That's no kind of answer. What is it about pumpkin that would work as an antidiarrhoeal? If the diarrhoea is caused by an infection, it seems highly unlikely that pumpkin would help that. Human medicines like imodium work only in so far as they slow the digestive action, so you don't need to go to the loo so often. It seems highly unlikely that's how pumpkin works, doesn't it? People are saying it's because pumpkin is high in fibre. So that's about bulk passing through the digestive system. Why would that help, I wonder? Wouldn't it make things worse? Perhaps all this time you've been feeding pumpkin, it would have all got better on its own if you had done nothing.....
@JulieT - I was just trying to do an explanation in a nutshell of how fiber balances everything out lol. Admittedly a poor attempt but I'm watching 2 little ones currently and my head isn't all there hah! Here's an article on it: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/09/01/pumpkin-dietary-fiber.aspx I don't feed pumpkin that often as the switch to a higher quality food took care of the problem. If he is licking his butt, I might add some to his food but apples also help.
Oh, thanks. Which of the effects of pumpkin that this article refers to do you think makes the difference in the case of diarrhoea?
@JulieT - "Pumpkin is especially rich in soluble fiber (the type that dissolves in water to form a viscous gel, which also coats and soothes irritated bowels). Soluble fiber delays gastric emptying, slowing down GI transit times (and the number of episodes of diarrhea)." As the OP said, there are lots of contradicting opinions on pumpkin but I thought the article could explain why it's sometimes recommended. The vet also says that pumpkin contains potassium which aids in treating hypokalemia brought about by dehydration. Again, it's not a miracle food... What do you use to treat loose stool?
I use pro-biotics. Tatze is on pro-fibre, a little pinch on every meal. Mollie is on powder pro-biotics which are in little capsules which I empty on her morning meal. I don't know what brand as they came with her. Both have nice firm poos. If a dog has a runny tum I starve for a meal or two then give scrambled eggs for a meal or two. I wouldn't even consider pumpkin - even if you could buy it round here, which you can't. ...
Kaolin. It absorbs water, nothing else. I use this in the form of pro-kolin (that's just a brand name).
Pumpkin isn't readily available except at halloween, but I did use pureed butternut squash for Belle when she was constipated (after snaffling a bag of porridge oats). Just a tablespoon with her food, and it got her moving again.
I use a vet approved probiotic, which aids digestion. My one concern with adding fibre, is what impact is this having on other nutrients in the bowel ..eg protein absorption, due to binding effects in the GI tract, especially if the gut is already irritated. What effect does pumpkin/ or other vegetable sources have on fermentation in the bowel? This I would want to explore particularly if there is a possible gastric imbalance or infection.
Sorry, didn't meant to offend with the "Brits" quip. Just me being silly. Feel free to call me a "Yank" anytime. And I really can't find canned pumpkin in Germany, so was just guessing that's why it's not something that has caught on beyond the US and Canada. You're right, I personally don't know why it works, just that it does. It wouldn't cure the underlying cause (so if an infection or virus is causing the loose stool) but just does help regulate a too loose or too hard stool..so it helps manage symptoms. As others have said, must be the fiber, but I really don't know.
The thing is though, canned pumpkin doesn't even look like it is 'particularly rich in soluble fibre'. Looking up the tables of food with soluble fibre in them - if that's the reason people thinks this works - there are loads and loads of foods that would be better. Most beans, apples, avocado, asparagus, oats, barley....canned pumpkin has a quite miserly 1g per cup of soluble fibre. Although, with the caveat that I don't have a can in my cupboard so can't actually check the label!
Interesting - in fact oatmeal actually worked really well for Brogan and he really loved how it tasted.
I don't know but one reason some Vets don't like rice is because it ferments quite quickly. It certainly did nothing for Oban and might have made him worse when he had month and a half long diarrhoea. http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/03/26/dealing-with-dog-diarrhea.aspx Well how about that? While searching for my fermenting rice link this came up on the good of fermented food: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/08/31/pet-fermented-vegetables.aspx
VERY interesting. Like aluminum silicate? Ah, I looked up Pro-Kolin and it contains kaolin as well as other things. I am not even sure we have that available in the states. But then again, Teller has never had a serious enough issue with a loose stomach (knock on wood) to investigate it further. I can say we DO have an abundance of kaolin in Georgia, so it's not like any of the ingredients in Pro-Kolin are difficult to come by. I can ship one over! Certain stores have it year-round but most do not. Yeah, again, that's why I use apples and oats more often than pumpkin. Mostly because going through an entire can before it moulds is difficult and also because apples/oats are so much more readily available. I will say that maybe our use of pumpkin comes from Americans obsession with it? Lol, come over to an American city as soon as fall hits and you'll see what I mean... Pumpkin this, pumpkin that, pumpkin drinks, pumpkin doughnuts, pumpkin cookies, etc. We Yanks are mad for pumpkin!
So, anyway. Apart from feeding canned pumpkin to dogs, what do you do with it, exactly? It's not the stuff you put in sweet pies, is it?
Oh, ho-ho... What do we do with it? Why, everything, of course! I am not remotely jesting. I will share some recipe links. Not sure if you've been to one of the handful of the Starbucks locations in the UK but they have a, 'Pumpkin spice latte'. http://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g619/our-best-pumpkin-recipes-1008/ Here's another list of pumpkin spice flavored foods: http://people.com/food/pumpkin-spice-food-guide/krispy-kreme-pumpkin-spice-glazed-doughnut And, yes! We do make pumpkin pies and they're oftentimes considered a Thanksgiving staple but the canned pumpkin we are referring to for dogs is not the same used as pie filling. Both are still canned and 'pumpkin' but the pie-filling is sweetened and spiced to make it less bland.
Oh, good. I don't feel so foreign any longer hahaha! I never stopped to think that it was just a North American fixation with pumpkin/pumpkin products but apparently it is lol.
I had pumpkin once. It was.... well, nothing really. I didn't get it. Give me a butternut squash any day.
In my cooking/baking I've made pumpkin spice scones, pumpkin soup, pumpkin cake, pumpkin pie bars...the list goes on. Canned pumpkin is available year round and baking pumpkins are in the store in the fall the same time as squash! Canned pie filling isn't as versatile as pure pumpkin
