•Phone number and directions to your veterinary clinic
•Phone number and directions to the closest emergency veterinary hospital
•Phone number of poison-control center
•Rectal thermometer
•K-Y jelly without spermicide
•Tweezers, to remove ticks, burrs, and splinters
•Blunt-tip scissors
•Disposable latex gloves
•Syringes of various sizes
•Pen light
•Nylon slip leash
•Rubbing alcohol
•3% Hydrogen peroxide, for cleaning wounds
•Diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, for allergic reactions
•Antibiotic ointment, for wounds
•Wound disinfectant such as Betadine or Nolvasan
•Cortisone spray or cream
•Sterile saline, for flushing eyes
•Ear-cleaning solution
•Roll of 2-inch-wide gauze bandage
•Roll of 1-inch-wide bandage tape
•Roll of 2-inch-wide Vetrap
•Gauze pads in different sizes
•Nonstick pads
•Roll of cotton
•Cotton balls
•Cotton swabs
•Soap or mild shampoo, for cleaning
•Muzzle
•Styptic powder/sticks, Kwik-Stop, or cornstarch, to control nail bleeding
•Nail clippers and metal nail file
•Magnifying glass
•Two heavy towels/blankets to use as a stretcher and to keep pet warm
•Several clean towels
•Paper towels
•Pedialyte, for dehydration
•Nutri-Cal nutritional supplement
•Karo syrup, for low blood sugar
•Flea comb

<strong>CPR for your pet</stron>

See "Professional" topic in this forum for CPR information.

you don't want your animal to get dehydrated so keep fresh water handy at all times. we even put water in the food. let us know the outcome. thank you.

PM said:

1. How long has the diarrhea been present?

2 weeks

2. Is the diarrhea more severe now than a few days ago?

no 

3. Circle the letter of each item that applies:

Consistency

(b) Stool is the thickness of pancake batter

Blood
not sure, maybe:
(g) Dark, tarry blood present

Degree/Frequency

(i) Only portions of the stool are soft or watery

Amount

(o) Decreased or normal, small amounts of stool

Color
(p) Stool is dark brown in color
or
(r) Stool is black and tarry in appearance

Miscellaneous

Is your dog’s appetite normal?

yes 

What have you been feeding your dog during the last week? 

she seems to nibble on new bamboo shoots... 

Does your dog have access to foods other than what you feed it?

no 

Has there been a diet change in the last few weeks? If so, does that correspond with the onset of the diarrhea?

no 

Is your dog as active as normal?

yes 

Describe any change in water consumption.

increased

Has your pet vomited?

no 

Does your dog go outside your house?

 yes 

Does your dog go outside your yard?

not unaccompanied 

Does your dog have access to garbage cans, either within your house or yard or outside your yard?

no 

Does your dog have toys that it plays with that it could have swallowed?

no 

Does your dog have access to sewing materials, such as thread or needles, rubber bands, or string?

not sure 

Do you have other dogs or cats that live with this one?

no 

Do any of the members of your family currently have a diarrhea problem?

no 

2. Is the diarrhea more severe now than a few days ago?

3. Circle the letter of each item that applies:

Consistency
(a) Watery stool
(b) Stool is the thickness of pancake batter

Blood
(c) Very bloody stool
(d) Only sporadic blood present
(e) Blood not present in stool
(f) Bright red blood present
(g) Dark, tarry blood present

Degree/Frequency
(h) Entire stool is soft or watery
(i) Only portions of the stool are soft or watery
(j) Diarrhea with each bowel movement
(k) Diarrhea is sporadic (some bowel movements are normal)
(l) Only 1 or 2 bowel movements per day
(m) More than 4 bowel movements per day

Amount
(n) Increased, large amount of stool
(o) Decreased or normal, small amounts of stool

Color
(p) Stool is dark brown in color
(q) Stool is very pale in color
(r) Stool is black and tarry in appearance

Miscellaneous
(s) Thick mucus or pieces of tissue present in stool
(t) Loss of bowel control (defecates in the house on the floor)
(u) Severe straining when having a bowel movement

Is your dog's appetite normal? If not, is it eating at all?

What have you been feeding your dog during the last week? Include dog or cat foods, treats, table foods, milk, and anything else that you have fed your pet. Also state what percentage of the diet is each item or category.

Does your dog have access to foods other than what you feed it? If so, what?

Has there been a diet change in the last few weeks? If so, does that correspond with the onset of the diarrhea?

Is your dog as active as normal?

Describe any change in water consumption. (increased or decreased)

Has your pet vomited? If so, how frequently and for how long?

Does your dog go outside your house?

Does your dog go outside your yard?

Does your dog have access to garbage cans, either within your house or yard or outside your yard?

Does your dog have toys that it plays with that it could have swallowed?

Does your dog have access to sewing materials, such as thread or needles, rubber bands, or string?

Do you have other dogs or cats that live with this one? If so, does the other pet have diarrhea?

Do any of the members of your family currently have a diarrhea problem?

Diarrhea is not a disease but a symptom of many different diseases. Many mild cases of diarrhea can be resolved quickly with simple treatments. Others are the result of fatal illnesses such as cancer. Even diarrhea caused by mild illnesses may become fatal if treatment is not begun early enough to prevent severe fluid and nutrient losses.

How serious is diarrhea? (note: smaller dogs, cats, can lose body fluids more quickly than larger animals.)

Attempt to determine how sick an animal has become as a consequence of the diarrhea. When the animal is systemically ill (when more than one body system is involved), some of the following may be noted:

(a) Vomiting
(b) Dehydration
(c) Loss of appetite
(d) Abdominal pain
(e) Fever
(f) Lethargy
(g) Bloody and/or watery diarrhea

What types of test s are performed to find the cause?

If diarrhea is associated with several of the above signs a series of test is in order to make a diagnosis. This permits specific disease treatment. Diagnostic tests may include radiography (x-rays) with or without barium, blood test s, stool cultures, biopsies of the in test inal tract, video endoscopy, ultrasound and exploratory abdominal surgery. Once the diagnosis is known, treatment may include special medications, diets, or surgery.

If the animal does not appear systemically ill from diarrhea, the cause may be less serious. Some of the minor causes of diarrhea include stomach or intestinal viruses, intestinal parasites, and dietary indiscretions (such as a change in diet or eating garbage or other offensive or irritating materials). A minimum number of test s are performed to rule out certain parasites and infections. These cases may be treated with drugs to control the motility of the in test inal tract, drugs that relieve inflammation in the in test inal tract, and, often, a special diet for a few days. This approach allows the body's healing mechanisms to correct the problem. If your pet is not improving within two to four days, a change in medication or further test s are done to better understand the problem. Please keep a veterinarian informed of your pet’s condition so that they may manage the situation properly.