We are approaching the Thanksgiving Holiday. 
At this time of year, pet lovers and owners, intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, feed their pets some of their Thanksgiving feasts. Often, the result for your pet is a nasty case of diarrhea. Doggie diarrhea is one of the most common problems veterinarians deal with on a daily basis. The good news is most cases can be treated at home and usually clear up in about 24 hours.
Here are a few of the best home remedies you can try yourself.
1. Take away all food and water for 24 hours - Monitor your pets to see if they seem dehydrated. If they are, give them some ice cubes or small amounts of water. After 24 hours, feed them small servings of a very bland diet 4 or 5 times throughout the day.
Choose from the following foods or combine a couple of them:
- Plain cooked white rice
- Cottage cheese without any of the liquid
- Plain skinless boiled chicken
- Plain skinless boiled turkey
- Scrambled egg ( no butter)
- Boiled or baked potato ( no skin or seasonings)
* Continue to feed several small servings of this bland diet for a couple days in gradually
increasing amounts until you see a firm stool passed.
* Then, start to wean your pet back to its regular food over the course of a week.
* During this time, be sure to refrain from giving your dog bones, snacks or table scraps.
2.
Dogs can also be given a dose of Pepto Bismol every 6 hours. With a syringe (this is the fun part) administer 1 teaspoon for every 20 lbs. of your dog's weight. For puppies over 6weeks old, be sure to consult your vet. An added bonus of Pepto Bismol is that it also works to stop vomiting. Treatment should last only one or two days. If diarrhea persists, call your vet.
3. Imodium AD and Kaopectate are other over-the-counter medicines you can try. Recommended dosage for Imodium AD is 1 ml per lb. every 8 hours and Kaopectate 1 ml per lb. every 2 hours.
Please heed
this word of warning before you dispense human medications to your pet.
Vet or no vet? If your dog's or pet's problem lasts longer than 48 hours - call your vet.
Reason to call your veterinarian
Vomiting:
- blood in vomit
- vomiting accompanied by diarrhea
- vomit looks and smells like stool
- vomiting is projectile
- vomiting is sporadic and there is no relationship to meals
- multiple bouts of vomiting occur over a short period of time
- ingestion of a poison (like antifreeze or fertilizer) is suspected
- vomiting persists more than a day or two
- stomach bloating occurs or your dog tries to vomit but can not
- dog also appears listless
- there is weight loss
- dog is showing other signs of illness such as labored breathing or pain
Diarrhea:
- bloody diarrhea
- diarrhea accompanied by vomiting
- multiple bouts of vomiting occur over a short period of time
- ingestion of a poison is suspected
- fever and other signs of toxicity are present
- diarrhea persists more than a day or two
- dog also appears listless
- there is weight loss
- dog is showing other signs of illness such as labored breathing or pain
Always remember, your pet relies on you to take of him. As yucky a thing it is for you to clean up, it is even worse for your poor, sick pet. Keep a careful watch on your pet whenever he/she is sick. If anything happens you question, please call your vet. That is what they are there for.
Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!
6 pack of dogs is brought to you by the pet lovers at:
