Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (61 page)

A different picture appears when the inflammation is lower down in the colon. Generally, there is no problem with gas buildup. The diarrhea tends to “shoot” out of the rectum with force and obvious straining. If there has been bleeding in the colon, the blood will appear as a fresh red color mixed with the stool. The bowel movements tend to be more frequent than when the disturbance centers in the small intestine. Often you may notice excessive mucus that looks like clear jelly.

Because diarrhea can be associated with so many causes and other disorders, we must be alert to the possibility of other conditions causing this symptom. Most of the time, however, diarrhea is caused by eating the wrong kind of food or spoiled food, overeating in general, parasites (in young animals especially), or viral infections.

The following guidelines are useful for treating simple or mild conditions that fall in the above categories. If they don’t resolve it, or if conditions are severe or otherwise seem to warrant it, seek professional help—sooner rather than later.

T
REATMENT

Most importantly, do not feed any solid food for the first 24 to 48 hours. A liquid fast will give the intestinal tract a chance to rest and do its job of flushing things out. Make sure that plenty of pure water is available at all times and encourage drinking. A danger of excessive diarrhea is dehydration from the loss of water, sodium, and potassium. So provide these in the form of a broth made from vegetables, rice, and some meat or a bone. You may also add a small amount of naturally brewed soy sauce to enhance flavor and provide easily assimilated amino acids and sodium. Offer only the liquid part of the soup, serving it at room temperature several times a day during the fast period.

If the condition is mild or is a sudden attack following consumption of spoiled food, this treatment alone may suffice. In more severe cases, however, it will be wise to use
one of the following as well. The best treatment is ….

Slippery elm powder:
Available in most health food stores, this material from the inner bark of the slippery elm tree is an excellent treatment for diarrhea from any cause, and I use it frequently with the animals I treat. To make it, thoroughly mix 1 slightly rounded teaspoon of slippery elm powder with 1 cup of cold water. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Then turn the heat down to simmer and continue to stir for another 2 to 3 minutes while the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from the heat, add 1 tablespoon of honey (for dogs only—cats don’t like sweets, so leave it out), and stir well. Cool to room temperature and give ½ to 1 teaspoon to cats and small dogs, 2 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons for medium dogs, and 3 to 4 tablespoons for large dogs. Give this dose 4 times a day, or about every 4 hours. Cover the mixture and store at room temperature. It will keep for a couple of days. It is easiest to buy the herb in bulk as a loose powder. It’s available in capsules, but it is both less efficient and more expensive that way. You can order it in bulk through natural food stores.

Activated charcoal:
Sold in drugstores as a powder or in tablets, this type of charcoal prepared from plant matter has the ability to absorb toxins, drugs, poisons, and other irritating material. It’s especially useful for treating diarrhea that was caused by eating spoiled food or toxic substances. Mix it with water and give it by mouth every 3 or 4 hours for a 24-hour period (except during sleep). Because overuse of charcoal could interfere with digestive enzymes, a short course is best. Depending on the animal’s size, use ½ to 1 teaspoon of powder or 1 to 3 tablets.

Roasted carob powder:
Available in health food stores, this plant substance is commonly used as a chocolate substitute. However, it is also a popular and soothing aid to diarrhea. Give ½ to 2 teaspoons 3 times a day for 3 days. Mix it with water and perhaps a little honey, giving it by mouth.

Here are some homeopathic treatments especially useful for diarrhea. For all of them use Homeopathic Schedule 2 (
view
).

Homeopathic
—
Podophyllum
(May apple) 6C: This remedy is often useful for the diarrhea with a forceful, gushing type of stool, especially if it smells unusually bad.

Homeopathic
—
Mercurius vivus
(mercury) 6C: The severe diarrhea attack (frequent, bloody stools with much straining after passing the stool) is suited to this medicine. This type of diarrhea can come on after eating toxic substances or from a viral infection.

