Some advice when your dog has gastroenteritis:

If your dog is vomiting, take up all food and water for several hours. The stomach needs to rest and while it makes *us* feel better to see the dog eat or drink, it's not in the dog's best interest at this time. Goldens are big enough dogs that they do not dehydrate quickly, so unless your dog is vomiting copious amounts (and then you should be seeking veterinary care anyway), removing water for several hours will actually decrease the likelihood of dehydration because if the stomach is irritated, the addition of water is likely to cause vomiting (and more fluid will be lost than the dog gains). After several hours of no vomiting, slowly introduce water back (1/2 cup or so at a time every 30 minutes or so, slowly increasing the amount as long as there is no vomiting). Once water is pretty much back to normal (over several hours), slowly introduce bland food-rice and chicken/hamburger, etc. Go to the vet ASAP if: there is blood in the vomit, the vomit looks like coffee grounds (indicates digested blood), the vomiting lasts for more than a few hours, the dog is unsuccessfully trying to vomit and his abdomen is tense or hard or bigger than normal, or if the dog is unresponsive.

If your dog has diarrhea (and any vomiting is done with), pull all food for at least 12 and preferably 24 hours. Water is totally fine for the dog to have. This will rest the intestines and allow them to heal. After 24 hours, feed small, more frequent meals of a bland diet for a few days until stools are normally firm, then wean the dog to larger meals and mix in his regular food. It is totally OK to add in some (a tablespoon or two) canned pumpkin to the bland diet to help firm the stools up more quickly. Veterinary intervention is needed if the diarrhea lasts more than 48 hours, the diarrhea is black and tarry (indicates bleeding), the dog is lethargic more than a few hours, or if there are large amounts of blood in the diarrhea. Small amounts of blood are not at all unusual when a dog has diarrhea-it's simply from the irritation of so much coming out so quickly.

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Sarah

Ruby: Topbrass Ravishing Ruby CDX, RAE, JH, AX, OAJ, XF, WCX, CCA, VC, CGC, TT (8/1/04)
Piper: Topbrass Pipe Dream CD, JH, RA, OAP, NJP, WC, CCA (7/19/09)
Sage: Prime Time Sage RN, CGC (10/27/97-12/2/12)

Thanks Sarah, maybe a moderator can make this a sticky? Seems a lot of people new to the forum have questions about this!

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

Thank you Sarah! Moderators, please Sticky this!

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Meet Yogi! http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...tion-yogi.html

I agree about making this a sticky.

One question I have about this mattering for other dogs, but I found it helps with my guys... when I make the hamburger and rice I rinse it off in cold water so there is absolutely no grease and the hamburger and rice is nice and cold before I scoop out a cup for the first meal after 12 hours fasting or whatever. It seems to stay down better that way.

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Very helpful post, I'm glad you did that. I too hate to see people trying to force their pups to eat/drink after they have been vomiting. If you had just been vomiting would you want to eat?

Note on the hamburger/rice or chicken/rice. Boil the hamburger or chicken (of course skinless too) this helps get all the grease out and is easier on their tummies. Also bland rice, no butter!

Also if your dog starts to vomit after you restart the food (especially if vomits the water) please see your vet, that could be a sign of a blockage! Goldens luckily are a bigger dog, but I have seen plenty of big dogs (esp. labs) that have to get an exploratory surgery done to get a foreign body out!

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Alison and 2 Furry Kids and 2 non furry kids

Lilly- Golden DOB 1/28/11
AKC name: Goldridge Lights Action Lilly RN CCA
http://k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=433352
Sanford- JRT DOB-9/5/06

Bridge dogs
Toby-Boxer 10 yrs. old (rescue) 9/17/2002-11/1/12
Charlie- Boxer (1st "child" together)2/19/02-3/18/12
Julie- golden retriever ( my heart dog) 5/6/96-3/3/07
Ruby- terrier/chow mix (my 1st dog) 8/1/90-1/15/05
Rusty-shih tzu (million dollar dog) 2/5/99-1/20/04

Beauty, thanks for re-posting! Ranger had the runs last night and this morning. Luckily I had remembered this post from Dallas Gold searching for it so Ranger's been fasting since last night at 8pm. He'll be getting boiled beef and potatoes for a little snack around 9pm tonight...

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Member of the "Crazy 4 Collars Clique"

Want to see the menu of a raw fed dog? Check out my blog!

This is a GREAT post and so glad it is a sticky!

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THANK YOU SO much for this WONDERFUL AND HELPFUL POST!!

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Tonka & Tucker

SNOBEAR at the Bridge
Dec. 23, 1999-March 27, 2010


SMOOCH at the Bridge.
Feb. 14, 1999-Dec. 7, 2010

Thank you so much for posting this. I needed this exact info this evening, and was certain I would find it here on GRF! :-)

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I hope this is OK to post this here within this sticky, but it might be helpful for dog owners to print out, complete and take to a vet if the dog is experiencing diarrhea. I found this while researching something else:
Diarrhea Questionnaire & Checklist for Dogs in Dallas, TX | Animal Diagnostic Clinic
diarrhea checklist for dogs.pdf

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Meet Yogi! http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...tion-yogi.html