Dogs of all ages suffer
with digestive "issues"
and have bouts with
runny stools because of
too many treats/rich
holiday foods, etc. PON
owners often exchange
home health care to
soothe upset PON
tummies.
As always, check with
your veterinarian before
using any home remedies.
Even herbs can
cause problems if used
incorrectly.
These suggestions have
worked well in most
cases:
Skip a Meal
This is often overlooked
as one of the easiest
ways to get a PON's
digestive system back to
normal. Many times,
digestive issues can be
remedied by giving the
system a break.
Sticky Rice and
Steamed Chicken
This is normally the
first advice that
veterinarians offer to
dogs that have runny
stools. To get the
useful “stickiness” use
extra water and cook the
rice for a longer period
of time. I usually use ¾
portion rice to ¼
portion chicken.
Scrambled eggs may also
be used because it is
extremely easy for the
canine system to digest.
Canned Pumpkin
Offer a teaspoonful for
a young puppy and a
tablespoon for an adult.
This has been known to
help either constipation
or diarrhea. Large
dosages are also fine
and in fact, I offer
about four tablespoons a
day for normal digestive
systems. Libby's pure
pumpkin can be found in
the baking section of
your local supermarket.
Other types of
fiber: If you
don't have canned
pumpkin and urgently
need fiber, try squash
or green beans. These
tried and try
alternatives work well
and PONS absolutely love
them !
Slippery Elm Bark
Powder
Slippery Elm is made
from the bark of the
slippery elm tree. While
native to North America,
slippery elm bark powder
is widely used in many
countries to soothe sore
throats as well as the
digestive tract. Try ¼
tsp mixed with the
sticky rice and chicken
described above.
Elimination Option
Sometimes dogs react to
one ingredient and it
can be difficult to
identify the trigger to
digestive issues. The
first step with an
elimination diet
involves paring down the
ingredients to a bare
minimum until the system
is back on track. Then
you should add
ingredients slowly while
making sure your PON's
system remains stable.
Accurate notes are
important to track
progress.
Never hesitate to check
with your veterinarian
if your PON doesn’t
quickly get back to
normal. In most cases,
everything is probably
fine, but it is better
to play it safe. Good
luck and please update
us.