Dealing with a dog that has diarrhea

Dealing with a dog that has diarrhea

Avoiding Diarrhea On Your Dogs

Author: Tony Cooper

Any dog owner is familiar with dog diarrhea. This is a common condition that frequently affects canines and is usually a temporary problem that quickly goes away and is nothing about which to get excited.

The most frequent cause of diarrhea in dogs is a simple change in their diet. Often this happens when a dog is accustomed to eating only dry dog food and you suddenly give him table scraps. New water sources are another source of diarrhea in dogs just like in humans. This often happens when travelling and people often believe riding in the care is to blame. Preventing both of these consists of maintain a consistent diet and taking water from home on short trips.

Puppies are more susceptible to both of these dietary changes since their digestive tracts are much more sensitive. People often see diarrhea in puppies when they first bring them home from the pet store or the breeder. Problems can be avoided by using the same type of food they were accustomed to before. If you want to change the food, do it slowly. This should prevent diarrhea.

Dogs that are unaccustomed to regular feedings will also frequently contract diarrhea when he eats. If the dog's feeding time is irregular, the dog will often overeat and gorge himself. This leads to both vomiting and diarrhea. Prevent this by feeding dogs twice a day as close to the same time as possible. Another method is to let the dog self feed by giving him a large bowl of food each morning, as long as it is dry food. As long as the dog knows the food will be there, he won't be in a hurry to finish it. This doesn't work well if you have several dogs living together.

Owners should keep in mind that dogs are able to eat things that humans can't because of their much shorter digestive tract. Pollutants and toxins in the food are quickly passed through the system before than can do damage. If the dog's body suspects that something is wrong, it will pass the food even more quickly, leading to diarrhea. This is natural and means that your dog's system is working normally. However, diarrhea that continues for more than a day is a serious situation and can indicate other problems. If this is the case, ensure the dog is drinking water and get him to the vet if the diarrhea doesn't stop quickly or if the dog becomes lethargic.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/avoiding-diarrhea-on-your-dogs-2107231.html

About the Author

Tony is an avid pet lover and also writes articles for Discount-Pet-Mall: A site that sells pet supplies such as dog beds and bark collars.

Feeding your dog natural food helps with dealing with a dog that has diarrhea
View natural dog food recipes here

Home Cures for Dog Diarrhea - 6 Recommended Actions to Take

Author: Alex Howell

Diarrhea is a common illness that dogs seldom experience. However, the presence of loose bowels in your dog should always be acted upon because it can cause dehydration. Some basic home cures for dog diarrhea may be useful. But if your dog becomes sluggish, be ready to have him checked by a vet.

The following cures are only recommended for minor cases.

1. Dogs should be kept hydrated

Providing as much hydration as possible is necessary if the dog has a severe diarrhea or has unmanageable spurts. In order to help restore lost electrolytes, you can either give your dog with unflavored Pedialyte or a mixture of Gatorade 50/50 with water. However, if there is a mild diarrhea, it is much better to keep the dog from drinking a lot of water.

2. Dogs should be fasted

By fasting the dog will relax his gastro-intestinal tract and give time to recuperate. Diarrhea will be minimized if there is no food. Normally, adult dogs require a 24 hour fast while puppies should only be fasted not more than 12 hours.

3. Change his diet after being fasted

After the dog has been fasted, replace his normal food with rice and boiled chicken or rice and boiled hamburger. If you prefer using chicken, ensure that it is skinless; if you want burger be sure to drain the fat. The rice should be the large part of the meal. Continue giving this diet until the stools become in good form. After that, slowly re-introduce the regular meal. This should be made gradually for a few days.

4. Give yogurt

Give a little of natural yogurt or cottage cheese in order to provide your dog's bowel with some good bacteria. You may also put some dollop to his plain diet.

5. Perform hydration test

Try lifting the dog's back skin or shoulder blade. If the skin rapidly turns back, he is properly hydrated. If it takes some time or worse stays lifted, meaning the dog requires fluids given beneath the skin or urgent vet consideration.6. Check the gums

If the dog's gums turn pale, grayish, or purple, have him immediately checked by a vet. Normally, healthy gums are bubble pink. Also try pressing your finger on his gum. The gum should turn whitish and quickly returns pink. If it would take a few seconds, therefore, the dog needs to be checked as soon as possible.

Diarrhea can result from the trash where dogs usually get into because of a disturb tummy. Usually, there are mild cases of this illness and a number of home cures for dog diarrhea may be just available around. However, if unordinary symptoms occur along with the loose bowels, then seeking immediate help from the vet is the best thing to do.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/home-cures-for-dog-diarrhea-6-recommended-actions-to-take-4244714.html

About the Author

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