Can I Give My Dog Pepto-bismol for Diarrhea
Wondering if Pepto-Bismol for dogs is a safe fashion to soothe your pup'south upset tummy? Unfortunately, the reply is typically "no." Integrative veterinary Dr. Julie Buzby explains how a seemingly innocent Pepto-Bismol tablet most led one of her patients to have an unnecessary surgery. She also discusses six other reasons to avoid the temptation to give your dog Pepto-Bismol.
There are some cases in every veterinarian'southward career that he or she volition likely never forget. Stewie was such a case for me. This 5-year-old chocolate Labrador Retriever had a zest for life and a smiling on his face. Only he as well had a propensity for getting into trouble. That's what landed him on my surgery table, anesthetized, with his abdomen shaved and scrubbed in preparation for intestinal exploratory surgery. Or so we thought…
I'm certain my vet nurses were a bit shocked and dislocated when I walked into the operating room and said, "Wake him upward!" Later on all, I hadn't washed the surgery yet. And the last thing I had asked them was to prep him for surgery because he had a coin in his stomach that was making him sick.
SPOILER ALERT: What we thought was a coin was actually a Pepto-Bismol tablet.
I practise want to tell y'all the balance of Stewie'south story and how I came to that startling revelation just in the nick of time. But starting time let's address the questions that probably led you to this article.
Is Pepto-Bismol as expert for dogs as it is for people? Should I accomplish for that bottle of pinkish liquid the next time my dog is experiencing tummy troubles?
What is Pepto-Bismol?
Most people are probably familiar with Pepto-Bismol and perchance have taken information technology themselves for a GI disquiet. The active ingredient is bismuth subsalicylate and it is is available as a liquid or tablet. While the exact mechanism of activity is not completely understood, Pepto-Bismol seems to accept antidiarrheal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties in humans. Information technology may also have like affects in dogs.
Is Pepto-Bismol safe for dogs?
It's no surprise then that dog parents may wonder, "Tin I requite my dog Pepto-Bismol for diarrhea?" or "Tin can I requite my domestic dog Pepto-Bismol for vomiting?" After all, information technology works great for human digestion problems, and so why not requite it to a dog, too?
In my opinion, Pepto-Bismol should exist reserved primarily for human GI ailments, and it should not be given to dogs. At that place are much ameliorate options bachelor for tummy troubles in dogs. Plus Pepto-Bismol, similar many medications, does come with some risks and side effects for dogs.
And yet, some sources on the internet and some veterinarians will say that a dose or 2 of Pepto-Bismol is probably ok. Let's get into the nitty-gritty on why I'm not a fan of Pepto-Bismol for dogs.
6 reasons why Pepto-Bismol and dogs don't mix
To help yous understand why I take the stance I practice, I want to share with you six potential issues with giving Pepto-Bismol to your dog.
ane. Pepto-Bismol tablets tin await similar foreign metal objects on X-rays
Yous already know this from the abridged version of Stewie's story in the introduction, just information technology withal bears repeating. If you give your canis familiaris a Pepto-Bismol tablet and your vet doesn't know about it, your canis familiaris could end upwards having unnecessary intestinal surgery. The Pepto-Bismol tablet looks exactly like a coin, battery, or other metal object on Ten-rays.
ii. Pepto-Bismol can turn your domestic dog's stool black
It tin can be concerning every bit a domestic dog parent to suddenly discover that your dog's stool is dark grayness or black. But that is exactly what can happen to some dogs who are given Pepto-Bismol. In many cases it is just a harmless pigment change that occurs when the bismuth in Pepto-Bismol combines with sulfur in the digestive tract.
Still, dark or black stool tin also mean the dog has melena (i.e. digested blood in the stool from GI haemorrhage). If your vet doesn't know that your canis familiaris had Pepto-Bismol, he or she might call up the stool is that color considering your dog is bleeding from the GI tract. That could lead to a multifariousness of tests and treatments that may not be indicated. It also makes it a chip more challenging to observe actual melena.
3. Pepto-Bismol tin crusade GI ulcers
We just finished talking nearly how Pepto-Bismol can get in look like your canis familiaris has GI haemorrhage, but in some causes it can actually cause gastric ulcer affliction in dogs and gastric haemorrhage too. One of the ingredients of Pepto-Bismol, salicylic acid (i.e. aspirin) tin make a dog more than probable to have GI ulcers which may bleed.
