My dog has diarrhea on vacation, can't make chicken & rice. Help!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Copper. The goal of feeding chicken and rice is that it is a bland diet. This can help to settle a dog's stomach. It is not absolutely necessary though. I typically have the owner withhold food for 24hours if the dog is otherwise healthy. This will accomplish the same goal of resting the GI tract. If this does not resolve his symptoms, then he will need to see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Try to stick to the same routine as before, like feeding the same food from the same dog bowl, playing and going for walks, etc. If he is still not interested in food, you can try something like boiled chicken breast to entice him to eat. If it is caused by anxiety, supplements like Zylkene or Comfort Zone Adaptil Collars or Diffuser may help. However, if Gizmo does not seem interested in eating in 24 hours, he may need to see a vet if there is a medical cause for his anorexia. It is possible that it is purely coincidental that his not eating happened when you went to your Grandmother's house.

An isolated night of some vomiting and diarrhea, while stress for you and your, may not be extremely significant. I would consider switching Gizmo to something very bland like boiled chicken and rice to see if he can keep this down. You may even consider completely fasting him for 24 hours (continue to allow water). If the vomiting and diarrhea continues to persist for a total of 24 hours or if Gizmo is unable to keep down anything, you definitely need to get him into the vet for a diagnostic work up. I would describe the symptoms in detail over the phone, as it is possible your vet may want Gizmo to stay in the car until the Parvovirus can be effectively ruled out. This is an extremely contagious condition that often presents with vomiting and smelly diarrhea in young, unvaccinated puppies. Hope this helps and that Gizmo turns out fine!

There are lots of things that could cause vomiting and diarrhea in a dog, including dietary intolerance or indiscretion, food allergy, intestinal parasites, GI blockage, gastroenteritis, bacterial or viral infection, IBD, pancreatitis, among others. If it persists for 24 hours or if Oscar seems lethargic, I would recommend having him seen by a vet where you are vacationing.

It should be ok to wait until morning unless Gizmo becomes very lethargic or starts vomiting constantly, in such a scenario i would recommend to take him to the out of hours, if he is otherwise more or less fine in himself this can wait for your regular vet in the morning.

I'm sorry to hear that Gizmo is so sick! Unfortunately, these symptoms are very worrying. Lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea are often caused by a serious illness such as parvo, and can be life-threatening in a puppy this age. I know that costs are a concern for you, but Gizmo really needs to see a vet right away - I would be worried that she may not survive without veterinary care. This doesn't necessarily need to be an expensive visit; if you let the vet know that you have financial constraints, they can often come up with a fairly inexpensive plan for supportive care (including IV fluids and injectable meds for you to give at home) that will give her a fighting chance even with a serious illness like this. You could also see if there is a low-cost SPCA clinic in your area that could help, or apply online for Care Credit, which is a payment plan accepted by most vet clinics: www.carecredit.com If going to the vet is not possible at all, then I would just try to keep her warm and comfortable and do the best you can to keep her hydrated. You can continue giving Pedialyte if she's able to keep it down, and you might also try offering her some warmed low-sodium chicken or beef broth to help encourage her to drink. Plain boiled chicken or chicken-flavored baby food can also be offered if she's interested in eating at all, as these are very bland and should not upset her stomach further.

Poor Gizmo! This diarrhea could be from intestinal worms, a GI illness, or eating something rotten to name a few causes. Two weeks is a while for a dog to have diarrhea, so it’s time for a vet visit to diagnose what’s causing it so he can be treated. Give his vet a call on Monday to make an appointment. Best of luck.