What should I do if my pet has diarrhea or vomiting?

Managing Pet Diarrhea and Vomiting

If your pet has diarrhea or vomiting, focus on preventing dehydration through oral rehydration therapy and withhold food for a short period before gradually reintroducing a bland diet.

Initial Assessment and Immediate Steps

When your pet develops diarrhea or vomiting:

1. Assess hydration status: Check for:

   • Skin elasticity (skin tenting)
   • Dry gums
   • Lethargy
   • Sunken eyes

2. Begin oral rehydration immediately:

   • For mild to moderate dehydration, offer small amounts of oral electrolyte solution (OES) frequently
   • For dogs: Start with 5-10 mL every 1-2 minutes, gradually increasing 1
   • For cats: Start with smaller volumes (1-5 mL) every few minutes

Rehydration Strategy

For Mild to Moderate Dehydration:

• Offer oral electrolyte solutions specifically formulated for pets
• Administration technique: Use a syringe or spoon to give small amounts frequently rather than large volumes at once 2
• Volume guidance:
  • Replace ongoing losses: approximately 10 mL/kg for each watery stool
  • Replace vomit losses: approximately 2 mL/kg for each episode 2

For Severe Dehydration (emergency situation):

Signs of severe dehydration include:

• Very dry gums
• Extreme lethargy
• Collapse
• Severely sunken eyes

Seek immediate veterinary care - IV fluids will be necessary 1

Diet Management

1. Initial food restriction:

   • Withhold food (not water) for 12-24 hours for adult pets
   • For puppies, kittens, or small breeds, limit fasting to 12 hours maximum

2. Reintroduction of food:

   • Start with small, frequent meals of bland, easily digestible food
   • Recommended foods: boiled white rice mixed with boiled lean chicken or low-fat cottage cheese
   • Avoid fatty foods, dairy products, and foods high in simple sugars 2

3. Gradual transition:

   • Slowly reintroduce regular diet over 2-3 days once stools normalize
   • Consider adding soluble fiber (such as psyllium/Metamucil) at 1-2 teaspoons per day for small pets and 1-2 tablespoons for larger pets 3

Medications

1. Anti-diarrheal medications:

   • Kaolin-pectin can be used for mild diarrhea in adult pets
     • Dogs: 1-3 tablespoons after each loose stool
     • Cats: 1 tablespoon after each loose stool 4
   • Do not use human anti-diarrheal medications containing loperamide without veterinary guidance

2. When to avoid medications:

   • Do not give anti-diarrheal medications if your pet has bloody diarrhea or fever
   • Do not give anti-vomiting medications without veterinary guidance

When to Seek Veterinary Care Immediately

Contact your veterinarian if:

• Diarrhea or vomiting persists for more than 24-48 hours
• Blood is present in vomit or stool
• Your pet appears lethargic or in pain
• Your pet refuses to drink or cannot keep water down
• Your pet is a puppy, kitten, senior, or has pre-existing conditions
• Signs of severe dehydration develop
• Fever is present

Prevention

• Hand hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly after handling pets with diarrhea 2
• Proper cleaning: Disinfect areas soiled by diarrhea or vomit
• Food safety: Ensure pet food is fresh and properly stored
• Routine veterinary care: Keep vaccinations current and have regular check-ups

Remember that most cases of acute diarrhea and vomiting in pets are self-limiting, but proper hydration is critical to prevent complications while the gastrointestinal upset resolves.