Thankfully, not every dog owner will have to deal with the unpleasantness of diarrhea with their dog However, for those that are unfortunate enough to have a dog with diarrhea, we are going to help you to know what to feed a dog with diarrhea to reduce the discomfort for your dog. Keep in mind, if your dog has persistent issues with runny bowel movements you should contact your veterinarian and set up an appointment.

Understanding what to feed your dog with diarrhea is important because you want to reduce his discomfort and eliminate the soft and runny stools. By feeding your dog the wrong foods you could essentially be adding to his distress and discomfort. Here are some tips to help you:

1. You can continue feeding your dog his regular dog food (as long as you know it is not the cause of his diarrhea) in smaller portions. Typically, reduce his portion amount by half.
2. Boiled potatoes are good for dogs with loose bowels movements.
3. Pumpkin in a can is high in fibers and has been linked to assisting with the elimination of diarrhea in dogs.
4. Boiled chicken and white rice combined can also assist the dog in feeling better.

Here are a few things you should watch for:

• lethargy
• loss of balance
• noticeable weight loss
• dehydration
• vomiting
• inability to stand
• bloody diarrhea
• blood in urine
• blood in vomit
• symptoms last for more than 24 hours from onset of first symptom (unless blood)

Immediately bring your pet into your local veterinarian's office for further evaluation and testing. Unfortunately, it is possible a dog is suffering from something more serious than loose bowel movements if any of the above symptoms are experienced with the diarrhea.

Paying close attention to your dog while he is not feeling well is going to be the key if he has something more serious wrong with him. Prompt action can be the difference between a successful course of treatment and an unsuccessful treatment.

Be careful to not overfeed your dog while you are treating him for diarrhea. Knowing how much and what to feed your dog with diarrhea is going to help him recover faster. Keep in mind, you should reduce the amount he is being fed daily, but be sure to not feed him less than half of his normal intake daily. If you feel more needs to be done for your dog, you can discuss the possibility of adding supplements to his food with your veterinarian.

Like Humans, being overweight or obese is an unhealthy life style.

It is fun for us to give special treats to our pets, and give them more food if they want it. We think we are doing them a favor and making them happy. We like to see our dogs happy and we think an extra serving of food, a dog biscuit or other treats, and table scraps won't hurt them. Actually, these treats could be detrimental to their health and well being. Treats should not be more than 10% of their daily diet.

Your dog may have gained weight in the last few years, gradually, so you didn't notice it at first. Weight gain could be the result of a variety of reasons, food being just one of them. Here are some things to consider:

The overall health of your dog needs to be evaluated. If your dog is healthy but eating too much, the remedy could be as simple as reducing his food intake or increasing your dog's exercise.

Young dogs, up to 2 years of age, are growing dogs. They need more nourishment. However, if you find your dog is becoming overweight at an early age, often this is an indication your best friend will have an overweight problem when he is older. You may need to reduce the amount of food you give your dog as he gets older.

To tell if your dog is overweight, Purina Body Condition System has established a scale from which you can tell if your dog is overweight.

Too thin:
1. Ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all bony prominences evident from a glance. No discernible body fat. Obvious loss of muscle mass.
2. Ribs, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones easily visible. No palpable fat. Some evidence of other bony prominence. Minimal loss of muscle mass.
3. Ribs easily palpated and may be visible with no palpable fat. Tops of lumbar vertebrae visible. Pelvic bones becoming prominent. Obvious waste and abdominal tuck.

Ideal:
4. Ribs easily palpable, with minimal fat covering. Waist easily noted, viewed from above. Abdominal tuck evident.
5. Ribs palpable without excess fat covering. Waist observed behind ribs when viewed from above. Abdomen tucked up when viewed from side.

Too heavy:
6. Ribs palpable with slight excess fat covering. Waist is discernible viewed from above but is not prominent. Abdominal tuck apparent.
7. Ribs palpable with difficulty; heavy fat cover. Noticeable fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent or barely visible. Abdominal tuck may be present.
8. Ribs not palpable under very heavy fat cover, or palpable only with significant pressure. Heavy fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent. No abdominal tuck. Obvious abdominal distention may be present.
9. Massive fat deposits over thorax, spine and base of tail. Waist and abdominal tuck absent. Fat deposits on neck and limbs. Obvious abdominal distention.

If you establish that your dog is overweight, make an appointment with a veterinarian to determine if overeating is the only problem.

Overweight or obese dogs could have a medical condition and the problem is not just overeating. It is possible your dog may be suffering from a disease such as a thyroid condition, Cushing's disease, bloat, diabetes, arthritis, or other condition. A veterinarian will be able to make this determination. If any of these conditions exist, he will be able to prescribe the necessary treatment.

If it is established that the dog's life style needs to change, here are some options to consider:

1. Exercise: Exercising your dog each day for 40-60 minutes will strengthen his respiratory and circulatory systems and help him get needed oxygen into his system. It will keep his muscles toned and joints flexible. It will increase his energy level, aid in his digestion, and relieve his boredom.

