Is there anything you can give a dog to rebalance electrolytes?

[Nikia]

My dog is rather sick and has been vommitting and having diarrhea. Initially, I let him rehydrate with water, but that seemed to make him vommitt more. I took the water away for several hours, but let him have a small amount a little bit ago.
For humans, they usually recommend pedilyte or gatorade to help restore electrolytes and prevent them from being out of balance due to digestive purgings. Is it healthy to give those things to dogs?

[bicentennial_baby]

1. I know that people have given pedialyte to cats

All it is is water and electrolytes, so I assume it would be ok. Are you gonna take the poor guy to the vet? :hug:

[Nikia]

5. I was thinking about it

He does seemed to have stopped vommitting though and is now snoozing.
The two times that we have taken him to the vet for digestive problems, they have basically said to let it run its course and give him bland diet for a few days when he gets better.
I was thinking of giving him some electrolyte replacement when he wakes up and see if he keeps it down.

[flvegan]

7. I think you should take him anyway.

I assumed in my original response that he had been, and this was just a general question.

Also, is he eating okay, or is he shunning his food? Has he eaten anything out of the ordinary in the last 24 hours or so, or had a dietary change (brand/type of kibble or canned)?

[Nikia]

8. He managed to get into garbage

With old fast food french fries and beef jerky, both of which emerged in his vommitt. He seemed like he was doing better and then started vommitting again when he ate some dog food. I have put his bowl off the floor. His dog food brand has been the same for the past couple years (Purina Beneful) and the bag that we are using now is towards th bottom of a big bag.

[flvegan]

2. Pedialyte is perfectly fine for dogs, as is Gatorade.

Dogs usually prefer the human Pedialyte to the canine version, too.

[bicentennial_baby]

3. i was hoping you'd show up!

:bounce:

:hi:

[Wcross]

4. Have you checked his kidney's?

Did he get into anti-freeze? It sounds like the classic symptoms of kidney problems. I am hoping it isn't but with proper and prompt vet care he he could survive if it is.

[Nikia]

6. He has had digestive problems a couple times before

One time was after going to my inlaws where she fed him her grease soaked cooking leftovers. He did manage to get into the garbage (despite putting it up where in his older age he shouldn't be able to knock it over) where there was several day old fast food french fries and beef jerky (both of which appeared in his vommitt).
Now that you bring up kidney problems, what else should we look out for? When we let him, he did want to drink significant water. He did urinate this morning. As it was outside, I did not get a good look at the color of it.

[Wcross]

9. How old is he? How long has he had the vomiting?

If he drinks a lot more than normal and will not eat as much as he used to it is a sign. If there is any evidence of blood in the vomit (it will look like coffee grounds)? He will be lethargic and sleep more than usual.

I am losing my girl Angel to kidney failure. She started to drink excessive amounts of water and then throwing it up shortly afterwords. I didn't recognise the symptoms right away. I took her to the vet for a blood test and her Chretien/bun levels were off the chart. They put her on an IV for a day and she really perked up. She is stable now but eventually she will pass away from the build up of contaminants in her blood.
I did have a cat that lived 4 years after being diagnosed with kidney failure so don't panic! If this has been going on for a while see your vet. DO NOT put him down if he has kidney failure!!!!! My dog is still wagging her tail and hunting rabbits, she is in no pain. Let your guy enjoy life.

[Nikia]

12. 13. Just started vomitting yesterday afternoon

He stopped for a while and then we let him eat some dog food and drink from his water dish. Then he started vommitting again.
He has not been vommitting lately. Gave him a small amount of water (enough to just cover the bottom of his water dish) before I posted this. Gave him about the same amount of gatorade later.

[Wcross]

13. If he just started then don't worry about kidney problems.

If he continues off and on see your vet. I hope its just some disagreeable food! Hope he gets to feeling better soon.

[SarahB]

10. You should call the vet.

I'd hate to see the wrong advice cause any problems and as smart as some people are here, they're not vets. Electrolyte imbalances in humans can cause cardiac arrythmias, so it's not something to take lightly.

[dropkickpa]

11. SOP for doggy digestive issues in any clinic I've worked at

is 24 hrs. NPO (nothing by mouth), with maybe the exception of a couple of ice cubes towards the end of the 24hrs. After 24 hrs, reintroduce *small* amounts of water. If he can keep that down for several hours, a TINY amount of bland low fat food (a little bit of rice is good). If he can keep that down, *slowly* increase the amount of food you give him. *Gradually* transition him back to his normal diet if he is having no issues with the bland diet after 24 hrs of being on that. 24hrs NPO will not hurt him if he is otherwise healthy (I actually follow this for myself, too, and have found that I get over stomach issues much faster when I just leave my poor digestive system alone).

Rushing to put something in an already upset stomach, even water, just makes it more upset (as you saw). If he's making urine even after barfing up everything, his kidneys sounds as if they are fine. Give his stomach a chance to settle down. Is it projectile vomit, or just regular dog barfing?

It sounds like this bout is the result of some dietary indiscretions on his part (I've owned several garbage hounds, I feel ya on this). Vomiting after a dietary indiscretion can usually be curative in and of itself, by purging the offending stuff.

I still recommend a vet visit, or at least a call, but I wouldn't panic.

[Nikia]

14. Thanks for your advice

He hasn't vomitted for a while. I had given him a small amount of water (just enough to cover the bottom of the dish) and the same amount of gatorade a few hours later.
I had forgotten that it was a full 24 hours.
Maybe I am just thinking of how I am with feeling dehydrated if I don't drink at least some water while I am having digestive problems.
I think that it is a good sign that when he were eating lunch, he seemed rather interested. We aren't going to let him eat anything today though.