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Ho, ho, ho.. gotta go, go, go

Ho, ho, ho.. gotta go, go, go

Ho, ho, ho, gotta go, go, go

Truth be told we all have to go to the restroom, and that includes our favorite four-legged animal! So, what happens if their tummies aren’t feeling so good after eating they shouldn’t this holiday, or that stool isn’t quite just right?!

               During the holidays we tend to do a lot more cooking and have random amount of foods out that usually aren’t there. While it is great for our tummy it might not be so good for your pets’. Please look out for the following foods: bones from fish and meat, chocolate, any kind of fish, grapes, mushrooms, pits from fruit, raw eggs, raw meat, yeast dough. Although these are not all the food they can or can’t eat, it does help give an idea. Now, if you have to share, here are some safe zone foods: pasta and or rice; meat that is cooked; raw veggies including carrot, cucumber, zucchini, lettuce, bell peppers, corn (cut off the cob), and celery grated or finely chopped. Or steam these favorites: green beans, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, and hard winter squash. Skip avocado, which can upset stomachs.

               Oh poo!.. literally..

Solid is pretty good; actually very good! If the stool is too loose to pick up in your hands, then it isn’t normal. Your pet should defecate the same amount of feeding times. So if you feed them twice a day then they should poop twice a day. NOW if your beloved has the runs, first call your local veterinarian to see if you can follow these steps.

·        Withhold food (NOT WATER! Water is ok and keeps them hydrated!) for 12 hours

·        After the 12 hours, if the diarrhea has improved and there is no vomiting or mood changes, you can offer a very small amount of ground turkey or their own food every two to four hours.

·        If diarrhea persists or returns, call your veterinarian as soon as you can.

               While most cases of diarrhea or discolored stool are mild and controllable, some are very serious. In these cases, it could very well be a infection such as bacterial, viral or fungal. Intestinal parasites can cause this problem as well. Always be careful of dehydration in a diarrhea case, due to the feces going through the large intestine, preventing normal water take in. The failure in take in water can cause dehydration for your four-legged animal. Blood in diarrhea or stool doesn’t always look like normal blood. It can appear as black or dark-brown strands, or even look like speckles. Make sure to call your veterinarian if this appears.

               Running towards healthy..

Fecal samples are always a good thing to check if your pet is having trouble with stools. It will be able to show any parasites that might be in the intestines. If this is the case, antibiotics can help. A change in your pets diet may also need to be worked on. If the food you are feeding is not settling like it should be, moving on to a different kind may be your answer. Last, but not least, probiotics can help your pets gut, and can be purchased at a local Animal Hospital.

                Merry Christmas!!!!

We wish y’all a very Merry Christmas this season and a Happy New Year! Make sure to watch for food that will give an upset! Â