Homeopathic
—
Arsenicum album
(arsenic trioxide) 6C: Use this remedy for diarrhea resulting from eating spoiled meat. Usually there are frequent bowel movements, rather small in quantity. Also there is weakness, thirst, and chilliness.

Homeopathic
—
Pulsatilla
(windflower) 6C: This is a good remedy for dogs or cats that have overeaten or had food that is too
rich or fatty. They will get diarrhea from an upset stomach, generally becoming subdued and timid. Typically, they do not have any thirst with the diarrhea (which is unusual).

Homeopathic
—
Calcarea carbonica
30C: This is appropriate for longer-lasting diarrhea in cats, while
Silicea
30C is most helpful for chronic diarrhea in dogs. In both situations, give one dose only.

General advice: During the treatment it is important to be watchful for the possibility that some causative factor remains, such as an irritating chemical (for example, a new flea collar), the use of milk (which bothers some animals), polluted water, or access to spoiled food in somebody’s garbage can or a compost pile. An animal’s lack of response to treatment can sometimes be traced to the persistence of such a cause. Also, consider worms and infectious diseases and treat them at home or with your veterinarian’s help, as is appropriate.

Once recovery seems to be underway, feed small amounts of plain yogurt or liquid acidophilus drink or capsules (available in natural food stores) to help replenish the intestinal tract with friendly bacteria.

When you are bringing your pet out of the fast after a couple of days, start with the broth, mixed with the solid vegetables used to make it. After 24 hours you can introduce the yogurt and begin to reestablish a regular diet, using white rice (just for a few days, then brown rice) as the grain, because it is generally good for slowing down diarrhea.

DISTEMPER, CHOREA, AND FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA

We will consider all three of these diseases together, since they are related. Chorea (uncontrollable twitching or jerking) is a possible result of distemper. Panleukopenia is commonly known as cat distemper. Let’s discuss each in turn.

Canine Distemper

Distemper is so common that few dogs escape exposure to the virus, which is spread through the air (from exhaling or sneezing) or by contact with contaminated bowls, toys, bones, and such. Most, however, do escape development of the disease.

Distemper progresses in stages. After a six-to nine-day incubation (usually not noticeable), the dog contracts a brief initial fever and malaise. Afterward, the dog is apparently normal for a few days or a week, and then it will suddenly show the typical distemper symptoms: fever, loss of appetite and energy, and perhaps a clear discharge from the nose. Within a short time the condition advances and the dog develops one or more of the additional symptoms: severe conjunctivitis (eye inflammation) with a thick discharge that sticks the lids together, heavy mucus or yellow discharge from the nose, very bad-smelling diarrhea, and skin eruption on the belly or between the hind legs.

Though early in my career I treated many distemper cases with the orthodox approach
of antibiotics, fluids, and other drugs, I did not seen it do much good. Indeed, sometimes it seems to increase the likelihood of encephalitis, a severe inflammation of the brain (or smaller areas in the spinal cord) that often arises after apparent improvement or recovery. At this point dogs are usually put to sleep because medical treatment is almost always ineffective. I am convinced that the use of drugs increases the likelihood of encephalitis, while natural methods make it less probable. I have witnessed many successful recoveries in distemper cases treated with homeopathy and nutritional therapy. The suggestions that follow are gleaned from this experience.

T
REATMENT

In order to prevent complications like encephalitis, it is crucial to withhold solid food while the dog is in the acute phase of distemper with a fever. (The normal rectal temperature is 100.5 to 101.5°F. (38 to 38.6°C). It might be a little higher at a veterinarian’s office because of excitement.) Fast the dog on vegetable broth and pure water as described in chapter 15, until at least a day after the temperature becomes normal. If the fever returns, fast again. Because fevers tend to rise in the evening, record temperatures both morning and night to get a better overview.

In case you are wondering how long dogs can go without solid food before starving, the normal healthy animal can get along all right for several weeks. A dog that is sick with distemper can profitably fast for seven days, provided it is an adult of normal weight and general condition. However, few will need to fast this long. Make sure you have fresh, pure water available at all times.

