Hi My dog has been having very loose stools for 1 day (and night) I was wondering whether I can give her Imodium ? I know if this goes on I shall have to take her to the vet but this time I just think it's a case of too many scraps from the table! She is fine in herself, seems to want food and is drinking enough water. Thanks.

not if she's a herding breed, and particularly not if she's a rough collie as they can have an intolerance to a variety of things and this includes imodium... I'd rather give 'slippery elm' from pharmacies and health food shops :-)

Change to boiled chicken and rice for 24 hrs to allow the gut to settle. If you have steamed pumpkin/butternut squash[I keep the former in the freezer] then a desert spoon or icecube size piece will calm things down within hours.

If no change then off to the vet as dogs with diarrhoea can quickly become dehydrated.

I keep a tub of pet kaolin powder in the cupboard (the base for Pro-Kolin, the anti-diarrhoeal stuff the vets sell but considerably cheaper as it's just the binding agent, no probiotics etc).

Pro-kolin is excellent - indeed a little better than kaolin alone - but it is prohibitively expensive for me when Raine gets stress-diarrhoea.  One 30ml tube (something like £17 at my vet) lasts her 2 or 3 days, whereas the tub of powder has lasted months so far.  And if she's having a really bad bout, she could be squishy for a couple of weeks.  Only downside is there's no dosing guide - if she's in full enteritis she gets a teaspoon twice a day (28kg dog), and I just cut it down from there depending on severity.  Right now she's having about 1/4 of a teaspoon a meal, following a bit of stress-diarrhoea on Thursday.  Just about back to normal, she won't get any more from tomorrow.

ETA: I also give my dogs water in their kibble to keep them hydrated :-)

I would do little if the problem is mild and not long lasting, if it continues I would feed either tinned original Chappie or one of the tins of ID food if I did not have them then fish or chicken. Would not medicate at all but see a vet if it gets worse or continues for more than a few days.

Immodium is really strong stuff for a dog.  I never take it myself unless I'm travelling or working and absolutely have to.  Get some Pro-Kolin from the vet - it's really effective.

I tend to buy the pro-kolin online and keep it in my emergency box, I have never used Imodium on dogs as I think Pro-Kolin is probably safer. I used to always have Arrowroot in the medical cupboard if the kids ever had upset tums and on one occasion used this on my dog and it worked well, rather like a spoonful of white blancmange, but it did the trick.

I to agree that pro kolin is excelent but expensive for such a small amount, so use old fashioned kaolin & morph. No problem getting them to take it, used to use a syringe but now they just sit in front of me & lick it from the spoon, but always ensure they are drinking.

I use Diarsanyl Plus for my crew if they have a runny tummy but are otherwise fine in themselves. Brilliant stuff - sorts the problem in hours and it isn't a prescription drug. I always have it in my doggy cupboard :)

Kaolin (preferably without the morphine) but have used both about 5ml for 20kg dog, twice a day

I am interested to see that most of you would use some form of medication after just one day of diarrhoea rather than try the withholding of food and then feeding with a suitable diet. Perhaps I am wrong but would only resort to medication after 2 or 3 days or if the situation was becoming worse. Should the diarrhoea be accompanied by vomiting or a depressed dog this is a different matter and the dog should see a vet rather than wait to try home prescribed medication.

I would do the same, Nova.  Diarrhoea, unpleasant though it may be, is the natural defense mechanism of the body to rid itself of something dangerous and, therefore, should not be interfered with lightly.

Agree with Nova here too. I also have one who gets colitis at the drop of a hat so have had to deal with iffy tums quite often. I keep Pro-Kolin in the cupboard but wouldn't necessarily use it with just one loose stool.

With diahorrea, I would always withold food for approx 24 hrs, whilst giving some doses of Pro-Kolin. Boiled fish/chicken and potato/rice is great bland food. Gradually reintroduce regular food if stools firm. If dog is obviously looking unwell, is vomiting and lethargic, then a trip to the vet always advised.

I recently read that stewed and mashed up carrot is excellent for binding loose stools, it also has a natural antibiotic. Must get some more info on this!! I wonder if it's similar to butternut squash?

If a dog has eaten something too rich, and they have loose stools, I would tentatively give their normal food, and see what comes out the other end. Sometimes it is just temporary & they will get back to normal really quickly. Proper runs (especially with spots of blood) needs to be treated as above.

> Agree with Nova here too. I also have one who gets colitis at the drop of a hat so have had to deal with iffy tums quite often. I keep Pro-Kolin in the cupboard but wouldn't necessarily use it with just one loose stool

Agree with you & think it come down to knowing your dogs. I've always believed that diarrhoea is the bodies way of expelling something that has caused a problem & wouldn't necessarily medicate.
Though with two dogs that have suffered from colitis badly in the past, especially one of them, if I see any the signs do administer kaolin as it has eased the number of times it turns into something severe.

boiled chicken and rice and plain natural yoghurt to get the good bacteria back in the gut.

