In some cases of diarrhea there may be only small amounts of mucous, but frequent straining. Diarrhea can also be an ongoing problem. Fortunately, most cases of dog diarrhea respond to symptomatic treatment at home.
Before I get into the home treatments, pay very close attention to the severity of the diarrhea that your dog has. This is extremely important ? if your dog's diarrhea is so severe that it results in dehydration, this is a medical emergency and must be dealt with by your Veterinarian. If your pet is still very alert, active and drinking, then try some of the following home remedies.
Dog diarrhea can be caused by a number of different things, including garbage (?Garbage Gut?), parasites, infectious agents (such as parvovirus), food allergy, inflammatory changes and pancreatic abnormalities.
There are several home solutions you can try. The most effective one is a 24 Hour Fast. Stop putting food into your pet for 24 hours (Day 1). This allows the intestines to rest and regenerate. Always have access to plenty of fresh water. After the first 24 hours, introduce a bland food for the following 24 hours (Day 2), such as plain white cooked rice, feeding equivalent cups of rice as their normal diet.
Another possible solution includes using Fiber. Dietary fiber absorbs water in the intestine, which helps to decrease diarrhea. Ground flax is a great source for dogs ? add 1 teaspoon per cup of dog food. It's always better to buy your flax as whole seed and then grind it as you need it.
A third suggestion is to try Probiotics. Probiotics are basically dietary supplements that contain potentially beneficial bacteria or yeast. Probiotics restore the natural bacteria in the intestine, to help the intestinal immune system. The most effective supplement is Lactobacillus acidophilus ? give 1/4 capsule per 10 lbs of body weight twice daily.
Another suggestion includes using common human remedies. One remedy I suggest is to use Pepto-Bismol - this is an old standby that can be effective for dogs. The dog dose is 1ml per 10lbs of body weight, given three times daily. Do not use this method for more than 7 days. Other remedies include Immodium (Loperamide). For dogs, give .5mg per 10lbs three times daily ? i.e. give your 40 lb dog one 2mg tablet three times daily. Dog diarrhea is one of the most common reasons pets are taken to a veterinarian. People spend millions of dollars having these problems taken care of this way. The treatments you have just learned can save you money.
If you find these remedies useful, I guarantee that you will find the other remedies in my book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed, just as practical. And, they can save you thousands of dollars over seeing your Vet for every little issue your pet has.
These remedies work - I use them every day in practice.
Best wishes...
Diarrhea in dogs often happen because of eating something rotten from the outside, or even from getting into a chemical inside of the house. There are times when he may have an intestinal virus that could be the cause. Perhaps you suddenly changed his diet which may be a contributing factor to the problem.
Below are several tips in which you can use to effectively help your dog recover from diarrhea:
1. Do not let your dog have a continual feeding of food in the dish. If you stop putting food in your pet, then he will stop having to use the bathroom. So it is obvious that once you notice your dog has the runs, simply stop feeding him for 24 hours after the onset of diarrhea. This alone could be enough to knock out the problem. However, if after 24 hours have gone by and there is still a problem with your dog's bowel movement, then contact your vet immediately because something could be seriously wrong.
2. Try feeding your dog bland foods for a while to keep her stomach calm. When your dog is ready to begin eating again you may want to have a week at feeding bland foods to keep her digestive system calm. Such bland foods may be skinless chicken or cooked white rice. Another ideal food that fits perfectly for the sour stomach is boiled hamburger meat.
3. Remove any dairy products from your dog's diet. Because most dogs lack the enzyme "lactase", they have a very difficult time digesting milk. Lactase is needed to properly digest the sugar in milk.. If you are feeding your dog any type of milk product and she has diarrhea, then completely eradicate milk from her food choices. You will see dramatic improvement within days.
4. Keep your dog's system flowing with plenty of liquids. When your dog has diarrhea, his body is depleted of liquids and essential fluids. Be sure to keep your dog's water bowl full at all times. And like people, dog's also loose a lot of minerals when their body is depleted of fluids, so it is a good idea to keep a separate bowl filled with Gatorade. Gatorade is an excellent liquid that will help your dog's body with getting enough of the potassium and sodium that it lost.
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Dr. Andrew Jones has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dogs, Pets and Dog Care. Dr. Andrew Jones, a practicing Veterinarian, has a special interest in alternative, natural remedies for pets. His holistic pet health manual is at: