Raw food & digestive upset

[sarahann]

So I know what I used to do when the dogs would get sick when they were on kibble. Give them cooked chicken and rice. What do you do when they are on raw? I'd prefer to keep them on raw and skip the rice these days but sometimes they get gross poo and Manchego decided to puke at 2am last night. I think he had too much carrot. I know it's best to keep it simple and skip the bones but does anyone have any more suggestions?

Thanks,
Sarah

[Lucee&Rusty]

I use mashed steamed pumpkin for stomach upsets with Rusty and Lucee. Works like a charm.
Do you know what caused the upset stomach?
I know if they bury their bones and find them a few days later we will get an upset tum.

[gene]

Pumpkin and a little slippery elm bark works wonders for us!

[sarahann]

Great thanks!

I think they got too many uncoooked carrots in big chunks. We were giving them both a bath and give them treats to make it enjoyable for them. I think my husband cut the chunks up too big. I know it sounds unlikely but I can't really think of anything else.

they are both back to normal now but I'll keep in mind the pumpkin and slippery elm for the future. I always keep a can of pumpkin on hand but I don't know why I didn't think of it. I usually only use it for really bad diarrhea.

Thanks,
Sarah

[mtd885]

I don't feed carrots! I feed RAW MEATY BONES prey model diet. I also watch the stool with every protein change and adjust bone/organ/meat ratios. Occassionally Abby will get some table scraps that have some veggies but her diet is meat/bone/organs NO GRAINS! and she's doing fine on it...

[MaxandMe]

I don't feed RAW (except hamburger meat) but if you do some reading or searches
CARROTS should be fed either cooked or at least blanched.

when mine had raw carrots in past ....they came up short while later

[lmtoth2]

CARROTS should be fed either cooked or at least blanched.

I feed ours "raw" baby carrots all the time and they're fine. Just not too many (1-2 a day)...

[anny51]

I'm a bit confused...thought pumpkin was for when they were constipated, but you're talking about giving it for the runs? Does that mean it's multi-purpose? We have fresh pumpkin here, but I hate wrestling with it trying to cut it up (chain saw anyone?). Can't find tinned pumkin anywhere but there is lots of pumpkin soup and baby pumpkin products...do you think they would have the same desired effect? I give all my dogs a large piece of raw carrot from time to time....big so that they have to gnaw on it, and it's hopefully scraping their teeth. They all enjoy it and I haven't seen any ill effects (touching wood now!)

Ann

[sarahann]

Hi Ann,

If I am correct I think you can give pumpkin for any digestive upset. I've always given it to soothe the digestive tract when they have loose stools but I think you can use it for either end of the spectrum. We just use canned, plain pumpkin. I'm sure the doods would love the sugary pie filling but I don't think that's so good for them

[mtd885]

Originally Posted by anny51

I'm a bit confused...thought pumpkin was for when they were constipated, but you're talking about giving it for the runs? Does that mean it's multi-purpose? We have fresh pumpkin here, but I hate wrestling with it trying to cut it up (chain saw anyone?). Can't find tinned pumkin anywhere but there is lots of pumpkin soup and baby pumpkin products...do you think they would have the same desired effect? I give all my dogs a large piece of raw carrot from time to time....big so that they have to gnaw on it, and it's hopefully scraping their teeth. They all enjoy it and I haven't seen any ill effects (touching wood now!)

Ann

Hey Ann! I would put the pumpkin in a food processor or blender with a little water and make a paste that'll work nicely in lieu of canned (tinned) pumpkin. I also add 1/4 tspn of Slippery Elm Bark (SEB) to it. This combo really works wonders! As Gene suggests.

[MaxandMe]

ann, pumpkin can go both ways ...soothes intestines but if give too much can make poop mushy
(same with sweet potatoe)

pineapple is also another digestive aid, antioxidant but if too much is given it can constipate a dog.
for mine anything more than a 1.5tablespoons of crushed pineapple is too much in a meal.
(or more than half a ring).

[seazr]

Originally Posted by gene

Pumpkin and a little slippery elm bark works wonders for us!

OK, this is the second reference I've seen to slippery elm bark. What the heck is that?????

[gene]

Here's a little info.....When I use it I just put a teaspoon of it mixed with pumpkin and yogurt. Worked like a charm!!

