There will always be a need for vets. That idea, plus my huge love of animals, has led me down the path of becoming a veterinarian. I have not graduated from my course yet, but the reason behind this blog is to share my learning journey. I intend to write blog posts on subjects like the veterinarian education path, my thoughts on whether to be a general or specialist vet and how I wish to use alternative treatments like acupuncture in my practice. If you too have a love of animals and want to make this your job, then my blog will be interesting to you.
5 Foods For Dogs With Diarrhoea
Like humans, dogs occasionally experience digestive upsets. Diarrhoea that contains blood or that continues for several days requires attention from a vet. However, if the diarrhoea is mild, the following foods could help your pooch to get over their stomach problems.
1. Pumpkin
Pumpkin contains a lot of soluble fibre, which helps to bind undigested particles of food together in the gut. Pumpkin is a safe source of this kind of fibre, and many dogs enjoy eating it.
You can cook fresh pumpkin, let it cool, mash it up and put it into your dog's bowl. Alternatively, serve canned pumpkin as a quick and easy method of soothing your dog's sensitive stomach.
2. White Rice
White rice also contains soluble fibre. It also contains a lot of easily digestible starch, so it is a good way to get calories into your dog when they don't feel up to eating their regular food.
Avoid brown rice, which contains insoluble fibre that is irritating to the gut. Remember to let the rice cool down before you serve it to ensure your pet does not burn their mouth.
3. Lean Meat
Meat is an important part of a dog's diet, but fatty cuts can make diarrhoea worse. Serve low-fat types of meat, such as chicken breast or turkey. Meat is an excellent source of protein for pet dogs and can help them to recover from a mild illness.
4. Egg
Boiled eggs are another good source of protein for poorly pooches. However, raw eggs sometimes contain bacteria that can make diarrhoea worse. Boil eggs until they are cooked all the way through, remove the shells, and mash them in your dog's bowl.
5. Yoghurt
In addition to being an excellent source of protein, yoghurt also contains healthy bacteria. This bacteria can recolonise your dog's gut, providing a defense against the bad bacteria that cause stomach aches and diarrhoea. Be sure to give your dog only plain, unsweetened dairy yoghurt. Fruit-flavoured and chocolate-flavoured yoghurts are often high in sugar and may contain other ingredients that could harm your dog.
In addition to offering these soothing foods, give your dog plenty of fresh, clean water. Diarrhoea causes dogs to lose a lot of fluid, so it is important for them to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. If your dog does not start to get better within a few days, take them to a vet for professional treatment.