My dog has diarrhea and I am wondering if I can give him pepto bismol to make him feel better. Have any of you done that before? Do you have other suggestions??
I agree, human medications do not often work the same way in dogs as they do for us. I second plain white rice, it helps to bind things up. You can also try plain canned pumpkin, make sure it is plain and not pie filling. If those don't help I would recommend a visit to the vet.
I would double check with your veterinarian before giving your dog any human meds since the dosing can be a little different. I would recommend feeding your dog plain cooked white rice and plain cooked chicken, that always helps settle their stomachs!
If your dog has a mild stomach issue that does not appear to be life-threatening, you can treat it at home with some natural remedies; check with your veterinarian first if you are unsure. Try these home remedies for occasional dog stomach upset, but do take a dog to the vet that still has unchanged symptoms after a few days or if symptoms worsen. Fasting — This may sound mean, but restrict all food and treats and limit water for twelve to twenty-four hours for adult dogs. Like humans, an animals’ body can heal itself and fasting allows the dog’s stomach to rest, recover from possible intestinal inflammation, to hopefully clear itself up. Rice — Make a warm rice water by straining the water after cooking a small amount of uncooked rice in a larger amount of water. Boil and stir 1 cup rice in 1 quart water for about twenty minutes, then strain the rice and give some of the warm or cooled rice water to your dog. You can also make a watery rice porridge by boiling already cooked rice in a pot of water or homemade veggie broth. Cook 1 cup rice as usual in a rice cooker or pot, then add it to 3 quarts low boiling water or broth for twenty minutes stirring occasionally. Rice grains should look mushy like little stars. Give your dog enough to remain hydrated and store the rest in the fridge for later. When you warm up another bowl, add a little water to thin it out. Food additions — Pumpkin, sweet potatoes, bananas, and oatmeal are gentle foods that can be added to your dog’s meal to help settle the stomach, maybe even help chronic stomach upset.