Why You Should Use Extreme Caution With Imodium
Imodium is a synthetic opioid. All opioids are known to cause constipation. They work by slowing down gut motility which allows for more fluid and salts to be drawn back into the body system.
Imodium, when administered at safe levels, is not helpful for pain and, therefore, will not relieve any abdominal discomfort your dog may have. While, in some cases, Imodium may help, there are others where it can cause potentially serious side effects. Some of these side effects include constipation, sedation, bloating, and even pancreatitis.
You should never give Imodium to your dog if:
Healthy Diet And Nutrition Tips From Dr Sarah Nold
Ensuring your dog has a good wholesome diet not only keeps them healthy, but can also help prevent bouts of diarrhea. Heavily processed foods containing high levels of preservatives and chemicals can play havoc with your dogs digestion, and certain human foods can even be poisonous to your dog.
Trupanion veterinarian, Sarah Nold, DVM, offers her healthy diet and nutrition tips, including common foods to avoid and advice on food allergies.
How Long Should Diarrhea Last After The Change Of Food
Moo: How long should diarrhea last due to a change of food?I changed my dog’s food and now she has diarrhea. I know this is normal due to food change, but how long should it last before I start to worry?
Answers and Views:
Answer by MeganAbout a few days or so. It shouldn’t take long for her system to get used to the new food. If it’s any longer than a week, I’d start worrying & take her to a vet.
Answer by ChristieA lot depends on the food, really. I have a Great Dane pup, and I tried to feed him Eukanuba like my other two dogs that were ok with it. My pup had severe diarrhea, and it didn’t stop after deworming and anti-diarrhea pills that the vet had given him. So I tried to switch to grain-free Orijen Six Fish, and it worked. But it was too expensive so I switched again to Taste of the Wild Hi Prairie. I liked it even better!
Now I feed all my three dogs with it, and I want to try their fish kibbles called Pacific Stream. Both foods are for adult dogs but I don’t want to feed my Dane some puppy food because he shouldn’t grow too fast .
Answer by Paul K.A sudden change in your dog’s food can lead to acute or momentary diarrhea. However, when diarrhea in your dog lasts more than 2-3 days, it may be called chronic diarrhea or chronic colitis. Throughout its duration, the dog must be well hydrated by making him drink because the body can lose a lot of water and mineral salts.
So, what you should do now.
In some cases, it is strongly recommended to go to the vet:
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What Stools Say About Your Dogs Health
The consistency and color of diarrhea reveal a lot about the cause of the problem and what is happening in your dog. Take very careful note of the color, consistency, and anything else that might help when you describe the symptoms to a vet. In many cases, diarrhea will resolve after a few days of home treatment, but its a good idea to give your vet a call if it continues for a long period or has any one of several signs that may point to a serious problem.
This infographic from Purina gives you an idea of a perfect dog poop, which is chocolate brown, shaped like logs, compact, and easy to scoop. Experts say it should feel like cookie dough or Play-Doh when pressed. Large volumes, pudding-like or watery consistency, or signs of mucus , or blood streaks, are not normal.
Take Note of the Color of the Poop
Color can also indicate a lot about what is going on inside your dogs gut. Chocolate brown is normal, while colors like orange, green, or gray may signify issues with such organs as liver, gall bladder, or pancreas. Black tarry stool is very serious, and may point to internal bleeding. If you see this, contact your vet as soon as possible.
Purina has also provided a handy referencea color wheel of dog poop.
Color, shape, and consistency will all help you and your vet figure out what is wrong when your dog gets diarrhea. These factors will help your vet determine where the problem is originating along the dogs digestive tract.
Other Ways to Decipher Dog Poop
My Pet Pooped In The House How Can I Clean It
If your pet is poorly and has a bad stomach, they might have an accident in the house. Remember not to punish your pet for this as it can make them fearful and stressed . You can put some puppy pads down in case it happens again.
If your cat or dog has pooped on a hard surface, like tiles or lino, its a little easier to clean. Wed recommend wearing gloves and try to get as much of it up as possible with paper towels first. Then, thoroughly spray the area with a disinfectant spray thats safe to use on your floor and wash the area over with warm soapy water. Wash your hands well once youre done.
