Upset tummy in my Chihuahua

[Nancy (Spuddie' s Mum)]

The day before yesterday, Chewie (my Chihuahua) was up off and on all night with the runs and threw up once. I with held food all the following day but for dinner that night I gave him a bit of boiled chicken and rice. He was fine and went through the night without getting up. Yesterday his poops were formed again. So yesterday he got one small dog cookie for his breakfast and a few hand fed kibbles over the day (he was fine all day). For his dinner last night he got more rice & chicken with a few kibbles and a tiny bit of canned (lite) dog food. By 9:00 p.m. he was asking to go out again and was up and down all night with the runs again. He threw up once again too. This morning he seems fine and wanted his breakfast with everyone else, but he's not getting anything again today at all (except water), including dinner.

I am thinking that perhaps I didn't with hold his food long enough the first time as it was only about 12 hours before I gave him the chicken and rice. He is not depressed or seems ill in any way and was quite interested in food this morning as usual. What are your thoughts on this, he seemed to be better yesterday and was pooping like a normal dog, then last night he got the runs again a few hours after he ate his dinner. If he seemed really ill I would have him into the vet ASAP, but I am thinking this is a virus as a couple of my other dogs had similar episodes recently, but it passed very quickly. Any suggestions how to approach this?

[JMM]

Our bland diet instructions are usually fast for 24 hours, offer water only. Then start small frequent bland meals. Continue the bland diet for 3 days past normal stool and no vomit, then begin weaning back onto regular dog food over a few more days.

[Nancy (Spuddie' s Mum)]

Oh dear, then I definitely went too fast. So, just to be clear then:

No food today at all (just water)

Starting tomorrow, boiled rice and beef or chicken - how much how often and when can I start?

Don't start feeding any "solid" food until Friday - morning or afternoon?

[Traci]

I do not recommend the 24 hour approach, 12 hour fasting should be sufficient . Since we don't know your dog's age, the cause of the diarrhea, any previous or current health problems, it would be better for you to consult with your vet. If the diarrhea persists past 3 days, it would be wise to get your dog checked and at least a fecal done to rule out bacterial infection or other causes.

Persistent diarrhea can fast lead to dehydration, weight loss, etc, ....please check with your vet before fasting your dog.

[Nancy (Spuddie' s Mum)]

OK then, tonight I will give him a tiny bit of boiled rice and meat, and if all goes well I will continue feeding him that for a couple of days. Now, if the rice and meat just goes right through him I will be taking him into the vet anyway with a sample, or, if he seemed depressed, lethargic or even refused water, he would go in right away, but he's not. Since he is drinking and interested in eating I am not concerned with the problem of dehydration right now either. I just want to give him some time to let his immune system do it's job and let get him over this if I can. Believe me, I would not risk his life by waiting to take him to a vet if I thought it was more serious than just a stomach upset.

Since he has been healthy and had no previous problems in some time, I am hoping that this is just a virus that is making it's rounds thought my dogs (as I mentioned above, a couple of my other dogs had similar problems in the past several days but passed very quickly ).