Leaving for our NEW HOMES!

This is Zander the dad to the Cocker Spaniel Puppies we have.   He is my baby! 

We have enjoyed these little puppies for 8 weeks and I’m a little sad to see them go!  They are super sweet and so playful.  Hopefully we will get to post some pictures of them as they get a little older! 

She will not last long!  She is so adorable and is so laid back!  Her little face is irresistible.  SHE IS PERFECT in every way!     CALL TODAY 907-351-0569   $ 200.00 will reserve this little baby girl and she will be able to arrive at your doorstep in just a few weeks!

Call today 907-351-0569

Rascal is full of life loves to run and play.  He is a “chunky monkey” that is was my son calls him. He has such a beautiful thick coat of fur the color is a buff mix with a silver touch.  He needs a family that is going to spoil him rotten! He has began his crate training and is doing exceptionally well.  He is $ 650.00 and will be ready to go to his new home on 9-17-2010.  You can reserve him today with a 150.00 deposit.  CALL TODAY!!!!  907-351-0569

designer dog clothes

friendsoutfitsclothing

Are you one of those dog owners who love to dress up your canine friends with different types of dog clothing, especially designer dog clothes? If you do then you you’ll surely appreciate the huge selections of designer dog clothing that are available in the market. It really feels good if you were able to buy the right set of designer dog outfits that you want for your dog. It can be for dog shows or for just fashion reasons; it doesn’t matter as long as you are happy with what you are doing. There are so many designer dog clothes that you can buy at the market. You could even have those popular designer pet clothing manufactured by popular designers around the world. If you want to have the best designer pet clothes, make sure that you consider the following factors.

First, you should know what type of dog designer clothes you want for your dog. Do you prefer a specific brand and style of dog designer clothes? If you already have a brand that you trust, you better stick with it so you won’t have to worry with the quality and durability of the materials. But don’t limit yourself with the brand that you’re comfortable with, you could also try to explore other good quality brands of designer dog clothes so your pet could also experience other style and comfort of those dog clothes. Second, you need to be specific when it comes to size and style of pet clothes for your dog. Designer pet outfits also come in different sizes and styles to fit every kind of dogs, large or small alike.

Lastly, the price of the designer dog clothes that you prefer. Buying sets of dog outfits could be costly especially designer dog outfits. Since they come with brands, it will generally cost more compared to regular pet clothing. We have to put in mind that they come from labeled companies or from people who are internationally known for their designs, thus making them cost much. We are hence paying not only for the clothing but for the name itself. So, better be prepared with the expenses, only buy those that you can afford so you won’t have any concern with regards to your budgeting. Try to canvass different designer stores for pets and make a list of prices so you would have basis, don’t just grab anything without having to compare.

About the author:

Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/pets-articles/dog-articles/designer-dog-clothes-your-choice-1067347.html

designer dog clothes

1 SP SMART

teacup chihuahua puppies for sale in georgia

teacup chihuahua puppies for sale in georgia Provides teacup chihuahua puppies for sale in georgia news and information Includes teacup chihuahua puppies for sale in georgia and detailed information about akc chihuahua for sale new hill north carolina. A free special 14 page report on learning the insider secrets of what you need to know when choosing your food such as and much more. If you need a resource specializing in teacup chihuahua puppies for sale in georgia… you’ve found it! ..

Designer breeds, mixed breeds

DESIGNER BREEDS

Designer breeds are ‘created’ by picking representative dogs from two different breeds, based on desired characteristics. These dogs are then bred to obtain a predetermined result in the offspring.  The offspring that dispaly the best results of these characteristics would then be bred to strengthen the desired traits.  Thus creating the desired designer breed.  Many currently accepted purebred dogs were created in this way by utilizing recognized stock breeds.

So how is this different than a mixed breed?  Well in my opinion a mixed breed, though it may or may not happen accidentally, is the coupling of two breeds without any control in place. Unless the coupling of multiple breeds is thoroughly controlled over several generations to create offspring that meet pre-determined qualities, they are mixed breed dogs as opposed to designer breeds. 

This site will document as many designer breeds, mixed breeds and hybrid breeds as possible.  Breeds with multiple names will be listed in all appropriate alphabetic positions. If you are aware of a designer breed that is not included on this site or that is recognized by an alternate name that is not included on this site please complete the Submit a Breed form. 