I agree with Nova, I withhold food and then when runs stop (hopefully within the day) i gradually offer light, fish, scrambled egg ect in small meals then gradually add in their normal food.  

Mild diarrhoea?  Miss a meal then feed light food for a day or two.

As others have said though we have slightly different strategies depending on which dog.  I have one with an acid tummy who is better eating a dry biscuit (Bonio) rather than missing a meal, another who could probably miss two meals, and another who is so rarely poorly that I might be tempted to seek early vet treatment for.

How is your girl now?  OK I hope

Yes She is better again now thank you. I took on board all of your remarks and decided (for her-because she is always hungry!) that rice and boiled chicken (and a dry bonio) was the best course to take. I have now ordered online  some diarsanyl plus...just in case...to keep in my doggy cupboard! You are correct in saying each dog will react differently to different treatments but it is always informative to know how other owners treat these common symptoms.. Thank you all for your inputs.

I have a giant breed - and always give them a dose of human Kaolin and Morphine that you can pick up fromBoots - ALWAYS works , without fail

> She is better again now thank you

Good to hear :)  Thanks for the update

With puppy 'Dire Rear'  and indeed with adults I just starve for 24 hours and then offer a light diet and Bio Yoghurt.  I find this sorts things out very quickly.   With longer lasting 'Dire Rear'  or D&V it depends on the dog and how she's looking,  I use a home made oral rehydration solution of

    30 ml (6 level tsp) of sugar/honey
    2.5 ml (1/2 level tsp) of salt, dissolved into
    1 litre (4.25 Cups) of clean water

I find that this works really well for most things and quickly restores them to rights :-D   If they've been vomiting, as well as the Dire Rear, I add a mashed/whizzed banana to the mix or some orange juice to add potassium ;)

I have been known to give this by syringe if a pup is looking a bit depressed or refusing to drink.  At the very least it prevents deyhdration setting in as pups can go down very quickly ;)

So glad little one is better, they are such a worry, then they bounce back! :-D

That's an interesting recipe! More of a treat than a med! lol I've written that info in my little doggy info notebook. It's good to be able to concoct something medicinal out of things to hand from the pantry!

Thank you. ALL

I have recently discovered Yumpro Bioactive Plus made by Lintbells. Starving for a day is obvious but these sachets can be mixed with water and the paste given to the dog. Next day, sprinkle the sachets on the food (white fish is what I give.) It worked fantastically well on my almost 15 year old a few days ago & her tummy is fine now. As a daily pro/prebiotic Lintbells make Yumpro tablets which I tend to give her daily as her stools are very variable ( and often on the carpet these days!)  Neither product is expensive and better than keep using antibiotics unless they are really poorly.

> As others have said though we have slightly different strategies depending on which dog.

That's it exactly.  Raine's diarrhoea is always stress-related - such as last Monday, my housemate bought a complete stranger in without reminding me she was going to, so the dogs had access to the front door and Rai was stood right in front of it when this person came in (and she came in first, even worse).  So Rai completely freaked and had diarrhoea for about 4/5 days afterwards.  And in the longer term for her, sorting anal glands out is incredibly stressful so if I can avoid any squishiness leading to that needing doing then I will.

I don't starve my dogs though no matter the reason for the diarrhoea - the way I see it, absorption of nutrients and energy is going to be compromised by the diarrhoea anyway (and being ill will tire the dog out too), so I'd rather give them something bland so they are at least getting some energy from something.  Last I heard that was the preferred approach from the vets anyway, having moved away from a 24 starve now - or was I imagining that?

> I don't starve my dogs though no matter the reason for the diarrhoea - the way I see it, absorption of nutrients and energy is going to be compromised by the diarrhoea anyway (and being ill will tire the dog out too), so I'd rather give them something bland so they are at least getting some energy from something.  Last I heard that was the preferred approach from the vets anyway, having moved away from a 24 starve now - or was I imagining that?

Likewise have rarely have starved our dogs when suffering diarrhoea.

Saw a different vet, at an emergency out of hours visit for one suffering severe colitis. Usual anti inflammatory injection (which immediately helps), told to continue with kaolin & live yogurt and when I mentioned withdrawing food for 24 hours, told no. There is a change in opinion now, small bland meals should continue, dogs still required nutriment.

I was advised to starve when bland did not work after a couple of days.  To this day though rice goes straight through, if we are doing bland now I stick with 4/5 small meals of chicken or fish.

Mild diarrhea for a day or so isn't normally reason for concern (unless there is a known underlying medical condition of course). I do however always have a tub of CSJ herbs Heal! in my cupboard though so will sprinkle some of that on the food which normally sorts things out.

I agree totally with Mark o Flynn.    Boiled chicken and rice or use boiled rabbit and rice or boiled fish and rice, don't wash the stodge out of the rice, and use natural live yoghurt which helps replace the bacteria back into the gut. Economy yoghurt will work well!
But if this dosen't work after a couple of days consult your vet PROMPTLY !