A mild bout of infectious enteritis may require no treatment at all. The dog may have only a mild diarrhea for one or two days, then spontaneously recover. In more severe instances, the dog will need medication to stop or control the diarrhea. Dehydration is one of the most important symptoms which must be treated. Supportive nutrients and fluids are administered intravenously or subcutaneously until the dog recovers.
Antibiotics are helpful if the cause is a bacterium.
Antibiotics also help prevent bacteria from secondarily complicating viral diseases such as Parvovirus. Kaopectate and other intestinal coating agents are beneficial in mild cases. In severe cases, to prevent dehydration, medication which slows down the secretions and movements of the intestinal tract can also be administered. The exact treatment varies by age, cause and severity. Dogs with infectious enteritis should be monitored closely.