Introduction:
Basic Concepts:
Diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, vomiting, and gastro-enteritis are occasional irritants affecting all pets and people from time to time.
But for some patients, these problems and other bowel diseases like colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, viral enteritis, and reflux can be either very serious or long term problems that can make your pet miserable. And it's no fun to be the owner of pets with chronic bowel problems either.
Medications like antibiotics, steroids, cancer drugs, and pain medications for diseases like arthritis sometimes cause stomach or bowel irritation.
It should make sense to you that what a pet eats is a big factor in bowel diseases. What you eat can either be part of the problem or part of the solution.
If your pet suffers from bowel disorders, we will consider using special diets designed to help or cure the problem. We may recommend these diets for a short period or as long term management of the disease.
Here are the diets and supplements we recommend for pets with gastro-intestinal problems:
Royal canin HE for dogs and cats:
I'm not quite sure why this high fat diet works so well at helping pets with diarrhea and inflammation of the bowel but it does. This diet is amazing.
High energy density
High levels of dietary fat
Moderate levels of high quality, highly digestible protein Highly digestible
Optimal levels of mixed soluble and insoluble fiber
Enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, FOS, MOS, and zeolite to help optimize intestinal health
Recommended for:
Acute and chronic diarrhea
Gastroenteritis
Intestinal parasites (e.g., giardia, worms)
Diarrhea due to dietary indiscretion
Short bowel syndrome
Viral intestinal disease
But because of the high levels of fat, NOT recommended for Pregnant or lactating bitches, Lymphangectasia, Pancreatitis, or Hyperlipidemia
Available in dry and canned.
Hill's I/D Intestinal Diet for dogs and cats:
Hill's I/D diet is also good as a treatment for chronic intestinal problems and is my first choice for treating lymphangectiasia, hyperlipidemia, and pancreatitis.
Supplements Helpful In The Treatment of Chronic Bowel Disorders:
Digest-Rite is often effective for chronic diarrhea, gas, and other inflammatory bowel diseases. It contains digestive enzymes (amylase, protease, cellulase, lipase, and pectinase) that break down fats, starches, and proteins ... something that most pets do naturally but something that a lot of pets don't do well ... especially after middle age sets in. And it also contains beneficial amino acids, Yucca schidigera, and probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium thermophilum and Bifidobacterium longum, and Bacticillus subtilus), all of which reduce bowel inflammation, gas, aid in various digestive disorders and often stops stool eating. And even helpful with weight problems. Disgest Rite is a flavored powder you spoon over your pet's food once a day.
Probiotics:
A probiotic, sometimes referred to as good or friendly bacteria, is a microorganism necessary for a healthy and balanced intestinal tract. The prevailing theory for using probiotics is that there are two types of bacteria found in the intestinal tract, good and harmful bacteria. Good bacteria, or probiotics, ensure good health as they supposedly:
1. Produce natural antibiotics, which can fight harmful bacteria.
2. Regulate and increase hormone levels.
3. Manufacture B group vitamins, biotin and folic acid.
4. Stimulate the immune system.
5. Reduce food intolerance.
6. Increase energy levels.
7. Inhibit the growth of some yeast.
8. Absorb nutrients, antioxidants and iron from food that is eaten.
9. Reduce inflammation.
10. Increase digestibility of food.
Several things can destroy the intestinal bacterial balance in a pet’s gut. Antibiotic and other prescription medications may destroy good bacteria as well as bad. Stress, poor diet, pollutants in the air, water, and environment may also deplete beneficial bacteria.
Herbal Supplements for the treatment of digestive disorders:
There are all kinds of plant or herbal treatments for GI problems that have faded in and out of popularity in various Asian, Indian, African, Aboriginal, and Western civilizations since recorded history.
Personally, I know very little about herbal medicine, but every once in a while some salesperson will convince me to try an herbal product that other vets are finding useful, and sure enough, I'm sometimes impressed. One such product that I like is called DiaBac and the primary active ingredient seems to be oregano extract.
DiaBac is a Proprietary Blend of Oregano extract (Thymol, Carvacrol), Dextrose, Corn Starch, Essential Oils, Calendula oil, catnip oil, olice oil, peppermint, oil, St. John's Wort oil, and Thyme.
DiaBac seems to work well on stress diarrhea for our boarding pets and other causes of short term diarrhea.
