The BRAT Diet

Finding Dog Diarrhea Cures and Fixes

Dogs can be your best friend, confidant and beloved member of the family. They cheer you up when you are feeling down and can even be good for a laugh or two if the muse strikes them. What is not so funny however is when your pooch has a decided case of diarrhea. Not only is it a mess if they are a house dog, but just like humans it can lead to dehydration and other medical problems

The first thing you need to do is try and determine the cause of your dogs diarrhea. When you have narrowed down the causes, you will be in a better place to provide your dog with adequate treatment.

Food

Your dogs food could be a big part of the problem, overeating, foreign material and even a change from one brand to the other can cause problems.

Sometimes dogs who are only fed once a day will woof down their food quickly and actually gorge themselves. They do this because they know it is the only feeding they will get until tomorrow. This influx of food can wreak havoc on the digestive system and leave you with a mess. The best idea is to feed them smaller meals several times per day or leave free choice food available at all times.

Some dogs are highly sensitive to the type of food they eat. This is generally a problem with purebred dogs, but can happen to any canine. If you have recently changed your dog’s brand of food to save money and notice bad results immediately, you will want to switch them back quickly.

If you have not changed your dog’s food or noticed any overeating, you may want to have your dog food tested. Unfortunately, the manufacturers sometimes have to recall their feeds because of foreign contaminants or even poison.

Illness

Dogs can also contract illnesses of the small or large intestine that will increase the number of times they have a bowel movement daily. This is usually marked by the presence of blood in the stool, vomiting, weight loss and listless behavior. It is a good idea to see your veterinarian quickly if you notice any of these symptoms.

Chewing

Dogs are like children they will put almost anything in their mouth, including batteries, make-up and chemical bottles they find at eye level, (and sometimes those on the counters!) Some dogs are worse than others about eating or chewing up foreign materials, nevertheless if your furry friend spends a lot of time indoors it might be wise to puppy proof your home.

Other possibilities

Pesticides, worms, common canine diseases and fungus are all things that can cause diarrhea in your pet. Canine parvovirus is especially bad about this and can cause death if not treated quickly. The best thing you can do for your dog, just to be safe is to take them to the vet immediately. The causes of dog diarrhea may be simple but there are so many serious causes you do not want to take chances.

Hello readers,

I’ve been getting some questions as of late that have focused around “dog diarrhea” and how it relates to using the same healthy balance approach that we humans have (I’m assuming you are not a dog reading on your Master’s computer) with the B.R.A.T. Diet.

The fact of the matter is that when my dog is sick, (I have a Terrier that often eats anything and everything”) I use the same basic principals as expressed with the BRAT Diet, but do so with a couple added precautions that are dog-specific, dangers or warnings that people don’t have to worry about.

Of course, I am not a licensed vet, but do feed my dog human grade food and successfully can and do adjust his diet whenever his stomach is upset, or his mood is less than ideal, or he just is not behaving like himself. I’ll work on a couple dog specific BRAT Diet health articles to address some of your concerns. Give me a day or two and I’ll post them when they are ready.

Thanks for your Brat Diet questions – keep ‘em coming.

Sandy

The B.R.A.T. Diet is recommended by many health experts and is proven to be effective, but why does the BRAT Diet work exactly?

First, understanding diarrhea: If you were to ask your doctor, they would characterize diarrhea as a noticeable increase in the passing of stools, usually on terms of weight. Between those who suffer from it, the increase in stools is on the right lines, but we may wish to add the urgency of needing the toilet and that our stools are very loose and more liquid as opposed to solid.

If caused by the onset of other illnesses, going without treatment can lead to dehydration, which is more serious than it initially sounds. In poorer countries where the necessary medication is less available, diarrhea and dehydration could and does lead to premature deaths.

You might get an upset stomach and diarrhea from simply eating something that didn’t agree with you. Your suffering may last a couple of days or weeks but it is highly likely that you will recover from it. This type of short-term diarrhea is commonly referred to as ‘acute’ diarrhea. On the other hand ‘chronic’ diarrhea may be the sign of other illnesses or diseases within the body. If you notice that loose stools is becoming all too consistent, a trip to the doctors would be advised to determine the rudimentary problem.

