There’s no way to avoid it — at some point in your dog ownership career, you’re going to have to deal with bouts of vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Sometimes it can be a scary event. One minute your furry friend is curled up in your lap, the next he’s lost control of his bodily functions. As owners, you may feel a little bit helpless in the heat of the moment. But don’t panic, let him do his business and then take action. When a dog’s stomach is irritated and his bowel movements are irregular, you have to make adjustments to thisheir normal diet. That’s why it’s important to know what to feed a dog with diarrhea and vomiting.
What To Give a Dog With Diarrhea and Vomiting
Immediately following the event, a dog’s stomach is still going to be very sensitive for several hours after. There’s an underlying illness that’s too blame and in most cases, it will take some time to pass. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your dog must be hungry because his stomach is empty. You have to make some adjustments to what you put in his body.
Vomiting
When it comes to vomiting in dogs, hold off on giving your pet food for 12-24 hours. Do not hold off on water. He will need something in his stomach to hydrate and replenish himself. Veterinarians will often recommend Famotidine to reduce stomach acid. You can find Famotidine over the counter at your local pharmacy.
Diarrhea
In the event of diarrhea, do not hold off on food or water. The best course of action is to give him small portions of bland and easily digestible foods. Consider white meat chicken with no skin or bones, white rice, potatoes, lean hamburger or low-fat cottage cheese. Work your way up portion wise. Start with something the size of golf ball and progress from there every 3 to 4 hours. Monitor his tolerance — adjust according to his frequency and magnitude of diarrhea.
Probiotics and foods with probiotics will help regulate the healthy bacteria in the intestines. Anti-diarrheal medications can be administered to absorb excess fluid in the intestinal tract which will reduce bowel movements.
For both diarrhea and vomiting, many vets may recommend subsalicylate and bismuth—the main ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. Like humans, it helps settle the digestive system by coating the stomach and intestines. As a quick side note: DO NOT USE THIS ON CATS.
As your pup recovers and you begin to shift back to his regular diet, take things slow. Start by giving him a 50/50 blend of his “sick diet” and his normal diet.
Causes
There are so many underlying causes that lead to diarrhea and vomiting it’s tough to know right away whether it’s serious or not. If his condition doesn’t improve within 24-48 hours, it’s time to see a vet immediately.
Sometimes it can be as simple as eating something inedible that cannot be digested, eating expired food, eating garbage, or eating too much too fast.
In other cases, it could be caused by infectious substances such as bacteria, parasites or viruses.
In more serious instances it could be a symptom of systemic conditions such as canine cancer, canine pancreatitis, kidney disease, diabetes or liver disease in dogs. There are many other serious causes, so it’s important to have a vet diagnose your pup if things haven’t improved within 24-48 hours.
Symptoms To Be Aware Of
if your dog isn’t acting like his normal self after vomiting or eliminating, it usually means that something a little more serious is to blame. The following symptoms are important to look out for when considering whether to take your pup to the vet right away:
- Lethargy
- Blood in vomit or stool
- Rapid weight loss in dogs
- Dry heaving – may be bloat, which can be life-threatening
- Abdominal pain
- Canine depression
- Loss of appetite in dogs
In most cases, vomiting or diarrhea isn’t a cause for panic. Dogs are curious little explorers who sometimes ingest things that they shouldn’t, such as an object or an unfriendly bacteria. If things don’t improve in the first day or so it’s strongly encouraged you seek professional attention. Vomiting and Diarrhea is an inevitable event in a dog’s life, so as an owner it’s helpful to be well prepared. Keep vet recommended stomach and intestinal medications on hand, and be prepared to switch your pup over to a bland, easily digestible diet.
