2009-01-13T04:45:05-07:00 ExpressionEngine Copyright (c) 2007 tag:crankymedia.com,2007:index/45.940 2007-06-20T06:56:00-07:00 2009-01-13T04:45:05-07:00

It’s too bad that dogs aren’t like humans.  In most cases, when a person experiences diarrhea they simply spend a little bit more time in the bathroom (and perhaps use a bit more air freshener).  Ninety percent of the time it’s a simple case of poorly digested food or a short-term bug that’s going around- nothing serious in the long run. The situations a bit different if you’re a dog.  Once the diarrhea starts, the owner needs to pay attention and look for warning signs, indicators, or anything else that might dictate a cause for further inquisition or alarm.  And, more often than not, the veterinarian gets a quick phone call.  Diarrhea is something that affects dogs quite often, so rather than freak out every time your dog gets a case of the runs, educate yourself a bit so you know what to look for. Symptoms The most obvious symptom that a dog will experience when suffering from diarrhea is the increased amount of fecal matter that will be departing from its colon.  More often than not, the diarrhea is also accompanied by a less than pleasant odor. The dog may have to “go to the bathroom” more frequently as a result, and the intensity of the experiences may vary as well.  It may appear to be clearing up, and then it suddenly will worsen without warning.  The dog may also have dried fecal matter on the underside of its tail, which would contribute to a lingering odor when in the presence of the dog. Things to Look Out For The fact is that your dog will experience more than one case of diarrhea during the span of its life.  Though most of them will be mild and warrant no cause for concern, some cases of diarrhea may result in or be the result of other underlying circumstances.  When your first notice that your dog has diarrhea, look for the following: Blood in their stools.  If you notice blood when the dog is experiencing diarrhea you should immediately contact your vet.  There could be many causes for this, from a viral infection to a parasite infestation.  Do not take chances with this one. Short-term, high intensity bursts.  This can be a warning sign for other, more serious conditions or causes.  This is an identifier for many different viral and bacterial infections, as well as some other, more common illnesses.  Call your veterinarian if you notice this. Dehydration.  Dogs are much more prone to dehydration than humans are when experiencing diarrhea, so ensure that you dog always has an ample supply of water and that it is drinking it.  If it isn’t, and the dog is acting lethargic, sluggish, or sickly, see a veterinarian immediately. Vomiting while experiencing diarrhea.  This is also a warning sign for a more serious illness, and you should consult your veterinarian immediately if you notice this.  Duration of symptoms.  If the symptoms persist for more than a few days your dog may have an infection or other illness.  Be sure to see a veterinarian to learn out the reason why it is persisting and obtain any required medication. Diagnosing Diarrhea It will be quite obvious when your dog is experiencing diarrhea.  However, what wont be obvious are the underlying conditions which are causing the diarrhea.  If the condition persists for more than a few days, a visit to the veterinarian will be in order. The veterinarian will likely take blood samples, and they will be able to tell you (in depth) what the root cause of the diarrhea is.  Always remember to ensure that your dog is drinking lots of water to avoid dehydration (and the health problems that come long with it). Getting Rid of Diarrhea The diarrhea will pass on its own most of the time, though there may some situations will may require medication or supplementation in order to promote the diarrhea to subside.  There are numerous different types of medication available for diarrhea treatment, and there are an increasingly large number of supplements to treat diarrhea with as well. We have had success treating dog diarrhea with RuniPoo Relief from PetAlive.com

2007-06-20T06:56:00-07:00 Dog-Diarrhea-Symptoms tag:crankymedia.com,2007:index/45.946 2007-06-20T07:33:00-07:00 2007-08-26T06:01:15-07:00