The hazard of GI ulceration increases if the canis familiaris is already taking aspirin or dog-specific non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for arthritis hurting in dogs, torn ACL in dogs, hip dysplasia in dogs, IVDD in dogs or another painful condition. Using Pepto-Bismol with steroids similar prednisone for dogs also presents a GI ulcer risk.
four. Pepto-Bismol tin can interact negatively with other medications
In addition to the increased risk of GI ulceration when combined with NSAIDS, Pepto-Bismol also doesn't play nicely with a variety of other drugs. It tin can increase the risk of abnormal bleeding in dogs who are on anti-coagulants. Additionally, it reduces the corporeality of certain antibiotics (mostly tetracyclines like doxycycline) that is available for the body to use. This may make treatment for some infections less effective.
Pepto-Bismol also should be avoided in dogs who are taking ACE inhibitors (sometimes prescribed for medical weather condition similar kidney disease or middle disease in dogs), some diuretics (i.e. medications that remove fluid from the body), and digoxin (a medication used for heart conditions). If your dog is taking omeprazole for acrid reflux in dogs, the body may absorb more of the Pepto-Bismol than normal, which could be problematic.
five. Pepto-Bismol is not safe in pregnant or nursing dogs
The salicylic acrid found in Pepto-Bismol may be detrimental to the fetus or nursing puppy. That'southward why it is best not to give it to pregnant or nursing dogs.
vi. Pepto-Bismol may interfere with laboratory tests
In improver to showing upwardly on X-rays, Pepto-Bismol may cause incorrect results on urine glucose and ketone tests. This can make information technology harder for the vet to get an accurate picture of what is going on with your dog.
If Pepto-Bismol isn't a good thought for dogs, what should I do for GI upset?
At this point, you accept a pretty proficient idea that reaching for the Pepto-Bismol wouldn't be the start thing I would recommend if your dog is having some tummy troubles. Instead, consider contacting your dog'south veterinary team for communication.
They may recommend trying symptomatic treatment with a bland nutrition or feeding a small amount of nutrient and water at a time. Alternatively, based on your domestic dog'due south symptoms or history, the veterinary team may suggest making an appointment with the vet. Ideally, don't requite your domestic dog any medications before talking to the vet or veterinary team.
What if my domestic dog already had some Pepto-Bismol?
Let me exist clear—this article is non intended to scare or shame anyone. Then don't panic or feel bad if you already gave your domestic dog some Pepto-Bismol. Only be honest with your vet almost it. At the appointment, ensure you allow your vet know:
- When y'all gave the Pepto-Bismol (appointment and guess time).
- The Pepto-Bismol dosage you used.
- The total number of doses.
- If it was the liquid or the tablets.
- If your dog'south symptoms have improved, worsened, or stayed the aforementioned.
To help you understand the importance of clear advice with the vet about whatever medications your dog may have been given, let's wrap back around to Stewie.
Tummy troubles for Stewie
Stewie'due south family brought him to see me because he had been vomiting and he wasn't his typical happy Labrador self. He also wasn't eating. That told me in that location was probably some sort of big problem. Anyone who has ever met a Lab knows they beloved to eat. And Stewie was commonly no exception to that rule.
Stewie had been my patient since he was a little dark-brown ball of fur and puppy kisses. Then I knew and loved him and his family quite well. They were understandably worried about Stewie, and I was too. He was looking rather sad as he sat on the flooring of the exam room.
The first thing I did was to have his dog vital signs, including his TPR. This stands for temperature, pulse, and respiration. An increased pulse or respiratory rate can be signs a domestic dog is in pain , but luckily for Stewie, his TPR was normal. Every bit information technology stood then, it seemed like he was definitely feeling pretty bleh but non painful per se.
The side by side affair I did was to examine him from head to tail. Stewie's belly was a scrap tender when I palpated information technology but I didn't feel any obvious enlargements of any of the internal organs. His gums were pink and a bit sticky, which is consistent with aridity. That made sense to me. He wasn't eating or drinking and had been vomiting for the past day or so. Since his physical exam didn't lead me to a specific diagnosis, it was time to move on to some additional testing.
Diagnostic testing reveals the culprit…or then we thought
I wanted to start with two tests for Stewie—bloodwork and X-rays. Thankfully, his bloodwork all looked adept. Since bloodwork tin can detect a host of reasons for vomiting and lack of appetite, information technology was a relief that everything was normal there. His Ten-rays, however, did show an abnormality. Stewie had what nosotros call a metallic opacity in the region of the breadbasket. The term metallic opacity refers to a bright white spot on 10-rays that is typically associated with a metallic-containing object.
