Is Imodium a Treatment for Diarrhea in Postpartum Dogs?

Because bodies are so different, it is difficult to imagine that human medications can work on pets. Yet medications used to treat people are used to treat dogs fairly routinely for certain conditions. When a dog suffers from diarrhea, it is important to keep it well hydrated and feed it bland food. Dogs with diarrhea may also benefit from a reduction in the amount of food they are given for a dew days. With approval from a vet, Imodium may be used if other treatments don't seem to be working.

Not Approved by FDA

Some veterinarians use Imodium to treat diarrhea in dogs, but the FDA has not approved the drug for this use.

Complications

A dog that is allergic to any of the ingredients in Imodium should not be given the drug. Imodium should not be used in dogs that are pregnant or nursing. Complications may arise from Imodium use in dogs with hypothyroidism, kidney problems, Addison's disease, glaucoma and respiratory problems.

Side Effects

Imodium may cause the dog to experience constipation, bloating, lethargy and pancreatitis.

Dosage

The normal dosage of Imodium for dogs with diarrhea is .05 to .1 mg for every pound the dog weighs. This dosage is administered every 8 hours.

Warnings

No medications should ever be administered to your dog without approval from your veterinarian. Although Imodium is sometimes used to treat dogs, it should never be used in cats without careful supervision by a vet.