There can be many causes to diarrhea, but the most likely of these causes are infections such as the virus ‘rotavirus’, bacterias including E. coli, salmonella and clostridium, not to forget several parasites. Some causes will be transferred from another infected person or even food and drinking supplies that have been in contact with any bacterias. Food poisoning can be brought on by consuming food that has been undercooked or contaminated, leading to the problem of diarrhea.

If its not an infection that has occurred, there are still other conditions that can bring on loose stools. Consider the following:

• An inability to digest some foods such as lactose products or an intolerance to wheat.
• If you have ’short-bowel syndrome’, a condition where a portion of your intestine had to be removed.
• If you have gone through surgery to take away the gallbladder.
• If you have any diseases linked to the hormonal system such as diabetes or adrenal disease.
• Inflammatory bowel disease or bowel cancer.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Alcoholism.

So whats the science behind it all? We are aware of some of the causes, but what actually makes a watery stool a watery stool? It is quite natural for the bodies digestive system to break down food into a more liquidized form in order to pass it out of the stomach and into the intestines. However, on reaching the lower part of the small intestine and colon, our body will start to reabsorb some of the water, forming the stool we are most used to.

When our bodies recognize a toxin, they pump more water through the body to get rid of it as quickly as possible. The excessive amount of water within the stool cannot be completely reabsorbed by the body and that folks – is why we get diarrhea.

A Simple BRAT Diet For Toddlers:

Taking care of a sick child can be very frustrating. Not only are children unable to tell you what is wrong with them but they can become very ill in a short time. Infants and toddlers are more prone to sudden illness than older children. For this reason it is imperative that small children that become ill with the flu or stomach bug receive the right treatment. High temperatures and frequent vomiting will cause dehydration in a small child within hours. When the stomach is involved it is hard for toddlers to eat or drink. Depending on the age of the child, offering fluids and use of the Brat diet is often suggested by the pediatrician.

The BRAT diet has been recommended as the number one home treatment for small children suffering with stomach issues. BRAT (B.R.A.T.) stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Used for years to help those recovering with an upset stomach, it has proven to be well tolerated. This bland, low-fiber diet seems to help infants and toddlers reintroduce solid foods into their ailing digestive system.

Following the BRAT diet can help stomach problems for some medically sound reasons. Low fiber foods that have binding properties, help the stools to firm up. This is important when diarrhea has been an issue for days. Nutrients are lost during vomiting and bouts of diarrhea. Potassium is just one of those frequently lost nutrients. The bananas in the BRAT diet help to replace the potassium in the body.

Older children and toddlers alike can be fussy eaters even in the best of times. A sick child can bring this out causing great frustration to moms or caregivers. It is best to remember that keeping what is offered to the child on the bland side. Some extensions to the BRAT diet are the BRATY diet. This is thus named because of the addition of yogurt to the list of BRAT diet foods. The BRATY diet would suggest bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and yogurt. Another one is called the BRATT diet. It consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and tea. That would be the addition of sugarless tea as sugary foods eaten too soon after the symptoms have stopped, can cause the upset to return.

Transition back to a normal diet slowly after the stomach symptoms have stopped. Continue on a bland diet for the next couple of days. During this time, try to avoid dairy products, fried or greasy foods, rich desserts, raw foods, citrus and caffeinated drinks. The addition of these foods too early in recovery can renew the symptoms.

During the time of illness, remember to frequently offer water or ice chips to avoid dehydration. Pedialyte can help replace the lost electrolytes. It comes in a variety of flavors to entice the child to drink. Stomach viruses can get out of hand quickly in small children. Remember to contact your pediatrician if the diarrhea last for more than 3 days, the temperature reaches 102 or above, urine output stops or the child cries with no tears. Follow these few rules when dealing with infant, toddler stomach issues and your child will recover in haste.