It’s been quite difficult to find decent pictures of these designer and mixed breed dogs.  And in some cases I haven’t yet found pictures.  If you have any of these dogs and would like to have their picture added to this site please email to AllDogsWelcome@gmx.com.  Be sure to tell me the name of the breed for which you are submitting the picture.

Your input is always appreciated!

Bring some interest, warmth and love into your life

There is a mountain of evidence suggesting that having a pet enhances our sense of well-being: They provide us with a sense of security, companionship, and bring out the carer in us. They can link us to a community. They teach our children a sense of responsibility and enhance their non verbal communication skills. They give us hours of fun. Sometimes they even force us to get some fresh air and exercise!

Want to know more? here are some interesting writings and books on the topic:

 

Pets and people: The psychology of pet ownership

Gunter, B.   London, Whurr publishers Ltd, 1999.

This book examines the relationship between pets and people, and lists the many psychological benefits animal companionship provide. For example: enhancing self-esteem, security for the anxious, companionship for the lonely and even status symbols for the image-conscious. You will learn about the growing phenomenon of pet ownership and on the importance placed upon the relationships by people today. I

Pets in the Network of Family Relationships

S. Bonas, J. McNicholas et al., Journal/Companion Animals and Us, Cambridge University Press, 2000. 

Over the past 30 years there has been a tremendous growth in interest in the multidisciplinary field of human-companion animal interactions and relationships. Considering that pets are kept in at least half of the households in Western societies, this is not a surprise. This book looks at the uniqueness of the relationships people have with their pets, and asks interesting questions such as:  Are we very different from our ancestors in the ways we feel about animals? What does pet-keeping tell us about ourselves and our relationships with people? Can pets be good for our health? Do they help promote empathy for other humans? The book presents some of the newest research from a wide variety of disciplines including anthropology, history, psychology, sociology, human and veterinary medicine.

Health enhancement and companion animal ownership

Beck, A. M., and N. M. Meyers.  Annual Review of Public Health, v. 17, p. 247-57. 1996.

While the relationship between people and  pets explains the bites and zoonotic diseases that occur among those who own them , at the same time this very relationship  appears to enhance the psychological and physiological well-being of many people. 56% of households in the USA currently have animals, a figure typical of developed countries worldwide. We all read much about the fact that people denied human contact do not thrive well, but now all indications are that companion animals play the role of a family member, often a member with the most desired attributes. Animals play a special role with children, assisting in teaching  nurturing behavior and with the appreciation of nonverbal communication. Regular normal interactions with animals can reduce blood pressure and even increase survival rates after a heart attack! For some, pets increase the opportunities to meet people, while they permit others to be alone without feeling lonely.

Companion animals and human health: an overview

Edney, A. T.    Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, v. 88, p. 704p-8p. 1995.

Domestic animals share our environment in a number of manners. One of these is as companions in (or around) our homes. Although there are various species of pets, the large majority are dogs and cats. Sharing our environment with pets has a profound effect on our health. And since about 50% of all households in the Western world have some sort of animal, the effects are far reaching.

This is Hipolito – a darling, adorable little puppy. Needs a loving family!

NEW Arrival: this lovely, adorable tricolor boasts a lovely light gray with salmon and white. She needs a stable and loving home. She eats Baby Cat (by Royal Canine).
Please contact us soon!
Estela:

estelatornquist@gmail.com 011-4773-5858 or 15 44953057.

Dog food - top 10 premium UK dried foods

September 30, 2011

Dog food – top 10 premium UK dried foods

Posted by CKCK under Possibly useful | Tags: best, dog, dog food analysis, dried, food, ingredients, makes, Premium, quality, top 10, uk |
[5] Comments 

I’ve been doing a lot of looking into the analysis of dog food in the past year. We’ve got two elegant, well-bred pedigree idiots with sensitive stomachs (well, they can eat paper coffee cups and brown banana skins but god help us if we change their dinner) so I’m careful what I find to feed them with.

I’ve been through all the commercial dried dog foods readily available in the UK and have produced the Ultimate Dried Dog Food List.

In the process I was amazed at the utter crap found in some of the so-called ‘science’ diets or ‘vet recommended’ foods, let alone what they put into ‘Chappie’ and other cheapo dogs’ dinners.

The things I’ve looked at are ingredients and analysis i.e. the amount of fat etc.

