Diarrhoea and upset stomachs:
Stomach upsets can be distressing for all involved. Our pets are unwell with nausea and stomach cramps, and feel worse if they are caught out and have an accident indoors.
Stomach upsets can be caused by a variety of conditions. Certainly the most common in dogs and cats is abrupt diet changes and food poisoning. Viral infectious enteritis, like Parvo Virus, and Irritable bowl Disease are also very common. less commonly metabolic disease associated to internal organs can also result in Diarrhoea.
Vomiting will often accompany a upset stomach due to nausea, but if the vomiting is frequent and consisting of fluid it is important to see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Diarrhoea resulting from food changes or food poisoning, involve an overgrowth of toxin producing bacteria. Often referred to as bad bacteria. It is thus possible to correct the change in gun bacteria or flora by administering a pro-biotic. This is a powder or paste comprising of a number of good bacteria. The good bacteria out compete the bad bacteria and the intestine returns to normal function.
It is worth therefore having a supply of pro-biotics at home for those times when the stomach upset first starts. All should be improved within 24 hours. Maintain the pro-biotic supplement for 5 days though.
If the diarrhoea persists for longer than 24 hours or is accompanied by vomiting seek the advise of your veterinarian.
Pro-biotics are also extremely useful as a supplement alongside antibiotics. Antibiotics are often essential, but do also have the detrimental effect of upsetting and killing the normal gut bacteria and flora. Supplementing a pro-biotic alongside and after a coarse of antibiotics will reconstitute the correct gut bacteria and speed up a return to health.
It is now widely advised to continue feeding your pet a light bland diet during the time of stomach upsets and not to “starve” or with hold food. A good light bland diet would be 50:50 boiled chicken and rice.
A further help in the treatment of diarrhoea is the supplementation of electrolytes. This is very useful when vomiting is also involved to help maintain electrolyte balance.
Some well known and reliable pro-biotic and electrolyte products are:
Protexin
Lectade.