Explosive diarrhea

[Magesteff]

Swanson cooked chicken (white meat) in water:
http://shop.netgrocer.com/shop.aspx?catl0=570&hasproducts=0&forcemenu=1&shopurl=browse.aspx&strtab=Grocery&sc=wwwNG_D1A024EE&__utma=1.1160212676.1317543708.1317543708.1317632590.2&__utmb=1.1.10.1318440713&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1317543708.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=256457739

Cooked chicken breast meat, Water, contains less than 2% of: Modified food starch, Salt, Sodium Phosphate.

I feed it to my cats as a treat every so often, the small cans are a little over a half ounce each, so no need to have leftovers.  And no smell of cooking meat.

[Sheenar]

I second TJ and Nora on the canned pumpkin. I've used it for both constipation and diarrhea in dogs and it's worked well for us. Hope Luna feels better soon --having a sick dog in not fun.


Unfortunately, when Leon had his vomiting spell a few months back, I found out that his tummy doesn't tolerate rice well. So I have to find something else to feed him when he's not feeling well. Canned sweet potato?

[Amber]

What is A/D?

[Kirsten]

Science Diet A/D formula.  I dunno what the A and D stand for, but it is a highly palatable, easily digested, easy to force through a feeding tube canned diet.  Good for nursing sick dogs with stressed or impaired digestive systems.  Good for getting a dog started eating again after an illness or loss of appetite.

[Kirsten]

Looked it up:

Prescription Diet®
a/d® Canine/Feline Critical Care
For the nutritional support of pets recovering from serious illness, accident and surgery

Cats and dogs can undergo significant metabolic changes when recovering from a serious illness, injury or surgery. During these stressful conditions the body is challenged to maintain strong natural defenses and spare lean body mass, which makes it is even more important to feed the right food. Cats and dogs need extra energy and nutrients, in an appetizing form, to encourage the recovery process.

At Hill's, nutritionists and veterinarians developed clinical nutrition especially formulated to help dogs and cats in recovering process

Prescription Diet® a/d® is formulated with the following benefits:
Highly digestible ingredients and extra calories to help during recovery
Highly digestible proteins to help wound and tissue healing, preserving lean body mass and promoting a healthy immune system
Increased level of potassium to help avoid depletion
Highly palatability with a soft consistency aids acceptance by inappetant pets and gives flexibility in feeding -- by bowl, spoon, syringe or feeding tube.

[Kirsten]

Antibiotics are now on board and I was told in no uncertain terms that it was grossly unfair to subject her to that kind of humiliation in addition to the diarrhea.  Did I mention Sarah Bernhardt is her idol, second only to Miss Piggy?

[Spectrum]

With one of my shepherds the vet had me give him Immodium (capsule form). Can't remember how much but you would need to check with your vet anyway on giving it. And somewhere in my mind is the poking of I think some breeds should not take it. Or maybe that is something else I am thinking of.

Nope, you're right. Dogs positive for MDR1 mutation or who may be positive for it should NOT get immodium. So collies, aussies, LHWs,  etc or any mixes of one or more of the affected breeds unless they have been tested and do not have it.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/breeds.aspx

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vcpl/drugs.aspx

[BlindMag]

Have used both canned plain pumpkin and A/D -- of the two the A/D worked better for me. Been a while since I needed any; can't remember what the shelf life is on A/D (whether I should keep some on hand)?

[Cera]

I only ever used A/D when Hope was dying, but I was under the impression it had very little fiber content. High in nutrients and quickly digested so a dog with stomach issues actually gets the fuel before it is pushed through the system, but I didn't think it would bulk things up like I/D does. Unlike I/D it is considered 'puppy Junk Food' so perfect for encouraging a reluctant animal to eat, but I would consult the vet over using it to actually bulk up the runs. The vet told me diarrhea comes with the territory for an A/D diet (of course I was in distress, so I might have heard things wrong).

[Kirsten]

Yes, I use A/D for a reluctant eater, just to get some nutrients on board, especially when the digestive tract is out of balance and the dog needs something easy on the stomach so they don't vomit back up what I just talked them into eating.

Luni was not willing to eat her regular food or canned treat.  But she was willing to eat the A/D.  After fasting for two days, I needed to get something in her.  It did jump start her appetite and she ate her regular kibble for the next meal and thereafter without reluctance.

Today I picked up two packs of chicken and rice, precooked (just warm in microwave) for the next time I need to tempt someone and don't have any frozen chicken breasts on hand.  That's what all my dogs consider comfort food when feeling puny:  skinless chicken breast and white rice.  It's not nutritionally complete, but it will tempt a reluctant eater, gets some basic nutrients on board, and is pretty easy on the system.

I will eat white rice with melted cheese when I feel puny, so I tend to agree it's a good comfort food.  Rice and anything starting with "ch."  Well, maybe not cherries.....

[fledchen]

White rice with chile peppers would probably also be a bad choice for an upset digestive system

[Kirsten]

Sigh.  Okay, okay.  So I suppose that's an end to my "ch" and rice theory.  It seemed so reasonable at first....

[cowlypso]

White rice with chile peppers would probably also be a bad choice for an upset digestive system

No joke...  When I was in the hospital following an endoscopic digestive system procedure, I was on a clear liquid diet for the first 2 days.  The third day I woke up and actually wanted to eat real food, so they changed my dietary orders.  Lunch arrived, and consisted of rice, vegetarian chili, and corn.  Seriously.  First real meal they served after an abdominal procedure!