Vomiting & Diarrhea Dietary Management

April 7, 2021

The following dietary management ideas are recommended in addition to specific therapy for pet's condition:

VOMITING:

• Withhold all food for 24 hours.

• Offer only small, frequent portions of the electrolyte solution.

• When no vomiting has occurred for 24 hours, begin to offer small, frequent (3-6 times daily) portions of a highly digestible diet. Prescription Diet I/D formula is recommended.

• Mix the food with water for the next 24 hours, making a “slurry.”

• If no vomiting occurs for 24 hours, feed the food directly from the can, with no water added, in small amounts 3-6 times daily.

• If no vomiting occurs, gradually return your pet to full feed over the next 3-5 days, using meat or chicken-based foods only!

• Use no cereal-based foods for at least one week, since they increase the chances of vomiting and /or diarrhea.

DIARRHEA:

• No food should be given for 24-48 hours. Do not restrict water intake, unless vomiting is present.

• Feed small amounts of highly digestible foods, (Prescription Diet I/D), 4-6 times daily.

• Begin with one-third the amount you would normally feed <animal> each day.

• Feed meat-Based Foods only!!

• Over the next several days, gradually increase to the normal amount fed.

• Research tells us not to use Kaopectate-type products to stop diarrhea.

• It is better for your pet to expel the toxic material, instead of retaining it within the body.

• The diet should be highly digestible, low in fiber, moderate in fat, and lactose-free (milk-free).

• NO foods should be fed to your pet that contains a cereal-based for a minimum of 7 days.

• Cereal-based foods (which make up most commercial pet foods) increase the chances of vomiting and/or Diarrhea.