Holiday Weekend Sickness

[Paula N.]

It never fails - let there be a holiday weekend, and somebody gets sick.  Doesn't matter is it's a human or a pet.  The rule still holds.

Question:  What do you all keep on hand for a pet's upset stomach?

It's not serious enough to rush to the emergency clinic, but you are concerned.  Angel threw up last night after we got back from our walk and promptly cleaned it up (don't ask!).  Then after trying to get Sweet Pea to play with her (unsuccessful) she lay down, and while prone I could see her stomach heave and she almost vomited again.  I went out to her medicine box (have one for each of them) and fished out

(1) an "acid controller" - famotidine tablets USP, 10 mg.  Unfortunately the box was empty.  It was from Walmart and said on the box "Compare to Pepcid AC Acid Reducer active ingredient".

(2)  "heartburn relief acid reducer" - cimetidine tablets USP 200 mg.  This box was full but had been opened.

What to do?  Again unfortunately, the tablets were not scored, so I couldn't give half a tablet, but wanted to help Angel's obviously upset stomach so I gave her one of the cimetidine tablets which she willingly took with some whipped strawberry cream cheese.  She did not vomit again, so I have to assume the tablet worked.  I was afraid 200 mgs might be too much, but apparently not.

I won't be able to ask the vet until tomorrow.  What do you all do for upset tummy?  (Eskie variety)

I can't imagine what would upset her stomach except that she grabs things off the street (and lawns too) before I either see them, or can make her drop anything.  You can believe that she was picked up off the street as a stray.  I've even seen her grab a live insect from a lawn and eat that. 

[101eskies]

Personally, I don't do anything immediately. If she possibly did eat something off the street throwing up is her body's natural defense to get rid of whatever it is. If we suppress that we aren't helping the body. I only treat if they have been throwing up for more than a day or so even after holding all food. And then I give Pepto. After that, to the vet.

[DebbieA]

In my mind, acid/heartburn and vomiting are two different things.  I'm been told it's ok to give Pepto Bismol for vomiting, but I probably would wait til the next day to make sure she purged whatever it was she was trying to get rid of.

[Paula N.]

Thanks for your replies. 

What kind of Pepto do you have/give?  Pill or liquid, and how do you get liquid down?

[Kathy]

I agree with Mandy and Deb, and I don't do anything except withhold food for a day. I like to let them empty their stomachs if that's what they need. If they are still throwing up the second day, which rarely happens, I do give Pepto. I give the liquid through a big giant syringe. I just squirt it into the back of their mouth.  It's been so long though, that I don't remember the dosage. Probably the smallest children's dose.

[snowballsmom]

im withmandy. as long as her ei=s water intake. i let whatever it is run its course for a day before i run to medicate. you never know if what you give will help of aggravate it. let her rest and make sure shes drinking and if she's still off after 48 hours, then try medicating. but an acid reducer isnt the same thing as an unset tummy med so i wouldnt go that route.

[Paula N.]

Thanks again.  Angel only threw up the one time, though the convulsion of her body last night indicated that she was on the verge.  Nothing since.  I think I will withhold their noontime biscuit.  Supper might be a problem.  Angel always eats very rapidly and acts hungry all the time.  We'll see. 

I appreciate all the comments.  Administering liquids is a huge problem with Angel.  She fights against having her mouth opened.  Even putting drops in her ears was a big deal.  Fortunately the vet (up in TN) took pity on us.  It took 2 of them to do it.  1 to hold; and 1 to put the drops in.  What a pain!

[DebbieA]

Hmmm... could you hollow out a piece of hot dog and put some pepto in it?  I'm thinking the dose is 1 teaspoon, but I'm not sure.  I don't think it has to be exact.  Or get the tablets and hide a piece in a hot dog or some cheese or wet food?

[Saint Mom]

And if she is a fast eater, put a ball in her bowl with her kibbles. It will force her to slow down some. Or just feed her a few by hand at a time.

[Geno]

Thanks again.  Angel only threw up the one time, though the convulsion of her body last night indicated that she was on the verge.  Nothing since.  I think I will withhold their noontime biscuit.  Supper might be a problem.  Angel always eats very rapidly and acts hungry all the time.  We'll see. 

I appreciate all the comments.  Administering liquids is a huge problem with Angel.  She fights against having her mouth opened.  Even putting drops in her ears was a big deal.  Fortunately the vet (up in TN) took pity on us.  It took 2 of them to do it.  1 to hold; and 1 to put the drops in.  What a pain!

Use a baby type medicine syringe. Don't need to open her mouth at all, just stick the syringe in on one side of her lips all the way back and squeeze. She'll have no choice but to gulp it down. Works every time for me.

Geno

[Paula N.]

And if she is a fast eater, put a ball in her bowl with her kibbles. It will force her to slow down some. Or just feed her a few by hand at a time.

I bought one of those bowls for fast eaters (divided into 4 sections).  It didn't slow her down a bit.  Do you think a ball would do better?

[Paula N.]

Thanks again.  Angel only threw up the one time, though the convulsion of her body last night indicated that she was on the verge.  Nothing since.  I think I will withhold their noontime biscuit.  Supper might be a problem.  Angel always eats very rapidly and acts hungry all the time.  We'll see. 

I appreciate all the comments.  Administering liquids is a huge problem with Angel.  She fights against having her mouth opened.  Even putting drops in her ears was a big deal.  Fortunately the vet (up in TN) took pity on us.  It took 2 of them to do it.  1 to hold; and 1 to put the drops in.  What a pain!

Use a baby type medicine syringe. Don't need to open her mouth at all, just stick the syringe in on one side of her lips all the way back and squeeze. She'll have no choice but to gulp it down. Works every time for me

Geno

A baby syringe sounds like just the ticket.  But I'm going to try a Pepto pill first (if she needs one).  She will generally take any medicine that's hidden in food. Boy - is she a chow hound!  You would swear I never fed her at all.

[101eskies]

I use the pill. In my experience the liquid ended up all over the dog, all over me, all over the floor. I don't remember for sure but I would imagine I used a syringe. He wanted nothing to do with it. I either hide it in something or just stick it in theback of their throat.

[snowballsmom]

the peotp pills arent as effective, i have heard, because they dont coat like the liquid, which is the whole point of pepto.
i guess its better than nothing, though.
the syringes work well if you van get your hands on them.

[Paula N.]

OK - syringe it is.

What about slowing down the eating?  I've seen stainless steel bowls with what looked like a round knob in the center.  I think they're labeled "puppy bowls".  The bowl I bought is plastic with 4 sections in it.  The mfg. said it was plastic because that would also slow down pushing it around on the floor.  As I said, it never slowed down Angel's eating.  Should I try one of those stainless steel bowls with the knob in the center? 

Or should I just put a ball (what kind?) in the bowl along with the food?

[snowballsmom]

how about only givong her a few kernles at a time? it would take time from your day, but.....
is she throwing up from eating too fast? or just sucking it down and acting like a starvation victim?

[Paula N.]

Boy did you get that right!  I am so mean to her that she has to eat off the streets.