Garbage eaters and tummy troubles

Diarrhoea is a common occurrence in our animal friends as they often eat something they shouldn’t. This is described as garbage-gut syndrome. Occasionally they may be subjected to sudden changes of diet for all sorts of reasons. Children often mistakenly feed their pets something unsuitable such as chocolate, cake, and rich, fatty foods with obvious consequences. A birthday party is a prime time for this to happen. Children need to be educated that what might be okay for them to eat in moderate amounts might not prove to be okay for their animal companions.

Diarrhoea is a symptom, not a disease. It is an expression of the body trying to eliminate toxins or unwanted organisms — part of the body’s natural healing process. Acute diarrhoea will often resolve itself once the purging has finished. However, diarrhoea can also be a sign of more serious complaints such as bowel inflammation caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection, ingestion of toxic substances like organophosphates, a foreign body, or an adverse reaction to antibiotics. Liver, renal and pancreatic disease can cause acute or chronic diarrhoea.

Stool with soft, loose, pudding-like consistency, that has bothered an animal for weeks or months at a time, won’t be helped by first aid. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is similar to what humans can experience and is thought to be a type of food intolerance. As with all chronic cases, IBD should be addressed with dietary changes and constitutional homoeopathy by an accomplished classical homoeopath.

The use of conventional medication is suppressive, so it is preferable to adopt only natural methods unless the situation worsens. After any severe tummy upset give only bland foods, in frequent small amounts, broths, and yoghurt (or probiotics) to help rebalance intestinal flora. Raspberry fruit juice provides excellent results in cases of gastroenteritis. Slippery elm powder has soothing properties for inflamed intestinal lining. Chronic diarrhoea with inadequate digestion can benefit from powdered pancreatic enzymes (free of artificial ingredients). For a few of the many homoeopathic selections see below.

Ensure that water is available to your animal companions at all times. Prolonged diarrhoea not only affects the animal’s hydration but pulls important mineral electrolytes from the body too. This may be helped by adding a little salt and/or honey to the water. Gatorade mixed 50/50 with plain water is another choice that can be offered. Lectade, from your vet, is specifically formulated for animals. Severe dehydration will require intravenous fluid therapy from your vet.
Any animal that has diarrhoea that persists for longer than 3-4 days with no improvement, appears badly dehydrated, or has developed severe symptoms should be taken to a vet.

Homoeopathic remedies
Aloe socotrina — loose and flatulent diarrhoea with sudden urging and jelly-like stool, urine and faeces may be passed together. Symptoms are more evident in the mornings. The animal appears depressed in the morning and brighter in the evening but is easily fatigued.

Arsenicum album — putrid, cadaverous smelling, dark, watery motions that are frequently worse in the evening and towards midnight. Typically, there is straining and the anus may protrude. Symptoms can become severe when vomiting and diarrhoea occur at the same time.

Chamomilla — slimy diarrhoea, especially during teething, has a characteristic grassy green colour and foul odour. The animal is sensitive, irritable and whining but better for being carried about and fondled regularly.

China officinalis — great weakness from the diarrhoea and fluid loss, especially suited to dehydration. Stool can contain undigested food and is often accompanied by flatulence. Colic may be seen with a sensitivity to touch. Baby animals that develop diarrhoea after weaning may need this remedy.

Colocynthis — the least food or drink will initiate an evacuation of stool that often contains jelly-like mucous. The animal wants to lie on its stomach          or curled up as this helps to relieve the pain.

Mercurius sol — ineffectual and painful straining is almost always present in animals needing this remedy. This is more obvious after passing a motion, as the sensation remains that there is more to be passed. Mucous and blood is seen in the stool.

Nux vomica — constipation may alternate with diarrhoea with painful straining in both circumstances. The animal can have a history of having had lots of conventional medications. Over-eating, eating garbage-food or sudden dietary changes are good indications for using this remedy. These animals can be quite irritable and edgy.

Podophyllum — one of the most used first-aid remedies in cases of diarrhoea, even if not curative will often provide relief. The stool may be quite watery and gushing.

Veratrum album — severe diarrhoea often with vomiting that leads to weakness, coldness, and collapse. Sudden onset and rapid deterioration is a guiding symptom. These patients will need veterinary care along with homoeopathy.