Originally Posted by dobebug

i've posted this information so often i feel like a broken record. but here it is again.

kaopectate used to be a very safe product for control of diarrhea because it contained only kaolin (a fine white clay) & pectin (the stuff you use for making jellies & jams). pepto-bismol also contained a salicylate/bismuth compound--all of the salicylates are related to aspirin (sodium acetyl salicylate) & can & often do further irritate an already irritated gut & can cause intestinal bleeding. a few years ago the manufacturers of kaopectate added the same salicylate to their product. you can still get the original formula from feed stores (unfortunately usually only in gallons) as it is used to control "scours" (diarrhea) in calves. omaha vaccine does sell the original product in quarts but by the time you pay the shipping you might as well buy the gallon locally.

when the manufacturers first made that change all of the vet lists had the formula change information--evidently some of the vets didn't see it or have forgotten about it. at any rate i don't think it's safe to give the kaopectate available from your local pharmacy anymore.

as far as immodium goes--the reason vets do not want it given is that if there is any possibility that the diarrhea is related a partial intestinal blockage you do not want to restrict normal gut processes--& that's what immodium does.

restricting food is probably the safest thing you can do. why can't he have rice? and if he continues to have ongoing diarrhea you should talk to his vet--marrow has been known to grow enough bacteria at room temperature to cause problems in dogs--even though for the most part it doesn't.