Vitamin C is an important aid. Many distemper cases can recover without ill effects by using vitamin C along with fasting. (However, I always use homeopathic treatment as well in my practice.) Dose as follows: 250 milligrams every two hours for puppies and small dogs, 500 milligrams every two hours for medium dogs, 1,000 milligrams every three hours for large or giant dogs. Don’t continue the dosing through the night, because rest is also important. Once the acute phase and fever have passed, double the interval between doses. Continue until recovery is complete.

Special eye care may be necessary, because the lids can get severely inflamed. Bathe the eyes in a saline solution (see chapter 15). Then put a drop of sweet almond oil (also simply called almond oil), cod-liver oil, or olive oil in each eye to help heal and provide protection. Cod liver oil is especially useful when there are ulcers.

During the early stages of distemper, use of one of the following remedies should help considerably.

Homeopathic
—
Distemperinum
30C: Specially prepared from the distemper-diseased animal, this is the most effective remedy for the early stages. I’ve seen it produce recoveries in just a day or two. The dog needing this will have been ill just a short time with
symptoms like a cold and a runny nose with fever. Give 1 pellet morning and evening until improvement is evident and the fever has returned to normal. Then give only if symptoms flare up again.

Note:
Some pharmacies may restrict this remedy to veterinarians. Check with more than one.

Homeopathic
—
Natrum muriaticum
30C is for the early stage, with a lot of sneezing. Use Schedule 2 (
view
).

Homeopathic
—
Pulsatilla
(windflower) 30C: This remedy is suitable for the stage of conjunctivitis with thick, yellow, or greenish eye discharge. Use Schedule 2 (
view
).

Homeopathic
—
Arsenicum album
30C: This remedy is indicated for the dog that is very ill, with rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, restlessness, frequent thirst, and a slight clear discharge from the eyes that causes irritation of the eyelids and surrounding areas. Use Schedule 2 (
view
).

If none of these works, consult with a homeopathic veterinarian if you are able to—there are many other remedies worth trying.

During the later stages of distemper, with bronchitis and coughing, select one of the following treatments (in case you did not treat earlier or it has gotten worse despite treatment).

Homeopathic
—
Hydrastis canadensis
(goldenseal) 6C: Indicated for advanced distemper, with a thick, yellow discharge of mucus from the nose or down the back of the throat. Often there will be loss of appetite and emaciation. Use Schedule 6(c) (
view
).

Homeopathic
—
Psorinum
30C: This is most useful for the dog that has survived distemper but cannot completely recover. Often there is a poor appetite, skin eruptions or irritated skin, and a bad body smell. Use Schedule 4 (
view
).

Recovery

With proper treatment, distemper is not too severe, and you can generally expect recovery in a few days to a week. The initial state of health of the animal and the degree of immunity acquired from the mother (in the case of puppies) seem to be important factors in the severity of individual cases.

If recovery is not easy or complete or leaves the animal in a weakened condition, the following measures should help. Feed a convalescence diet (see “Feeding Dogs with Extra Needs”) emphasizing oats (which strengthen the nervous system) and B vitamins (give a natural B-complex tablet in the 10 to 50 milligram range for a few weeks).

For the dog weakened with distemper, give a tincture of the common oat (
Avena sativa
), a beneficial nerve tonic available from herb stores, natural food stores, or homeopathic pharmacies. Twice daily, give 2 to 4 drops for small dogs or puppies, 4 to 8 drops for medium dogs or 8 to 12 drops for large ones.

If the animal is left with a weakened digestive system, residual diarrhea, or chest complications, give fresh grated garlic (
Allium sativum
) three times daily. Use ½ small
clove for small dogs or puppies, ½ large clove for medium dogs, and 1 whole clove for large ones. Add the grated garlic to the food or mix it with honey and flour to make pills.