2. Food: Determine with the advice from your veterinarian if you should cut back on the amount of his current food or change to a less caloric food. Discuss the quantity he should have. Cutting back on his regular food may reduce his vitamin and mineral intake and a dog vitamin/mineral supplement may be needed.

3. Weigh your dog weekly: Keeping track will help you determine if what you are doing is working. Weighing him should be done at the same time, on the same day of the week, and on the same scale.
4. Neutered or spayed: A dog that has been altered has a reduced metabolic rate so they would require fewer calories.

5. Activity level: Another factor is your dog's activity level. Is he hyper or lazy? If, for instance, your dog has arthritis, his activity level may be lessened, and so would the need for his caloric intake. Exercise is still important, but let your dog set the pace, if he has arthritis. If, however, he is hyper, he may need more calories.

6. Social environment: If you and your family all care for your dog, all of you need to understand the need not to sneak a treat to your dog. Everyone needs to realize you love your dog and want him to be healthy by not over feeding him.

7. A slow feeder: This is a food bowl that has obstacles in it. It slows down the process of eating. This can also help eliminate bloating because he will not inhale an excess of air while eating.

8. Indoor or Outdoor pet: An outdoor dog in a colder climate requires more food because he needs the layer of fat on this body to help control his body temperature. And indoor dog would, obviously, need fewer calories.

9. Age: The older the dog, the less food he needs. His activity level will decrease so he will burn fewer calories.

His weight should be your concern. When introducing a weight loss program, you are doing it out of love for your dog. However, loosing weight too fast is not good. He may end up gaining it back more quickly. Be sure to check with your veterinarian before you start your dog on a weight loss program.

Remember: A healthy dog is a happy dog!

Note: I am not a veterinarian nor do I have any formal training in any medical field. This article is not to replace the advice of your veterinarian. I am only providing options and ideas that you may want to discuss your veterinarian

Your dog's health is important!

Some dog breeds are prone to get osteoarthritis more than other breeds. The larger breeds of dog will show signs of suffering pain before the smaller breeds. The pain comes from the gradual wearing down of the spongy cartilage between the joints. This cartilage cushions the joints and protects them. As our furry companions romp and play, walk and run, their joints, over time, become sore because the cartilage thins and bones start to rub against each other. In addition to the wearing down of the cartilage, osteoarthritis might also be the result of an injury, or birth defect. Breeds that are prone to hip dysplasia also suffers from pain.

The symptoms of discomfort will come gradually. Your awareness may be the key to helping your best friend ease his pain.

Dogs that might be noticeably becoming osteoarthritis are:

1. Dogs who are overweight
2. Dogs who are in agility training
3. Work dogs or any dog that does a lot of repetitive motions

Some of the symptoms you might notice are:

1. Slow in movement
2. Less active
3. Difficulty in sitting or standing
4. Sleeping more
5. Favoring a limb
6. Hesitancy to climb stairs, run or jump
7. Behavior changes, probably because of the pain

In helping your dog to feel more comfortable and have less pain, many studies show that giving your dog a daily supplement of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate daily provides some needed comfort. This combination of supplements may also prevent the disease in your dog, if given when your dog is young.

You may know people who have used these products, and it has helped them in relieving their pain. A word of caution: Never give your dog human supplements or medications. This could be dangerous to their health. Always check with your veterinarian before administering any of these options. This caution is for the health and welfare of your best friend, your dog.

There are a few things you can do, in addition to getting the advice from your veterinarian, to help them maintain, or regain, their normal activity.

1. Exercise is good. You may continue to walk your dog, but let them set the pace. The pace maybe slower than before, but exercising will help their mobility.

2. Keep in contact with your veterinarian. He may recommend supplements and/or medication, and the dosage your dog would need. Over time, these recommendations may change as your dog improves or ages.

3. Try to have your dog maintain a good weight level. A dog that is too heavy puts too much stress on his joints.

4. If you have hardwood or tiled floors, it may be difficult for your dog to walk without slipping. You may want to consider area rugs and runners for his stability.

5. Providing a comfortable bed would benefit him greatly. You may even find that a heated bed or a foam bed would give him the most comfortable rest.

6. If he is used to getting up on beds, furniture or in a car, a ramp or soft stairs may be the answer. It may become more difficult to maneuver these obstacles without assistance.

7. Help him with his grooming if he has difficulty reaching some areas of his body. Cleaning and brushing on a regular basis may be necessary.

8. Massage therapy is another option to help relieve his pain.

Caring for your dog as he ages, will be a bonding experience for you both. When we invite a pet into our lives, it is our responsibility to give them the best care we can. This may mean we give them more of our time and energy.

The blessing you receive, the character building you will see within yourself, will help not only your beloved pet, but also those wonderful humans that are part of your life and those for whom you care so much.

Following these ideas of caring for your osteoarthritis dog will create a wonderful life for him for years to come. Enjoy your dog! Love him and praise him everyday and he will be a faithful and lovable companion!

Note: I am not a veterinarian nor do I have any formal training in any medical field. This article is not to replace the advice of your veterinarian. I am only providing options and ideas that you may want to discuss your veterinarian.