The digestive system begins with the mouth and concludes with the anus and faeces expelled, as such every item which the pet licks, chews and swallows affects the final product being expelled with variations in colour texture and smell all viable options. Simple dietary changes may result in ‘loose stools’ due to the different composition of ingredients for example a higher fibre diet, depending on the situation this may or may not be seen as an issue as it is not an illness, simply a result of a diet change. Of course loose stools occurring for any length of time may lead to other issues or complications such as blocked anal glands therefore, restoring a healthy digestive system with a balanced diet should always be the aim and if this doesn’t occur naturally, further dietary adjustments should be made such as increasing the meaty bone proportion of the diet.
As well as the planned dietary changes which affect digestive output, the unplanned discrete food choices especially for our scavenging dogs, can have a profound impact on their digestive system with diarrhoea the unpleasant outcome, for example , licking those ice-cream laden fingers of the younger family members or ‘stealing’ the fatty scraps from the family barbeque. Educating owners on what is, and isn’t species appropriate, is a vital step in removing potential allergens or triggers of digestive upset, and ultimately restoring their pets’ health.
An immediate concern for the pet suffering diarrhoea is dehydration due to the extra fluids being expelled. Bone broth can be an excellent dietary aid in this case; replenishing vital fluids and nutrients without placing an additional burden on the digestive system, having a supply in the freezer for emergencies is a useful tip for the pet owner.
There are a number of foods which can be beneficial when a bout of diarrhoea strikes. Bananas are a very versatile and easily accessible fruit, rich in Vitamin B and other valuable nutrients. The ripe flesh of a banana is palatable to many dogs and is very easy for owners to ‘break down’ and use by simply mashing. Bananas contain many nutrients beneficial to the pets’ health in addition to healthy digestion. For example, they contain manganese which plays an important role in activating antioxidant enzymes and the synthesis of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Ripe bananas are also a great fibre source, the pectin they contain draws water out of the faeces leaving a firmer product to be expelled.
Other beneficial foods in the treatment of diarrhoea include carrots and pumpkin which, in addition to useful nutrients, have the added benefit of anti-parasitic qualities. If feeding carrot or pumpkin seeds to pets these should be suitably pulverised to make them suitable for the pets’ digestive systems. Whereas, pumpkin flesh should be cooked, cooled and mashed before serving.
A useful supplement to add to the diet of a pet suffering diarrhoea is omega hemp seed oil due to its pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties as well as the assorted vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients. It can be difficult to obtain a quality source in New Zealand with reputable online sources providing a good option.
Healthy gut bacteria are an essential part of healthy digestion therefore adding plain, natural Greek yoghurt to the pets’ daily meal for up to two weeks following a bout of diarrhoea is recommended.
Source
Billinghurst, I. 1993. Give Your Dog a Bone. Bathurst, New South Wales: Warrigal Publishing.
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