Does Wet Dog Food Cause Diarrhea?

We all know how hard it is to watch our furry friends suffer without explanation. Unfortunately, when they have something upsetting their stomach, we don’t always know how to help them find relief. And even if we can figure out what’s bothering them, there’s no guarantee that we can do anything about it.

When your pup starts having problems with diarrhea, there are numerous issues that they might be facing. Sometimes it’s as easy as a process of elimination. But, sometimes, it requires a vet visit to figure out the problem.

Whatever might be plaguing your pet, it’s always a good idea to start by looking at their food. For instance, does wet dog food cause diarrhea? Keep in mind that while your dog’s food is a potential answer, it might not be the only reason why your dog might have a runny tummy.

Does Wet Dog Food Cause Diarrhea?

The short explanation is, yes, wet dog food can cause diarrhea in your dog. But it’s not necessarily because of the wet dog food itself. 

Sometimes a change in your dog’s diet will precipitate diarrhea, so if you go from dry dog food to wet dog food, that could account for the problem. 

It could also have something to do with the brand of dog food that you’re using. For example, it may be that your dog prefers wet dog food but the ingredients in the specific brand are hard on your dog’s stomach.

Sometimes it has nothing to do with the dog food itself. There are many possible contributing factors to why your pup might be suffering, but you shouldn’t rule out wet dog food without testing the theory.

Types of Dog Food

Diarrhea can be extremely dangerous for your dogs, especially if it’s left untreated. Experimenting with different types of dog food might help you narrow down what’s wrong with your four-legged friend. However, if it’s not food-related, you should seek professional help. 

Testing your dog’s food is an excellent place to start. Knowing why different dog food brands use other ingredients and how those ingredients might affect your dog will ultimately help you narrow down if your dog’s food is causing the problems. 

Dogs typically eat a variety of wet or dry food. Some dog diets require specialty foods, but they will almost certainly include wet or dry dog food. 

Wet Dog Food

Wet dog food is simply one means of delivering your dog all the nutrients that it needs daily. Some dogs love their wet food and often refuse to touch anything else once they get used to it. 

Wet dog food comes from grinding a protein source of some kind. It could be chicken, beef, fish, or anything else along those lines. Then a unique gravy-like substance is added, usually packed with vitamins and minerals to help your puppy thrive.

Usually, canned, wet dog food is sold all around the country as an alternative to the enormous bags of dry dog food that most people are accustomed to purchasing. It likely has fewer preservatives than other dog foods.

Dry Dog Food

Dry dog food is the stuff that comes in those bags you see in grocery stores. Some of them are huge, 50-pound bags. Some are small, anywhere from 10 to 15 pounds.

Depending on the size of dog you have, you might be someone who buys the 50-pound bag every month. 

Dry dog food usually contains the same basic ingredients as wet dog food. Or it at least includes the same type of ingredients. However, the protein source gets blended, and it doesn’t get any added gravy. 

The dough that comes from the dry dog food mixture first gets cooked and then chopped to look like pebbles before getting packaged and shipped out. 

Homemade Dog Food

It’s become quite common for pet owners to make their dog’s food. Being in control of what your dog eats is an easy way to know what your dog is consuming without worrying about added preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Some people go through the trouble of making dog food themselves. Some people just feed their dog human food. 

It doesn’t mean that you should give your puppy things like chips and highly processed snacks, but there’s no reason they can’t eat good meat and vegetables. It all just depends on what your dog likes and needs. 

Switching Diets

Between the different types of dog food, it might be hard to determine what is causing your puppy’s diarrhea. However, if you think it has something to do with the wet dog food you’ve been giving your pup, then try switching their diet for a while.

Or, if you’ve recently switched them to wet dog food from dry food, try giving it a little longer before you make any changes. Sometimes, it takes the dog time to adjust to the new diet. They don’t necessarily have a problem with wet dog food; they simply aren’t used to it.

If your dog is suffering from diarrhea, it could also be a switching brand product. Even if they’ve consumed wet dog food their entire lives, a brand change might upset the stomach and cause bowel issues.

Other Causes 

Sometimes the food you give your dog might have nothing to do with their diarrhea. There are plenty of other possibilities for why they might be suffering, and it’s worth considering whether extra veterinary recommendations are necessary if you try changing their diet and they still have difficulty.

We all want our pets to be happy and healthy since nothing is harder than watching them go through something we don’t understand. When it comes to potential medical issues, it’s especially troublesome.

Diarrhea in a dog can be a sign of something like bacteria or worms or an illness of some kind. So it’s worth getting them checked out if the problem persists. You can try changing their diet, and you may have luck.

However, if it does nothing, take them to see a veterinarian. 

Final Thoughts

So, does wet dog food cause diarrhea? When your dog is struggling with something like diarrhea, it’s easy to jump to conclusions about what might be wrong. 

While there could be something wrong with their food, it could also be their stomach adjusting. Make sure you address the problem immediately and see if maybe wet dog food is causing diarrhea in your pup.