This is a difficult subject for me to tackle, as I’m still in the experimentation stages with Tim.  Tim hasn’t had diarrhea for a little while, and when she did have diarrhea she was actually on a weight loss diet (dogs gain weight over Christmas too!).  However, I have done a lot of research into the area because I don’t want to be agitating her digestive system when she has diarrhea. I’ve basically learned three key points: 1. Do not give your dog foods that will agitate the problem.  If your dog has diarrhea the last thing that they need is table scraps, red meat, chocolate (definitely not chocolate), and hard to digest dog food. 2. Give your pet foods that are easy to digest.  High fiber dog foods are best for this, as the fiber content will promote more solid stools.  The food should have plenty of nutrients and vitamins, and it should have enough protein to be a good source without going overboard.  Certain forms of proteins, including the types that are found in most dog foods, can be hard for the dogs digestive tract to handle.  It sounds kind of hokey, but try giving your dog food that is based on a vegetarian formula if they have diarrhea.  Proteins from nuts and other non-meat related sources are easier for their bodies to digest, and they are almost always high fiber. 3. Do not give your dog wet food.  Though most dogs prefer wet food to dry food, do not give your dog wet food when they have diarrhea.  It will pass through their system quicker, and chances are good that it will be just as wet – if not a little bit more – when it comes out the other end. While your dog is experiencing diarrhea their rear end is likely going to be sore and irritated.  The last thing that they want is to be eating food that is only going to make the situation worse.  For the time being, avoid putting gravy or other types of additives on their food.  Your dog won’t quite understand why you chose to make the change, but they will thank you in the end. And, of course, be sure to be as nice and supportive as possible throughout the whole process so that your dog doesn’t feel alienated or embarrassed.  But, and you’ve probably already come to this conclusion, don’t give them dog treats either.  You know, just until it clears up.

2007-06-20T07:33:00-07:00 Feeding-Dogs-With-Diarrhea tag:crankymedia.com,2007:index/45.945 2007-06-20T07:31:00-07:00 2007-08-26T06:04:52-07:00

If you happen to find yourself in a sticky situation with your dog, the last thing that you should do is freak out.  Your dog is probably already embarrassed, and they don’t need you going ballistic because they pooped on the carpet by accident.  There are many products that can get the poo out of the carpet.  Instead, your reaction needs to be one that is both productive and understanding. 1. Move the dog from the carpet to somewhere where they can poop safely.  You and I both know that diarrhea can be a real big pain in the butt, and chances are good that your dog probably held it as long as they could. 2. Sound friendly, reassuring, and loving.  Let the dog know, in the most sincere and reassuring voice that you can muster, that it’s okay.  Don’t yell, don’t scream, and don’t talk in a hostile or unpleasant tone.  Dogs respond based on the tone of your voice, as they can’t actually understand what you’re saying.  Screaming at your dog because you’re going to have to buy a $15 bottle of stain remover will only make things worse in the long run. 3. Clean up the mess.  With the dog somewhere safe (for both the dog and the floor), clean up the mess.  Use whatever tools that you can to do it. 4. Provide some kind of treatment for the dog.  The first time that Tim got diarrhea I took her to the veterinarian, where she was given two weeks worth of medication.  Later that evening she experienced diarrhea again, and I began treatment immediately.  If you have medication from the veterinarian, make sure that you are giving it to your dog as per the instructions that you were given.  After all, there is a reason that you are paying the veterinarian for their services.  The medication will more than likely clear the diarrhea right up. If the diarrhea is caused from something a bit more serious, such as tapeworms, you will require specific medication from your veterinarian.  It is unlikey that you’ll be able to tell that it’s an infection that is causing the diarrhea on your own, but your veterinarian will.  If the diarrhea lasts more than a few days, take your dog in for an assessment to make sure that there isn’t something more sinister mucking about in their system. If you are using a natural diarrhea treatment, such as RunniPoo, be sure to be diligent and follow the instructions.  This may be slightly more cumbersome, as a natural treatment often takes a day or so longer than veterinarian prescribed medication.  5. Watch for repeats.  Keep your eye out for a reemergence of symptoms.  If the dog gets diarrhea again, resume treatment.  If it does not clear up the diarrhea, take your dog to the veterinarian to ensure that the diarrhea isn’t the result of some other underlying cause. Most medications and natural remedies require that you administer them a couple of times a day, and the general time frame is two or three doses before the diarrhea begins to clear up. 

2007-06-20T07:31:00-07:00 Dog-Diarrhea-Treatments tag:crankymedia.com,2007:index/45.944 2007-06-20T07:16:00-07:00 2009-01-13T04:41:26-07:00

