16/02/2022
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☢️ WARNING, NASTY DOG BUG ABOUT ☢️
Guys, there is a nasty little bug about giving dogs gastroenteritis, typified by vomiting, bad diarrhoea and lethargy. It usually passes within a few days. It started in Northern England but I'm getting reports from all over now. Seems to be a lot in Northern Ireland so expect it all over Ireland and the UK in the coming weeks.
If your dog comes down with it, the advice is
😨 VETS. If you think he is very poorly, you never regret ringing your local vets (no need to bring the dog straight in as you risk spreading it). Get some advice. If antibiotics are needed they will advise.
😨 FAST. Skip a meal or two. Nobody wants to eat on a sick gut. He's not going to starve!
😨 WATER. This he does need. And electrolytes. Leave out two waters - one should be clean, filtered water (no chlorine, boiled then cooled will do it) the other should be the same water with a pinch of good quality salt (anything with a name, not refined crap) and local raw honey (energy but also anti-bacterial) dissolved in. That's his electrolytes and energy drink. He will take what he wants / needs.
😨 BROTH. Troubled guts don't like processing food but broth is simple. One of the most nutritious things you can feed and guts love it. While easy to make yourself, if stuck and in need of a quick supply, you can buy broth in the shops now (if in ROI/NI check out Karnlea, if in Britain check out Boil n Broth or Alexsanders Natural).
😨 PROBIOTICS. If prescribed antibiotics or even if not, I recommend canine PRObiotics - any type now would be fine now. Put in the broth (I would normally say on an empty stomach but hard when he's not getting treats etc). Can be given with antibiotics. Give for a month.
Also recommend picking up some SOIL-BASED probiotics (I have no brand in mind, the market is developing rapidly, but S.boulardii is one you need here). Mostly yeasts, they get in and release compounds that zap pathogenic bacteria (exactly the basis of ANTIbiotics....only natural without the gut flora napalming effect). Give for two weeks.
😨 After a day or two of broth I would start introducing something very simple on the gut such as a little carbs such as porridge. This is a great addition now as it's also high in soluble fibre, meaning it sucks up water in the large intestine. Or you can use pumpkin or sweet potato mash but WITHOUT the skin (the stuff in the skin is insoluble which is great for constipation as it makes for softer poos which is definitely not desired right now!). After this you can progress to something simple like tins of pacific salmon, slowly shifting him back to real food over the course of days.
