Hi
Has anyone used gripe water for small pups that are windy or bloated? It was suggested in an old book I found but don't know if its really outdated now? Thanks.

Yes, I've had pups with colic.  Depending on their age, only a tiny drop  sorts them out.

Hi Val,
Thank for that, off to the chemist to get some now!

Can you still get gripe water?? I thought you couldn't buy it now. Would like to know if you find it though.

Another thing for my whelping kit ;-)

Just got some from my local chemist. They sold a few different makes so am going to try it as one of our little pups does have a swollen abdomen and does get quite gripey in the evenings. I'll let you know how we get on.
Sarah

I used to use a lot of gripe water for me as found it helped upset stomachs and then I had a couple of bottles where I did not like the taste, it was almost oily.  I wrote to the manufactures to complain and gave them the batch numbers etc and they responded with the reason it had changed was they had had to take the alcohol out of it :-(  :D

I used to give it to one of my pups that always had a lot of hiccups - Gripe water contains Dill, dill is a similar plant to Fennel and as I liked the name Fennel that is what she was named - logical or what?

Yes, I like the Haywards (?) one that smells of sweet fennel.

You can make your own gripe water :D

But it would be a HUGE waste giving it to chldren :D

I found the best one was the one that still contained Dill oil, it worked better ;)

Hi Dill

How do you make it please ?

Do you often get in flavoured water ? :D

NAH!!  I normally get in HOT water :D :D :D :D

I'll send you a recipe by IM ;) - don't want it getting into the wrong hands ;) could be dangerous :D

Hi Sarah

How many puppies did you end up having - and did they arive ok?

Jac

Hi Jac,
We had 5 pups (2 boys, 3 girls) although I am still worried silly about the smallest girl. She is the one that gets gripey and has a swollen tum. I am with them 24 hours a day still to make sure she doesn't get pushed out by the big bullies. I just can't bear the thought of loosing her. It was a long labour but Mum is doing really well. Thanks for asking.
Sarah

Gripe water was fantastic for my last litter of pups! A few had little colic bellies after their worming meds. Within minutes of having a tiny amount of gripe water they were settled and contented again! It's a must for the whelping kit!

Hi Sarah

Glad things are going well and send congratulations to mum; I'll keep my fingers crossed for the little one.
Jac

Marvellous isn't it? LOL

They took the alcohol out of gripe water because it was considered dangerous, and replaced it with.....enough Sodium Bicarbonate to change the texture :rolleyes: because sodium is sooo safe :rolleyes:

Sodium bicarbonate is good old bicarbonate of soda, taken by humans to relieve indigestion ... ;)

LOL

I know JG, but as we are all told we should strictly limit the amount of sodium we ingest it seems a little wierd ;)  Personally I've never found Bicarb any good for indigestion - it just makes things worse for me :(  However a good ole slug of whisky/brandy/vodka works every time.  And in our local Hospital on the maternity ward they keep Brandy and Peppermint in the medicine cupboard for indigestion and wind in nursing mothers ;) :D  OOOH! that was soo nice :D :D

Simethicone is something that is recommended in the US and you can buy specialist products for dogs re bloating etc.

Infacol which is sold in the UK pharmacies etc contains simethicone and so I would personally use that if you felt the need for such a product and wanted a commercial alternative to homeopathic treatment.