pumpkin

[shelly]

Me again... This Tori-Girl is really causing me to fret. don't know what's wrong with her. Thought it was the corn last week when she seemed mopey, then she was groomed and her poor butt is so raw. so thought that was why she was lethargic yesterday... She seemed much better today, but has bouts of 'normalness' running and playing and then just plops down. She has had regular amount and consistency of poop, so don't think anything is there. But I am hoping the small pieces she got off of that dragon isn't causing any digestion issues. Tried to snoop in her poop (lol), but couldn't really tell. I read that if you give them a little canned pumpkin, it could help a poor stomach and even help to push a long any 'foreign matter'. But how much do you give? I let her lick about 2 spoon fulls off. Can it give her diarrhea, or cause constipation if she is having normal poops now? Thanks! AGAIN doodle friends!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Don't know "nuthin'" to help but just to let you know my thoughts are with you. Could Tori just be calming down and maturing and nothing is wrong? Dogs do mature and at some point do plop down and have longer periods of quiet.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I actually give a tablespoon of plain yogurt mixed with a tablespoon of canned pumpkin every day to help with Guinness's intestinal issues. I think it aids his digestion. I've always read that it will help to prevent diarrhea which is why I give it to him. I've also heard that the fiber can also help with constipation. With Guinness, because of his IBS, we have to be very careful about toys where he can break off and swallow pieces...those types of "foreign" fragments cause IBS flare ups. For dogs that don't have this issue I don't think it's a big deal...they should pass assuming they are pretty small. I wouldn't worry.

[shelly]

Thank you both! Calming down? Hmmm... maybe! Wouldn't that be funny. It's just the fact that she goes to do something and then quickly twists around to kind of 'mouth' her butt area. And - maybe she does have an IBS type of issue and soon it will pass as those pieces of purple cloth dragon spines pass through. Just me being the worry-wart that I am. (You should see how I was when my kids were babies! LOL ) Thanks! again...

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I like to give some yogurt, (non or lowfat-plain) everyday, and save the pumpkin for really loose stools. Altho I see nothing wrong with giving it regularily. It shouldn't cause diarrhea or constipation, in my opinion and it can't hurt and they love it. How old is she now? We had a time of wondering if Murphy was getting too much exercise because there would be days where he'd just want to lay around. Just getting more settled I think. If she is eating and keeping it down, and is having periods of playfulness and rest, and stools are normal, I'd say just watch her for the little dragon to show up again.

I hope her butt feels better soon. I groom mine and am always so nervous when I do the butt area.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I did a little searching about canned pumpkin for dogs last THanksgiving because all of a sudden Lucy had what I call the "squirts". Pure liquid poo just all of a sudden. Both our girls are normally pretty regular firm poos. What I learned is if they have diarrhea, it will cure that and also if they are consitpated it will cure that. How does that work both ways, I have no idea but I know that I gave her pumpkin at noon time (along with some pepto) and by that evening her poos were firming up. It was amazing. I now keep it in the cabinets for emergencies.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's because of the fiber in pumpkin. We all know that fiber helps correct constipation. But it also adds bulk and helps the formation of stool. From the Mayo Clinic website:

Fiber normalizes bowel movements. Dietary fiber increases the weight and size of your stool and softens it. A bulky stool is easier to pass, decreasing your chance of constipation. If you have loose, watery stools, fiber may also help to solidify the stool because it absorbs water and adds bulk to stool. For some, fiber may provide relief from irritable bowel syndrome.

[shelly]

I am learning everyday, that dogs are more like people than I though. Wonder how often would be considered good....

[shelly]

YES! I am definitely stocking up too - especially with HER stomach!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I also just read on the internet that research shows that today is the most depressing day of 2010, so hopefully by tomorrow she will be feeling just like her old Tori self again. I think if you have a good vet that you can just call and ask for suggestions I might do that! Might just make you feel better.

[shelly]

Hmmm wonder why???? For ME, as a teacher, it means I have to go 4 weeks without a day off. That's pretty depressing - LOL
:O)
I will call the vet tomorrow! Thanks!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

There were all sorts of things they factored in to come up with the date, like, number of days after the holidays, bills from the holidays coming in, number of hours of sunlight, etc.

[katherine willis]

If you use pumpkin, you need to make sure it doesn't have any added spices, sugar etc as in pie filling. I have had trouble finding pure pumpkin. So, I take the pieces of canned sweet potato (yam) as an equivalent and freeze them in an ice tray. I then cut these up to fill Sandy's Kong toy. I usually give him this daily. He loves it and it keeps him busy for an hour or so. Most of all it keeps his poop nice and firm.

Last summer he managed to eat some chicken wrapped in a small piece of clear cling wrap A couple of days later he had very loose poop. When I took him to my vet, she said that often even after the foreign item has passed a dog's stomach will have been irritated enough to result in the loose poop. She gave him a shot to relieve the irritation as well as some antibiotics just to be sure he didn't get an infection. By the next day he was back to his regular poop.