Man’s best friend tends to have a strange palette. Rarely will a dog pass up eating a bug, or a funky morsel: the funkier, the better. Should you happen to catch them in the act, they will often gulp it down before you can extract it from their vice-like grip. No telling how many different kinds of bacteria such morsels are harboring.
However, their palette is not restricted to bugs and food morsels. Food wrappers, aluminum foil, tinsel seem to be enjoyed by dogs. One has to wonder if part of the driving force behind CDs and DVDs was eliminating cassette tape. This, too, shall pass.
Such indiscrete eating habits often lead to diarrhea. Many times, you only see the effects of what they ate. And where do they throw up?
It seems like your most expensive throw rug is the flooring of choice- of course. But, they look up at you with such sad eyes (do you think they practice it when you’re not home?) it’s hard to scold them.
Other possible causes:
Diet Change
Merely changing brands of dog food can cause a few days of vomission. Many commercial dog foods contain high levels of indigestible protein. But any change, even to raw, should be done gradually to avoid the problem.
Eating Too Much and Too Fast
There are a number of reasons why dogs eat too fast. Competition from other household dogs or dogs not fed frequently enough may vomit undigested food soon after eating. Dogs should be fed less food, but more often. If they are part of a pack of dogs, feed them in a separate room.
Table Scraps
Most table food has more nutritional value than most commercial pet food. However, dogs should not be given spicy scraps or rich foods. Both go down fast, but can come up just as fast.
Water
Municipal water in the US contains chlorine and possibly ammonia. They are necessary to make sure any bugs in our water are dead, but… you don’t want to drink them because they can kill the bacteria in the intestinal tract that is necessary to maintain balance. You must be mindful that water free of disinfectant can quickly breed bacteria, which can also cause diarrhea.
Cleaning Products
If you by concentrated cleaners and do not dilute them sufficiently, your dog can breath in toxic fumes. Also, strong cleaning agents can burn a dogs pads. They will lick their pads to stop the burning and ingest the chemicals which can also kill the bacteria in the GI tract, causing diarrhea.
Remedies
The conventional veterinary approach is to administer antibiotics and withhold food and water for 24-48 hours. This has not been the best choice for a number of years.
GI upset occurs when the bad bacteria in the GI tract gets the upper hand on the good bacteria.
Vomiting can be curative in itself, in that it purges spoiled food and toxins from the stomach and intestine.
A large dose of an all-natural laxative will help move the material to move through the colon.
A natural remedy gaining popularity is to administer soil-based organisms (SBOs). Soil-based probiotics introduce good bacteria that are dairy-free. They quickly balance the bad bacteria and restore balance without needing to withhold food or water.
Monitor your dog’s demeanor and stools carefully for seventy-two hours to be sure the material passes and their energy improves.
If after giving them SBOs or an all-natural laxative, you do not see an improvement in demeanor and energy, make an appointment to see your vet.
Limit your dogs’ food to clear fluids and begin gathering stool and vomit samples. Time date them for your vet. You might want to store them in a cool place, like a cooler.
If your dog has strong digestive odors, it could have an intestinal obstruction.
Article supplied by: Vitality Science
Robert Hart is co-owner of Vitality Science, a company that formulates all-natural remedies and supplements for cats, dogs, kittens and puppies. The ingredients VS uses are of highest quality and bioavailability. They are scientifically proven. Robert has been published in Fido Friendly print magazine, Ani-Med, numerous pet portals, as well as pet newsgroups. To learn more about VS products visit www.vitalityscience.com