Is kaolin/pectin safe for my senior dog's diarrhea? What should I do?

Hello, and thank you for your question. I don't see a problem with administering a single dose of kaolin and pectin to Luca. In addition, I would offer him a bland, easily digestible diet in small, frequent portions, such as boiled ground beef and plain white rice. For his weight, 2 tbsp every 2-3 hours should work. If his diarrhea worsens or if he starts to have vomiting, reduced appetite or lethargy, he may need to see a vet before your travel tomorrow. I hope this helps, and that Luca feels better soon!

It is common for them to lose their appetite when they have a gastrointestinal disburance. Considering she has diarrhea, she is likely battling an infection, or food intolerance that is also making her feel nauseous. This may be due to another problem like a foreign body, or intestinal worms. Diarrhea is a common problem and is usually self-limiting (will go away on its own). It doesn't appear to be serious right now, but it's always possible that it could be the start of something serious. If Abby has any of the following, then she should see a vet: 1) Blood in diarrhea 2) Very watery diarrhea 3) Starts acting very depressed 4) Stops eating (i.e. will not even eat treats) or drinking for longer than 24 hours. 5) Diarrhea lasts longer than three days. You can often help them get through this by feeding bland food (boneless chicken and rice is good), but if she won't eat her normal food, then this may not work. Feed small portions (1/2 cup or less) three times a day. You can also add probiotics to the food (can get this at the pet store), which has demonstrated some efficacy for improving diarrhea. Ensure fresh, clean water is always available. I hope this helps and Abby gets better soon.

I do not recommend using Kaopectate in dogs, since it contains salicylic acid, which is the active ingredient and can cause further GI upset. Your dog should be tested for parasites (since not all dewormers treat all parasites), food sensitivities, food allergies, and other problems that can cause diarrhea, such as pancreatitis and liver issues. You can try feeding a bland diet containing boiled white meat chicken and boiled white rice to see if that helps him, however the exact cause of the diarrhea needs to be discovered and treated appropriately.

I would not recommend Pepto bishop for diarrhea, as the ingredients are often not well tolerated in dogs. You can feed some canned pumpkin or boiled chicken and rice to see if that helps but if it's not improving she may need to see your vet for treatment.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Any medication you give a lactating dog will be passed through the milk to the puppy. I do not suggest any human medications and if her diarrhea is severe you should have her examined by your Vet and a fecal test ran to rule out intestinal parasites. It easily could be the food you are feeding as she should be eating a puppy food. I would try a bland diet of boiled chicken and hamburger with rice for a few says. A probiotic should be fine, I like Purina Fortiflora. I hope this helps!

Either can be used in dogs, however you should confirm a dose with your veterinarian based on Wolverine's weight. In the meantime, you can try withholding food for 12-24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet in small, frequent amounts. Begin with 1 tablespoon every hour and gradually increase the amount of food. Feed bland until the stool is normal then transition slowly to his regular diet. If the diarrhea does not resolve or if Wolverine develops vomiting, lethargy or loss of appetite, see your vet for an exam. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth.

Unfortunately it's illegal for us to recommend using any OTC drugs in dogs without see them in person. I can give you a home remedy to see if that helps Brutus. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If the diarrhea continues on the bland diet, he starts vomiting food, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, he will need to see a vet right away. Best of luck.