Fiber supplements: The right amount and right type of fiber in the diet can be very helpful in treating pets prone to diarrea as well as pets prone to constipation. This is because fiber regulates the amount of moisture in the bowel... Not too much and not too little.
Fiber supplements often help with hair ball problems, irritable bowel syndrome, colon cramps, and gas pains.
Fiber supplements designed to ferment slowly can aid in weight loss programs helping to make your pet feel full
Fiber supplements are also used in the treatment of dogs with diabetes helping to control the "swings" in blood sugar. Click here to go to our page about the nutritional treatment of diabetes.
Vetasyl is the brand of fiber we recommend.
It encourages natural elimination without the aid of chemicals, while providing gentle, effective relief from constipation. Often works wonders for pets troubled by hair balls. Good for both cats and dogs.
Benefits:
• A natural remedy for digestive issues
• Returns normalcy to your pet’s elimination
• Convenient, and easy to administer
• Contains 100% natural fiber sources
• Formulated without preservatives, artificial flavors or colors
• No reported side effects
How it works:
Vetasyl is sprinkled over food every day to aid in better digestion. The natural fiber source, which includes psyllium and barley, encourages natural elimination without the aid of chemicals.
Click on and of the links below to go to the therapeutic diets we recommend the most because we have found them to work well:
The above picture is from a Purina Dog Chow ad from the 1960's
This page is about the diets we recommend for pets with frequent or chronic diarrhea, constipation, hairball problems, gas, reflux, pancreatitis, and other problems involving the gastro-intestinal tract.
On Other pages we discuss the special diets and supplements use to treat:
Please visit our other Pages on this Site:
Revolution Frontline Plus Comfortis Vectra3D Promeris CapStar
Program 6 Month Injection for Cats Sentinel KnockOut House
KnockOut Premise Advantage Multi PrevenTic Collars
Revolution Advantage Multi TriHeart Plus
ProHeart 6 month injection
Inteceptor Sentinel
Panacur ProFender Pyrantel-50mg Revolution Advantage Multi
Inteceptor Sentinel
TriHeart Plus
And The Very Best Products Available For:
ZymoxHC FoxNest Ear Cleaner Mometamax Acrexx MalOtic
Phytosphingosine Hydroxyzine Tris8 Duralactin OFA's
Exotic Diets
Phytosphingosine FoxNest Medicated Shampoo Relief OFA's Zymox
FoxNest OatMeal Shampoo Hydroxyzine The Furminator Exotic Diets Hylyt Shampoo Genesis Spray BioGroom Natural Scented Shampoos MaloKet
Zymox VBG Cream Nolvasan Malotic DermaGel Bag Balm
Fly Repellent Vet Wrap
Biotene MaxiGuard Oral Gel Greenies TD OraVet Kits Gum Vaccine
ProPectalin DigestRite DiaRobe CatLax DiaBac Pancrazyme
GastriCalm K-Pectin
Duralactin Dasaquin SynoviFlex ChondroFlex for Cats Rimadyl Adequan
Tramadol AntiOxUltra
Special Diets Duralactin AntiOxUltra OFA's
Reconcile/Prozac DAP Collars & Plug-Ins Elimiodor Forbid
OFA's AntiOx SAM-e CranVet MultiVitamins PetTinic Milk Replacer
Bottles & Nipples Slentrol Reducing Diet LeanTreats
Prescription Therapy Diets
Urine Off The Equilizer Eliminodor Pet Candles ThioTrol Skunk
The Furminator Shed Guard OFA's Phytosphingosine
AllerPet for Humans MicroChips Pet Insurance Pet Candles Bag Balm
Dog Appeasing Pheromone Feliway Spray PetGuard
FoxNest Hairball Treats:
Hairball Treats are an intestinal lubricant that helps eliminate hairballs and their symptoms, including constipation, straining during a bowel movement, dry cough and vomiting associated with hairballs. It is also a gentle laxative against the formation of hairballs.
Cats really, really like these treats.
Cat Lax and CatNip flavored Cat Lax: These products are toothpaste like tubes full of flavored petroleum jelly and cod liver oil. Nothing is more successful at evacuating the bowel
We recommend Cat Lax when cats or dogs are suspected to have acute GI upset or clogging.
Don't forget to check for parasites at least once a year. Many worms have become resistant to deworming products.