Every dog owner will have to experience the joys of dog diarrhea at some point.  Depending on the age of the dog, the condition can vary from mild to severe, giving you the options to let nature run its course or have some kind of medical intervention.  Your veterinarian, of course, will always recommend that you visit them each time that your dog experiences diarrhea. From a business standpoint, it only makes sense.  However, my dog Tim was getting diarrhea fairly often, and I was getting tired of shelling out $60 a visit.  A friend of mine told me about how natural remedies, such as RunniPoo, work in the same way that a natural remedy would work in a human. Dogs and humans share an amazingly similar immune and digestive system.  Sure, the immune and digestive system in a human is a bit more intricate, but that doesn’t change the fact that the same science can be applied to canine medicine- and, fortunately for dogs like Tim, it has been. How They Work Natural diarrhea treatments almost always work by targeting the digestive system.  By calming it down, per say, the digestive system is able to better process that food that is entering it, hence making it easier to manager the waste that exits it.  As you probably have already figured out, this helps eliminate diarrhea.  A human will experience diarrhea for many different reasons, though the most common are due to some type of bacterial infection or irritation of the digestive tract.  In the case of a bacterial infection, it is because the illness is preventing the body for adequately dealing with its waste.  The result is the bowel movement being riddled with way too much water, hence diarrhea.  The causes are slightly different for digestive tract irritation, but the end result is the same: diarrhea, and lots of it. A myriad of products are available at the local pharmacy that are over the counter diarrhea medications.  These products actually work quite well, in my experience at least, and do a good job of offering some kind of relief from diarrhea.  Most of these products work by targeting the digestive tract, forcing it to “calm down” so that it can get back on track. It is no different for the dog.  Most of the natural remedies for dog diarrhea are given in a similar manner: give the dog the dose, allow it to eat/drink normally, and then watch for any change in the stools.  If there is no change, lather, rinse, and repeat until the symptoms disappear. Recommended Remedies It’s hard to recommend one specific natural remedy for dog diarrhea, as there are so many products available on the market.  However, out of all of these, I have found RunniPoo to be the best.  It always seems to work within a couple of doses, and Tim has never had any kind of adverse reaction to them.  In fact, she even seems to enjoy it when I give her the droplets.  Tim experiences diarrhea every now and then, so I always carry a bottle on me.  You should do a bit of studying to see which product works the best with your dog. If you want to try RunniPoo, you can find it only here.

2007-06-20T07:16:00-07:00 Natural-Remedies-for-Dog-Diarrhea tag:crankymedia.com,2007:index/45.943 2007-06-20T07:13:00-07:00 2007-08-26T06:12:38-07:00

The first time that Tim had diarrhea was a troubling night.  She was a young pup – probably eight or nine weeks old at most – and it’s always a bad thing when a young pup, who’s had all of their vaccines, develops diarrhea.  This can lead to dehydration, fast. Fortunately, most cases of doggy-doo doo clear up on their own.  Especially intense cases, or cases where the diarrhea is overly abnormal, may require some type of medicine or supplement to help facilitate the hastened departure of diarrhea.  On the whole, however, the dog does the brunt end of its own dirty work (except for cleaning up the mess afterwards). You really only have three options when you are choosing how to treat your dogs diarrhea: 1. Leave it alone.  Do nothing, ideally under the guidance and approval of your veterinarian, and let the dogs natural processes clean it all up for you.  This will probably take the most time out of your options, though it won’t cost you anything but time. 2. See the veterinarian.  Chances are good that the veterinarian will tell you to wait it out if the diarrhea is fairly light or even mild.  If it is a bit more severe, they will give you medication to give your dog.  The medication should clear up most cases of diarrhea pretty quickly and without fuss, though some cases of diarrhea that are caused by more severe reasons may require more serious measures. 3. Use natural supplements.  These are similar in idea to most diarrhea medications, except that they do not have any medication in it.  Instead, they are all-natural, designed to help facilitate the healing process.  RunniPoo is an example of an excellent product that works quite well. It is important that you assess how severe the diarrhea is before you determine what kind of treatment it warrants.  If you see blood, or if the dog is vomiting at the same time, see a veterinarian immediately.  Never make fun of your dog for having diarrhea.  You already know that dogs are highly intelligent, and they won’t appreciate the ridicule- it may lead to the dog trying to hide where it poops, leaving you a nice surprise for later. 

2007-06-20T07:13:00-07:00 How-to-Treat-Dog-Diarrhea tag:crankymedia.com,2007:index/45.942 2007-06-20T07:11:00-07:00 2009-01-13T04:42:43-07:00