If theyve gone to the toilet in their bed or on a pet blanket or towel, try to clean up the worst of the mess with kitchen roll. Using laundry stain treatment can help avoid setting the stain. Then you can put the bedding in the wash – ideally a hot wash with a gentle detergent. If your pets bed isnt washable, follow the advice for carpet cleaning below.
If theres poo on the carpet, this might be a little more difficult to clean up. Its important to clean it as soon as possible after it happens, especially if its diarrhoea! Again, try to get as much of it up as possible with paper towels . You might need to use a moist paper towel or baby wipe to get as much of it off the carpet as possible. Dont rub it or blot it at this stage as that could push the stain further into the carpet.
Dont forget to wash your hands after!
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Other Natural Cures For Diarrhea
Olewo Carrots arent the only cure and thanks to life with Rodrigo, I have a few tricks in my bag.
- Slippery Elm for my dogs, I empty four capsules and turn it into a paste using warm water. I then either mix it into their food or mix it with coconut oil or peanut butter. None of my dogs will eat it otherwise.
- FullBucket PASTE not the powder, but the paste. Its a concentrated form of the FullBucket powder supplement and works great!
- Runs Be Gone by Dr. Harveys this one is more for soft stool than full on diarrhea. When Scout was going through chemo, I would add Runs Be Gone to his meals starting a couple of days before an appointment and exptending a couple of days after it helped a lot.
Im sure that there are many more natural supplements to help with diarrhea. This post shares whats worked consistently for my dogs. Feel free to share what has worked for your dogs in the comments. Thanks!
When To Talk To A Vet
Though dogs usually become accustomed to their diet within a few days, there are a few situations where you may want to take your dog to a vet.
If your dog has been on the new food for more than a few days and is still experiencing problems, it should be seen by a vet.
Dogs may not transition quickly to a new food, but they should have no problems after three days. If your dog is still experiencing problems after 72 hours, he may be allergic to his new food.
If your dogs symptoms get worse or change, you should immediately take him to a vet. If the symptoms turn from diarrhea to nausea, vomiting, or a complete loss of appetite, these symptoms are considered more severe. Your dog should be seen by the vet ASAP.
Other signs that your dog is reacting to his food include itching, skin inflammation, hair loss, and rashes.
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How Can I Help My Dog Or Cat Feel Better If They’ve Got An Upset Stomach
Most pets will recover from mild diarrhoea in a couple of days. While theyre recovering, you can follow some simple steps to make them more comfortable and help them get over their sickness.
Theyll usually be quite tired after a stomach upset but this shouldnt go on for more than a day or so. Until they feel better, its fine to take a break from usual activities like long walks or hard play while theyre recovering. Give them somewhere quiet and comfy to recover.
While they are recovering, your pet needs:
- A bland diet
Read our full advice on home care for dogs with diarrhoea.
While your pet is having diarrhoea, theyll probably need to go to the toilet more often. Keep this in mind: remember to let dogs out for the toilet more often and do an extra few checks of the cat or rabbit litter tray to clean up if needed. If you dont, you might risk a mess on your floors!
How To Pick An Adult Dog Food
Here are a few guidelines to help you choose an adult dog food when the time is right:
- To make the transition as smooth as possible, consider keeping the brand of adult food consistent with the brand of puppy food you were feeding.
- It is important that the food is complete and balanced so that your dog will receive all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need in the correct proportions to support a functioning body.
- Make sure you are happy with the ingredients list. If you have any concerns, speak to your veterinarian.
- Be sure you are happy with the price tag. Since your dog will be on this long-term, make the food fits within your budget .
Once you have found the right food for your young adult dog, be sure to follow the diet transition schedule above to minimize stomach upset.
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My Dog Has Diarrhea What Should I Do
Another cause of diarrhea can be intestinal parasites. This is why we recommend bringing a fecal sample in to be tested for microscopic parasites. This is medication which can treat parasites.
The best diet for your dog is one he/she does well on-gives him/her a good, healthy coat and body condition.Overfeeding can have a significant effect on your dogs health.
