Home or Hospital? GI Upset. –by Dr. Timothy Hodge, DVM
DIARRHEA, VOMITING AND GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) UPSET is very common in dogs, as they will often put almost anything in their mouth. But, GI upset or gastroenteritis can also be caused by more serious health problems, some of which require intense medical care, especially if the diarrhea or vomiting is severe or occurs frequently. It can be difficult to know when to treat at home or when it’s time to seek medical care from your veteri- narian. Loose stools are, of course, the main indicator of diar- rhea. If the GI tract is irritated or inflamed, then vomiting, loss of appetite, belly pain, fever, lethargy and other symptoms may occur. Sudden onset diarrhea in an otherwise healthy dog is often
due to scavenging or eating abnormal items, stress, toxicity, a sudden change in diet, or viral, bacterial or parasitic infections. HOME CARETREATMENT OPTIONS: If your dog is an otherwise healthy adult and, it is reasonable
to try some home treatment. This does not apply to puppies, old dogs or those with other medical conditions. Remember, this is for dogs that have only diarrhea. If there is vom- iting more than twice, then seek veterinary care immediately. 1. Make sure your dog has access to plenty of clean, fresh
water to avoid dehydration. Encourage your dog to drink. Adding ice cubes to the water bowl can help as some dogs enjoy the very cold water. If needed, offer diluted, low sodium, chicken or beef broth or Pedialyte in addition to the water, not as a substitute. 2. You can give your dog a small meal of boiled white meat
chicken (no bones or skin) and cooked white rice. This can be the dog’s diet until the stool consistency returns to normal. If your dog refuses to eat for more than 24 hours, then contact your veterinarian. 3. If the diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours or your dog’s condition worsens at any time, call your vet immediately.
FOR DOGS WITH DIARRHEA WHO HAVE VOMITED ONLY ONCE OR TWICE: 1. Remove all food for 12 hours. Don’t worry if your dog
misses one or two meals. It is better to let the GI tract calm down by not feeding and then slowly reintroduce food. 2. To avoid dehydration, offer the dog small amounts of
water frequently throughout the day. If needed, you can also offer some diluted, low sodium chicken or beef broth or Pedialyte in addition to water. Do not allow consumption of large amounts of water at one time as this can cause vomiting. 3. When your dog has not vomited for at least 12 hours,
offer a small amount of boiled white meat chicken (no bones or skin) and cooked white rice. 4. If, after several hours, your dog has not vomited then offer another small meal of cooked chicken with cooked rice.
74 THE NEW BARKER 5. Continue this treatment, gradually increasing the amount
of food offered at each meal and lengthening the time between meals until the stool consistency returns to normal. 6. If the diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours or your
dog’s condition worsens at any time, call your veterinarian immediately. As previoulsy noted, if your dog is very young, very old,
has a preexisting health condition, call your veterinarian immediately. Dogs in these demographics can become severely ill, even when suffering from relatively mild diarrhea. Also, call your veterinarian if your dog’s diarrhea is frequent and/or very watery; contains red, fresh-looking blood; is dark and tarry; or if your dog is vomiting profusely, lethargic, depressed, and/or is in pain. These can be signs of poten- tially serious health condi- tions and should not wait. For dogs that have repeated
occurrences of GI upset, then investigation of the underly- ing cause will be needed for best treatment options to manage the condition. Your veterinarian
will most likely need to perform some tests to better determine what is the underlying cause or if more signifi- cant treatment is needed. A fecal test for parasites and abnormal levels of bacteria may be performed. Blood tests to check for other signs of infection, dehydration, and organ function are beneficial. Abdominal x-rays to search for foreign material, blockage or obstructions may be advised, depending on your pet’s signs and physical examination. With early intervention on your part as the dog parent, or
if needed, the help of your veterinary team, most cases of GI upset can be readily treated and the problem resolved.
U
Dr. Timothy Hodge, DVM is the owner of Harbourside Animal Hospital in the Channelside District of Tampa, 813.229.3322, and Cross Creek Animal Medical Centre in North Tampa, 813.994.6929. Each practice also offers acupuncture, holistic medicine and laser therapy treatment.
Both facilities are offering a special $50 rebate on Heartgard and NexGard.
www.TheNewBarker.com
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