When Tim gets diarrhea it’s both annoying and humorous at the same time- there’s just something inherently funny about seeing a fully grown German Shepard squatting in the backyard with a look of pure humiliation on her face.  Of course, I never make fun of her and I certainly don’t ridicule her, but seeing her brought to her knees so easily is kind of funny. There are a lot of different dog diarrhea medicines available these days.  You can find several online, as well as many at your local pet store.  I don’t have a lot of experience with all of them, though I do have experience with a select few. Veterinarian Prescribed Dog Diarrhea Medication It is unlikely that your dogs diarrhea would get this severe as to require medication from a veterinarian, but there is always the possibility.  Tim has had to go on meds once in the last two years, and although it wasn’t a painful experience, she certainly didn’t make giving her the pills easy. Medication that is prescribed by your veterinarian is heavy-duty, one size fits all stuff.  It is designed to fix whatever is wrong, and to do it fast.  The only problems is that it requires a visit to the veterinarian to get, and that it is a bit more expensive than you would expect (the last tube that I bought cost me nearly $40). Off the Shelf Dog Diarrhea Medicine This is a tricky subject, as there are a lot of different products out there to choose from.  I tried my hand at a few which didn’t work for me, though I had heard from others that they did work.  One product, called RunniPoo, did wind up working (surprisingly, given its name).  I followed the directions, gave Tim her doses, and it cleared up after the third dose (as it advertised). RunniPoo is an all-natural supplement, containing a mixture of various herbs and minerals.  How it helps the dogs digestive system get over the diarrhea I don’t know- the website offers an in depth explanation that I’ve never bothered to read.  I’m assuming that it calms down the digestive tract somehow, and in the case of Tim, it always clears up her diarrhea.  Ask around and see what products other local dog owners are using.  You’ll get a better idea of what works and what doesn’t work, and it will be based on personal experience, not hype or heresay.  I would avoid talking to the pet store, though, as they’re probably just going to try and sell you on something.

2007-06-20T07:11:00-07:00 Dog-Diarrhea-Medicine tag:crankymedia.com,2007:index/45.941 2007-06-20T07:07:01-07:00 2009-01-13T04:43:55-07:00

You’re silently typing away on your keyboard, your attention focused on the document that you are trying to get completed.  Your dog sits behind you, impatient awaiting its turn for your affection.  As you work you begin to become more and more distracted, and eventually you forget that your dog is even there. Then you hear it. The sound is faint, but you can hear it behind you.  The high pitched, gut wrenching “squirt” of diarrhea, and it’s coming from your dog.  The same dog, unfortunately, who is still inside, squatting over your new carpet.  How many times has this happened to you?  I can’t even count the number of times that I’ve had to pick up my dog Tim, a female German Shepard who weighs less than 20 pounds, and rush her outside, all the while she is spewing feces in a sadistic, off-beat manner.  I know that I have the same expression of pure terror on my face each time that it happens, and I also know that there is little that I can do about it. Or is there? Diarrhea Cures and Treatments The canine immune system is similar in design and execution to the one found in the humans, and because of that there are numerous ways that specific illnesses or conditions can be treated.  In the case of diarrhea, there is literally a list a mile long of products and supplements that can help clear the condition up. Whenever Tim gets a jaunt of the runs, I always follow the same steps: 1. I fill her water bowl to the brim.  I usually have two or three that are scattered around the house to ensure that she always has access to fresh water.  Staying hydrated is important to a dog, as dogs are easily dehydrated, and that will only make things worse. 2. I, reluctantly, watch her first few bowl movements.  I am looking for any sign of severity, such as blood or high intensity movements.  If I see anything out of place, I bundle her up (once she is done pooping) and take her down to the vet. Luckily, I’ve only ever had to do that once. 3. If necessary, I arrange for pick up and give Tim her medication.  If the diarrhea is severe enough I pick up her medication (or supplements) as soon as I can so I can start giving her doses as soon as possible.  In my experience, the diarrhea goes away after only a few doses, so the sooner she gets them, the better! 4. I play the waiting game.  I wait a few days to see if her diarrhea is gone for good.  If not, I start looking for other dog diarrhea cures to get rid of it for good.  I have had good success getting rid of dog diarrhea with a product called RuniPoo (read more about it here), as well as with veterinarian recommended natural treatments. Dog Diarrhea Supplements If you don’t want to cure your dogs diarrhea with medication, there are supplements that you can take.  These supplements are similar in nature to the ones that you can buy over the counter at most pharmacies, though you should only give your dog supplements that were design specifically for dogs as human medication may make them seriously ill, or worse. The main product that I’ve been using lately is called RuniPoo.  A friend of mine recommended it to me when I was complaining about Tim’s ongoing diarrhea problems that she had two years ago.  The first time I used it I was pretty happy, and I’ve been using it ever since.  Tim only gets diarrhea once or twice a year at most, so I’m still only on my second bottle. You can find RuniPoo online here. If you are unsure of which supplements to give your dog, do not ask the pet store.  Consult your veterinarian, as it is highly unlikely that the employees at a pet store will know anything about it. 

2007-06-20T07:07:01-07:00 Curing-Your-Dogs-Diarrhea