Anne Jones reminded me of something I do every year (as do Anne and lots of other people I know):

http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hRnH7bd_l5c/UKrFHXEe2HI/AAAAAAAABJo/vfG42_PuR40/s640/PicsPlay_1353368525732.jpg

Get your plain canned pumpkin now! The best one, IMO, in value and consistency, is Trader Joe's Organic Pumpkin. It's seasonal, though! So get it now and always have it on hand.

Even if you keep it around just for the occasional diarrhea fix, now is the time to get it. Remember the year that the Libby's pumpkin crop failed and everyone was scrambling for it?

And Trader Joe's is available now only! Don't count on getting any after Christmas.


(Reminder if you're sending someone else for it: NOT pumpkin pie filling. It should have one ingredient: pumpkin. No sugar, no spices. {It may say "water for processing," too.})

You can also order organic canned pumpkin online at amazon.com .

 Quote: Elaine Haynes

You can also order organic canned pumpkin online at amazon.com .

Very nice find, Elaine!

With Amazon Prime (free shipping), that per-ounce for Farmer's Market Foods Organic Pumpkin is very similar to the Trader Joe's per-ounce (12 to 13 cents per ounce). You have to get a case of twelve cans, but I don't see that as a problem.

How is it used? I've heard its got alot of good things in it.

 Quote: Jodi Moen

How is it used? I've heard its got alot of good things in it.

Did you mean how is it used to treat diarrhea, or as an addition to the diet?

How much does your dog weigh?

Yours was on NB, right? And now on TOTW kibble? Or am I mixing up dogs?

Both,
Amber was on NB, now she's on Wellness Core, still gets NB canned but I'll probably switch that to the wellness canned as well. Weight wise she's about 68lbs.

bump .... gotta go for a bit but I wanted to remember to tell you about pumpkin for occasional diarrhea....

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

.... I wanted to remember to tell you about pumpkin for occasional diarrhea....

OK, here we go: I give a small dog a couple of teaspoons of plain pumpkin and a big dog (say, an adult GSD) a couple of tablespoons for occasional pudding-type diarrhea. For a very big dog, I might give two well-rounded tablespoons or three scant tablespoons.

I use those disclaimers because brown water, or frequent diarrhea of any consistency, or straining to go, or blood in the stool, or diarrhea with other symptoms (such as vomiting or lethargy or pain) are not indications for just adding plain pumpkin.

But the occasional soft stool that almost all of see sooner or later is often helped very quickly with plain pumpkin.

Don't overdo the amount ...... it's not a case of "more is better," because a lot of pumpkin at once can actually cause the runs.


Plain pumpkin and unsalted chicken broth are two pantry items that are good to have on hand all the time. (I promise that if you don't, the time you will need them will be midnight during a blizzard.)

(The broth, warmed to body temp, is a quick substitute for baited water for a dog who is in possible danger of dehydration from diarrhea and isn't drinking plain water. It is not a long-term fix; any dog with chronic diarrhea and any puppy with the runs for more than a few hours needs a vet.)

I'm not a health professional and this is all JMO!





ETA
http://raisinghealthydogs.com/discover-the-health-benefits-of-canned-pumpkin-for-dogs



Edited by Connie Sutherland (12/26/2012 03:55 PM)
Edit reason: ETA added link

So you use just a tiny bit of the can, glad you told me that because I would probably have thought the whole can. do you mix it in with food or just give it by itself.

yep, that would happen to me

 Quote: Jodi Moen

So you use just a tiny bit of the can ....

Yes, but you can re-package the leftovers and freeze.

It does separate into solids and water when you thaw it, but it doesn't matter for this purpose. Just stir it up.

(If you freeze it in freezer baggies in small portions, you can thaw it more quickly, in just the amount you need.)

You can mix it in whatever small meal you may be giving, or give it plain.

It actually seems to make soupy overcooked white rice (the basic diarrhea diet) more palatable, anyway.