​**If your pet is experiencing any vomiting, lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, or black, tarry stools, it is recommended to set up an exam for your pet. You can give us a call at 763-497-2424 to check for availability or bring your pet into urgent care.
You can find a list of urgent care clinics near you here: Emergency & Urgent care Information
  1. If your dog or cat has had an exam with us within the last year, please start by bringing in a fresh fecal sample (ideally within 2 hours of collection and not frozen) to the clinic. We will run that fecal sample to check for intestinal parasites and overgrowth of bacteria.
  2. Starting your pet on a bland diet would be the next best step. Whether your animal’s fecal sample is negative or positive for intestinal parasites, a bland diet will be easier to digest and help calm down the GI system.
  • Here you can find out how to make and feed a homemade bland diet: Bland Diet
    • **Intended for short term use only**
  • You can purchase a bland diet food called Hill’s I/D or Royal canine GI low fat (canned or dry) here at the clinic if you are unable to make one yourself.
  • Some animals may benefit from doing a 12-hour fast from food only before starting a bland diet.
  • Make sure your pet has adequate amount of water. If they are currently not interested in drinking, you can add small amount of water or broth to their food to add in some hydration.
  1. Consider adding vet-approved probiotics. Some of the products we carry here are:
    • Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora- Dogs only (can order for cats online)
  • Sprinkle 1 packet on top of food once daily
  • Proviable-Forte capsules- Dogs and cats
    • Sprinkle contents of capsule on top of food once daily
  • Proviable-Forte Kits- Dogs and cats
    • Comes with a paste that should be given 2-3 times a day for 48 to 72 hours. This will quickly firm up stools within the first 24 hours.
    • Capsules are then used to help reestablish healthy intestinal balance.
  1. If you have followed these guidelines and your pet is still experiencing diarrhea, please give us a call and schedule an exam.