Answer

Thanks for the additional information,

Any change to the diet can cause an upset stomach even if it is a food they have had before or if it was something they simply scavenged from outdoors while on a potty break. That being said, bacterial overgrowth and parasite or protozoal infections can also result in diarrhea so if no improvement is noted, he should at the very least have his stool examined by a veterinarian.

The shaking is a sign of pain or discomfort. Constipation is not of concern within 72 hours of a loose bowel movement because they need time to build up more stool. If he strains to defecate or appears to have a painful abdomen, that would be a different story. I also do not believe it is the flu as it usually is associated with upper respiratory infection like symptoms.

As long as he is drinking, you can try a few home care remedies to try to avoid a vet visit. First stop all food, treats and table food. I would feed him a diet of chicken and rice only (1/3 chicken, 2/3 rice- no spices no fat) to ease the stomach and help prevent/stop diarrhea. Chicken and rice is highly digestible and should not irritate the stomach. This can be fed over the next few days and slowly weaned onto a regular diet if she improves. I would also add some canned pumpkin (not spiced) 1-2 teaspoons per meal to bulk up the stools and calm the intestine. Pumpkin is a very safe natural remedy that will help regulate the digestive tract. It can be used for both diarrhea or soft stools and constipation.

The most important thing is to ensure that he is drinking well- it is very important that he remains hydrated. Offer room temperature water only as cold water can aggravate the stomach and induce vomiting. Additionally, you can also offer him small amounts of Pedialyte or Smart Water electrolyte solutions- also room temperature. This will help replace the electrolytes he loses in the diarrhea and makes him feel poorly.

If at any time he begins vomiting, becomes severely lethargic, strains to defecate without production, stomach becomes tight or distended, gums become pale, or has any additional symptoms, I would have him seen today to rule out more serious conditions. If this is from food inconsistencies or a general upset stomach, he should begin to improve over the next 12 hours with a complete recovery in 24-48 hours. If his symptoms persist or worsen, I would have him evaluated by a vet.

If you are concerned about the cost of treatment, you can look at the following websites for financing information/financial assistance.

www.carecredit.com

www.imom.org

www.angels4animals.org


Hope this helps. Please let me know if you need additional information.

Best wishes to you BOTH,
Amy

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