When should you be concerned about a dog that has diarrhea? With any blood or mucous, there should be concern. If there is a lot of straining and there is liquid shooting out, this can dehydrate a pet quite quickly.
When should you be concerned about a cat that has diarrhea?Same as above.
What are the reasons for cat and dog diarrhea? Again, dietary indiscretion is the prime reason though there may be parasites, bacteria, foreign body ingestion, inflammatory bowel, pancreatitis, liver disease and so on. If it continues for more than 24-48 hours after a 12-24 hour fast, your pet should be seen by your vet.
Are there over the counter and prescription medications that can be used for cats and dogs with diarrhea? Slippery Elm may be helpful (Dr. Pitcairn's Guide to Natural Health of Dogs and Cats, Rodale Press). Again for dogs and NOT cats, peptobismal may help at 2cc/kg every 4-6 hours orally.
Homeopathic remedies that may help are 1. Podophyllum 30c- if there is liquid with gas
2. Pulsatilla 30c if there is a yellow stool or if it changes from stool to stool and if your pet is whiny.
3. Arsenicum 30c is great if you think they got into any rotten food stuff.
all the above homeopathics can be given orally at one dose every few hours for three treatments. If it doesn't help, go to the next remedy.
*NOTE: Initially, with any vomiting or diarrhea case, I usually recommend a 12-24 hours fast to allow the system to clean out and allowing the pet small amounts of liquids during the fast. This should be followed with a bland diet of boiled meat and rice or potato in small amounts until the symptoms subside, then slowly return to it's normal meal. Usually if this persists beyond this time, or if the pet looks depressed, you should probably take it in to your Veterinarian.
© Michael Goldberg DVM
Michael Goldberg DVM
Hudson Place Veterinary Clinic
1300 West 73 Ave.
Vancouver, B.C. V6P 3E7
604-266-2731
© Pets.ca 2003
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