Rereading this Diane......relief from kennel cough also!!

I get it from the health food store. Get the powder, not the capsules.

Slippery Elm

Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva or rubra) is a slow-growing deciduous tree native to the Eastern U.S. and Canada. It is the inner bark that is used medicinally. Useful for digestive upsets of all varieties as well as diarrhea and constipation, Slippery Elm will go a long way in solving many acute problems. Internally and externally, Slippery Elm soothes and tones tissues while drawing out and eliminating toxins from the body. From mouth to colon, it acts as a lubricant and protectant, making it an excellent choice for any inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.

As a nutritious, antinausea food, Slippery Elm has no equal. It contains vitamins A, C, K, B complex, and is high in calcium and magnesium. Due to its gentle action and easy assimilation, Slippery Elm Gruel is helpful as a food during convalescence and will often be accepted and tolerated when all other food is refused. Think of it especially after intestinal surgery. This gruel is also useful in cases of bronchitis or kennel cough (soothes respiratory passages), urethritis (soothes and lubricates urinary tract), gastritis (soothes stomach distress and acts as an antacid), arthritis (acts as a joint lubricant), and colitis (soothes irritable bowel).

For diarrhea, slowly pour 12 oz. hot or boiling water over 1 T. of powdered bark, stirring constantly until mixture is smooth. Add a little honey if desired (dogs only). If constipation is the problem, use only 1 tsp. powder and proceed as above. Note that in smaller doses, Slippery Elm acts as a soothing lubricant while in larger doses, it acts as an herbal “glue” or bandage that the body will use where and as it is needed.

To make Slippery Elm Gruel, mix 1 tsp. of the powder with 1 cup water or broth in a pan. Heat slowly to a boil, stirring often (a wire wisk works best for this). Reduce heat and let simmer 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Take off heat. Add honey and/or other supplements if desired. Let cool and add to food, or feed separately as a porridge, or by syringe if necessary.


How to administer Slippery Elm preparations:

Note that the following dosages refer to the liquid preparations described above, not to the powder alone. Slippery Elm should always be taken with water, and since you can’t entice your companion to drink a glass of water on command, always prepare it according to the recipes provided. Having said that, here are some general dosing guidelines for companion animals.
Cats: 1/2 tsp. (or 2ccs by syringe) 3-4 times daily until improvement is noted.
Dogs: 1 tsp. for small dogs, 1 T. for medium sized dogs, and 2-4 T. for large dogs. Repeat dose 3-4 times daily until symptoms subside.
Unused portions of these preparations can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Externally, Slippery Elm makes an excellent poultice for boils, abscesses, ulcers or burns. Simply moisten the powder with enough water to make a paste and apply to the area. Mixed with honey and a little goldenseal you have a wonderful antibacterial, soothing dressing for any wound, sore, or burn (add bandage if necessary).

Because it is so good at what it does, excessive or prolonged use of Slippery Elm can overcoat the digestive tract and interfere with assimilation of some nutrients. This effect is easily prevented by taking 2-3 days off per week during extended internal therapy, and always mixing the powder with water before administering it to your pet. Please note that if your companion has a chronic (recurring or persistent) condition, it would be wise to consult a homeopathic practitioner, who will work with you to address the underlying imbalance and get to the root of the problem.

On a personal note, I was fortunate to participate in the harvesting of a Slippery Elm tree here in N.C. in the Spring of 2000 with Will Endres, a gifted herbalist who has devoted his entire life to wild plants. Will watches these trees for years before determining if, when, and how they will be harvested. He only harvests one every 3-5 years. We worked in teams. No power tools were used. Once we felled the tree, my partner and I stripped off the outer bark to reveal the smooth, slick inner bark, whose mucalige we proceeded to spread all over ourselves and each other! It was a wonderful, even sensual experience. As the days went by, I came to truly understand and appreciate the wonderful gifts of this tree. The aroma alone of that bark had me giddy for days. So gentle and so powerful. So NOURISHING! That’s the word that kept coming to mind. I felt nourished--physically, emotionally, spiritually. Use this herb with respect and appreciation.

[sarahann]

Thanks Gene!

[PlainJane]

Maybe that's what keepin Jazz from turning blonde (the orange in the carrots) -- she gets 3-4 raw baby carrots daily.