I thought to myself, "Oh this explains everything! He's eaten a penny or a nickel." I couldn't tell exactly what kind of coin (or other round metal object) it was based on the X-rays, but there was definitely something in his stomach that didn't vest. Some coins contain metals that tin brand a dog sick. Other coins or objects can cause enough inflammation to cause GI symptoms. Either manner, I advised his owners that it probably needed to come up out one mode or another.
Subsequently talking to his owners, we decided to put him on IV fluids and continue to observe him in hope the object would kickoff making its way out naturally. Still, it remained in the stomach throughout the day and then I recommended taking Stewie to surgery to remove the object. His owners agreed and my vet nurses started to get him prepped.
Revelation in the class of a phone phone call
It just so happened that I took a phone call from a veterinary colleague while my vet nurses were getting Stewie anesthetized and fix for surgery. In the course of the chat, I said, "I gotta go because my canis familiaris's prepped and ready for an abdominal explore. He ate some sort of a money or something. On the X-rays information technology's very clear that at that place's this round opacity that's consistent with metallic in his stomach."
And he said, "Await a second, are you sure information technology'south not a Pepto-Bismol tablet?" To me, it was a crazy statement. He might every bit well accept said, "Look a second, are you certain the dog didn't run the Boston Marathon?" Information technology seemed to have no correlation to annihilation. I'm thinking, "What does a Pepto-Bismol tablet have to practice with this metal opacity? I've seen Pepto-Bismol. It's pink, and I'm sure I could intermission it with my fingers."
He went on to say, "Yeah, Pepto-Bismol tablets can look similar a round metallic opacity on X-rays." And I thought, "Oh my heavens!" And I said, "I don't know if he got Pepto-Bismol but I'm sure going to ask!" And so nosotros hung up.
The existent identity of the "coin" in Stewie'due south tummy
I immediately called Stewie'south parents. When I had taken his history, I asked them specifically if there was anything they had given Stewie. This is a actually important question. There are plenty of things that domestic dog parents may think are harmless and give their dog without a second thought. Just it may plough out that these substances are toxic, could interfere with diagnostics, or may interact poorly with other medications the vet may want to use.
Stewie'southward mom had originally said, "No nosotros haven't given him anything." Only when I chosen and said, "Is there any possibility that he had a Pepto-Bismol tablet?" She said, "Well I didn't requite him anything, only y'all know what? He was at work with me the previous day when this started. I tin ask."
Every bit it turns out, Stewie's grandmother (who works with his mom) had Pepto-Bismol tablets in her desk-bound when all of Stewie's GI signs started. His grandma thought, "Oh what's the harm? I'll requite him one to see if it helps him." So Stewie's mom called me back and said, "Yes he's had one Pepto-Bismol tablet. He did, I didn't know information technology, but he did." And I said, "That's what we saw on the 10-rays, then he does not need surgery at this point." Stewie'due south mom was relieved.
As soon as I got off the telephone, I headed into the surgery suite to tell my vet nurses to wake Stewie up. Since he was still a pretty sick pup, nosotros hospitalized him for supportive care for the next 24 hours. Shortly he was feeling better and back to his usual happy, goofy cocky. And we all learned a lesson about Pepto-Bismol that nosotros won't presently forget.
The moral of the story
As a canis familiaris parent, there are ii things I promise you'll take away from this story:
- First, ideally y'all should never give your dog any medication without consulting with your vet. Just because a medication works for you lot doesn't hateful it will be ok for your dog.
- Second, it is of import to disembalm any medications, supplements, vitamins, treats, or anything else that y'all give your dog, even if you don't think it is a big deal. Too, ask family members or friends if they gave your dog annihilation you lot were non enlightened of.
Had I not been talking to a fellow veterinarian just prior to surgery and had Stewie's mom not dug deeper to find out that he had in fact been given Pepto-Bismol, Stewie would have had a surgery he didn't demand. Luckily for him, the events transpired the manner they did. He didn't come up habitation with a line of stitches. Only not all dogs will be that lucky.
So earlier you reach for Pepto-Bismol, or whatever other over-the-counter medication, keep this article and Stewie'south story in heed. A quick call to the vet is better than a regrettable trip to the medicine cabinet.
What exercise you do if your domestic dog has an upset breadbasket?
Please comment below.
Source: https://toegrips.com/pepto-bismol-for-dogs/
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