Does your Pet Need Attention
How To Properly Switch Dog Food
All of that said, there are right ways and wrong ways to switch your dogs food, and some good tips to follow. One thing we need to talk about is switching foods cold turkey.
As we will soon discuss, switching dog food cold turkey is about the worst way to go about it, but in some cases it may be your only option. Your dog may need new food due to sensitivities, or the old food may have been discontinued.
Here are some tips to follow if you have to cold turkey switch your dogs food.
- Get your dog to fast for a day, or in other words, dont feed them for a full day before introducing the new food into its diet
- Only feed your dog half of what you would normally give them on the first day, then 75% of its regular portion on the next day. Introducing only small amounts of new food may help to prevent or reduce the diarrhea
- Adding digestive aids like pumpkin or probiotic bacteria can go a long way in easing the transition
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Why Change Food In The First Place
Although switching food is likely to cause an upset stomach, there are many great reasons to make the switch. Switching foods shouldnt happen often, but most dog owners will change their dogs food a few times during the dogs lifespan.
A few common reasons for changing food include:
- Puppy food to adult dog food
- A healthier brand
- Regular dog food to senior dog food
- Regular dog food to a vet-recommended prescription diet
Dogs do not respond well to sudden changes. Switching to an entirely new food is bound to cause some digestional upset. Since your dog may go through this change more than once in its life, you should be prepared for possible digestive problems.
How To Choose A Senior Dog Food
If you and your veterinarian decide that switching to a senior dog food is correct for your dog, choose a senior dog food with the guidelines below and follow the diet transition guidelines above according to their intestinal sensitivity.
Guidelines for choosing a senior dog food:
- Look for an AAFCO label stating that the food is complete and balanced
- Consider staying with the brand of food that has worked well in the past
- Consider a formula that includes joint support for arthritis
- Look for ingredients you feel comfortable feeding
- Find a senior dog food that fits within your budget
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Why Does My Dog Have Diarrhea But Is Acting Normal
Common causes of diarrhea include dietary indiscretion such as getting into the garbage pail or eating people food that the dog is not accustomed to, abrupt dietary changes, medications especially antibiotics which tend to disrupt the gastric flora and infectious agents such as parvovirus, coronavirus, Salmonella, E.
Treatment For Your Dog When It Gets Diarrhea Before Calling The Vet
Every pet owner has had to deal with their furry friend getting sick at one time or another. One of the most common illnesses that pets can suffer from is diarrhea, and there are many things that can cause diarrhea in animals. With young animals we worry about dietary indiscretion–eating things that they shouldnt be eating. With older animals, diarrhea may often be a symptom of a more serious underlying problem.
In many cases we may know exactly what caused the diarrhea, such as a sudden diet change. However, in other cases, we need to do some investigative work, such as laboratory testing and possibly imaging, such as x-rays or ultrasound, to find the cause. Whatever the situation, the following guidelines should help you get through your furry friends next bout of diarrhea.
Do know your pets bathroom patterns
One of the most common causes of diarrhea is colitis, or inflammation of the large intestine. A common symptom typically seen with colitis is increased frequency of defecation, along with mucous and fresh blood in or coating the stool. If your dog is asking to go outside to poop more frequently than usual, then he or she may be suffering from colitis. This is especially important with dogs on invisible fences, dogs that are let out in the yard without being walked by a person. Just because you dont see them having diarrhea doesn’t mean that they are not having diarrhea.
Do hold off food when symptoms are first noticed
Do simplify your pets diet
Don’t
Summary
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Diarrhea And Food Changes
If you change your dog’s food suddenly and out of nowhere, he might experience diarrhea as a result of it, according to Colleen Paige, author of “The Good Behavior Book of Dogs.” Sudden dietary switches can disrupt your dog’s levels of “flora” — intestinal bacteria. This disruption, in turn, can interfere with digestion and bring upon tummy upset in canines. When a dog exhibits symptoms such as gas, stomachache and loose, runny bowels after a switch in food, it often signifies that the transition occurred too rapidly.