! Females are generally at the lower end of that spectrum, and males at the higher.
An easy rule of thumb is to be feeding them 2 pounds of food daily at age 2 and increasing to 3 pounds by age 3.
Again, it is still best to divide the food into smaller portions offered at different times instead of feeding it all at once.
This is just an estimate…your Rottie will let you know how much he/she wants to eat.
You’ll know you’ve met his food and nutrition requirements when you have an adult Rottweiler with abundant energy, strong teeth, and a shiny coat.
Note: Underfeeding can lead to lethargy, weak bones and teeth, and dull listless coats. Underfeeding also weakens his immune system, cause illnesses, and provoke him into eating things that can be harmful to him.
A starving dog will even eat dirt or tree bark. Like us, dogs have a survival instinct. It’s on the owner to ensure he not only survives but thrives!
Whereas Overfeeding can lead to obesity, heart disease, liver and kidney diseases, and overall bad health. Since your Rottie isn’t well-informed on these issues, he may tend toward gluttony.
That’s why it’s so important for his owner to be well-informed! Adjust the amount you feed your Rottweiler according to what makes him thrive, maintain a weight within the healthy range and display good energy and contentment.
You DO NOT have to feed your Rottie what it says on the dog food bag. My Maximus will be 2 years old next month, weighs 120 pounds and according to the bag, he should eat 9-10 cups a day! He eats 2-2 ½ cups twice a day and his treats. So, 4-5 cups a day.
ALWAYS BE SURE YOUR ROTTWEILER HAS PLENTY OF FRESH CLEAN WATER!
Dehydration prevents lean muscle mass from forming and is harmful to all his bodily functions, including proper digestion.
Feeding Your Rottweiler Treats
There is nothing wrong with offering your Rottie snacks and treats as long as it is done responsibly. After all, who doesn’t love a snack or a treat? Treats can be great tools when it’s time for training or to reward good behavior!
With your dog’s health being a top priority, it’s best not to go with the pre-packaged treats from the store, unless they are all-natural and without additives or preservatives.
Treats a Rottweiler Can Eat:
Here are some better options to offer you Rottie as a treat:
Note: Be sure you wash vegetables or fruits before feeding them to your Rottie!
- Carrots
- Sweet Potato Chunks (cooked but firm & cooled)
- Pumpkin Chunks (cooked but firm & cooled)
- Green Beans
- Cranberries (also good for a urinary tract infection)
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Apples
- Cantaloupe Chunks
- An Occasional Bone (Raw only, no poultry, not store-bought “bone treats”)
- Celery (cut in several inch pieces)
For ‘Dog Treats’ You can get bully sticks, Himalayan Yak chews, pig ears or bones from the butcher or grocery store. Many stores carry them in the meat department, or you can ask. These are all great choices for helping control your Rottie’s chewing too.
Foods a Rottweiler SHOULD NOT eat:
Grapes
Raisins
Onions
Garlic
Chocolate
Alcohol
Xylitol (or any artificial sweetener)
Candy
Granulated Sugar
Anything with Spices on it
Like humans, Rottweilers will like some foods and turn their nose up at others. When a new food is introduced, introduce it gradually and in small amounts, observing both your Rottie’s reaction to it and the effects it has on his bowel movements.
Don’t Punish Your Rottweiler For Being Sick
Days your Rottweiler isn’t feeling well are not happy times for both the dog and the humans that love him.
Please remember not to discipline your Rottie if his diarrhea lands on the carpet, or other areas not designated as his “potty area”.
He doesn’t have the control or understanding that we possess when it comes to making it to his designated area. He will most likely already feel ashamed and embarrassed.
Scolding him will not help the situation at all. Instead, he needs your comforting, assurance and love.
If your Rottweiler is older, he DOES NOT want to go poo in the house. He’s learned not to and he has no control over this and he will be scared and nervous because of what happened.
It’s also not wise to confine him to his crate at this time if you use a crate for his “home base”. Understandably, you won’t want him messing throughout your whole house, but dogs are distressed when their only option is to move their bowels in the place where they sleep.
Instead, confine him to an area where he can be comfortable and clean-up can be of minimal efforts, like a garage, patio or a sheltered area in your yard. Wherever you decide is best, be sure he has an ample supply of fresh clean water.
Diarrhea can cause dehydration, and severe dehydration can be a life-threatening event!
With careful observation, proper prevention and treatment, your Rottweiler will be back to his “old self” within a few days, and feeling just fine!
Related Topics
How Much to Feed Rottweilers (An Age by Age Guide)
*This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.