I won’t explain too much, but if you want to know more about ingredients this is a good website – Best Dog Food Guide (in particular the Ingredients 101 page). Or this one, explains even more about the ingredients – The Dog Food Project.

This website gives star ratings to dog food with a heavy emphasis on the amount of meat that’s in it. It’s also American so you won’t have heard of lots of the foods but it’s an interesting read – Dog Food Analysis- reviews.

This is my top list of (UK) dried dog food brands in no particular order:

Barking Heads
Orijen
Applaws
Arden Grange
Skinners Field and Trial
James Wellbeloved
Wainwrights
Fish4Dogs
Lathams
Burns

Sorry if I’ve missed any similar ones out. I will explain further, and lastly, finish with a nice, juicy table (I like tables, that’s how my mind works) where you can compare the different foods made by these companies. Yes, they are all ‘premium’ brands and yes this means they come with larger price tags but you get what you pay for.

Which one of these is best for your particular unique little beastie will depend entirely on the beastie itself – any sensitivities, taste and energy needs. And of course how deep your pocket is.

Barking Heads

A relatively new brand, made in the UK, still can be tricky to get hold of in the shops but becoming more available online.

Barking Heads do nine different types of food – 2 puppy foods, 2 large breed foods, one extra sensitive food, a slimming food, a food for seniors and a couple of other adults recipes.

Their foods have a named type of meat as their highest % ingredient (apart from the slimming and senior versions), although once you take the water out of the fresh meat element it brings the meat % down to mostly below 30%. The cereals used are mostly rice and oats (also potato).

The price is about middling (for a premium food).

http://www.barkingheads.co.uk

Orijen

Orijen is from Canada and is pretty much 80% meat and 20%, no cereals at all (naturally reflected in the price – VERY expensive).

A few owners have reported that their dogs always seem hungry when fed this food, probably because of the lack of cereals or other carbohydrates ‘filling them up’. Perhaps this doesn’t happen if you start a puppy off on this sort of food so that it isn’t used to eating cereals. But as I said earlier, there are different dinners for different dogs and this one on paper looks good.

Please check their website because the list of ingredients for each food is far, far longer than I’ve added below. There just wasn’t the room.

http://www.orijenpetfoods.co.uk

Applaws

Another high percentage meat food, Applaws contains 75% meat and 25% vegetables in all three of its foods – two adult and one puppy. I can vouch that dogs think this food is extremely tasty – we buy a small pack and feed it as a treat rather than dinner though.

The price is actually medium to high-ish in the premium range (depending on where you find it), possibly kept lower by the mysterious ‘poultry’ gravy and fat – two slightly suspect ingredients because it doesn’t state what they actually are. It is made in the UK.

Applaws does contain beet pulp, which the vast majority of dogs eat with no problems at all (it’s the fibre part of the food). However, some dogs have a reaction to it, just like some dogs react to wheat or maize etc. For most dogs it’s fine.

http://www.applaws.co.uk

Arden Grange

A large range of fairly well-known ‘premium’ dog food with mostly pretty good ingredients. All but ‘Arden Grange Premium’ and ‘Sensitive’ contain maize, if that happens to bother your dog. Is often available on pretty good offers in online stores so prices range from low to high-ish depending on where you get it and which variety you buy.  A good range of low-ish calorie through to extra high calorie foods available.

Some people may criticise them for using chicken ‘meal’ and lamb ‘meal’ rather than straight meat. Most of their foods also contain less than 30% meat, but this is no less than other premium dog foods apart from Orijen and Applaws.

We feed one of our dogs the extra high calorie version ‘Prestige’ otherwise she looks like a badly put together toast rack.

http://www.ardengrange.com

Skinners Field and Trial

It seems like Skinners have managed to produce (a couple of) dog foods with reasonable ingredients that don’t cost the earth. They are by far the cheapest of all listed here, but bottom of the range (hence the price). They have a slightly lower meat content than the others, apart from some Burns.

Only three Skinners Field and Trial varieties are really up to scratch though, and only one of these contains Omega 3 and 6 (Turkey & Rice). Others contain wheat, maize gluten meal or maize as the main cereal ingredient followed by white rice instead of whole rice.

Skinners foods with the better ingredients are included in the list below.

http://www.skinnerspetfoods.co.uk

I have only listed the first few ingredients in each one (usually down to the ‘oil’ ingredient, otherwise the table would be massive) so you can see what proportion of cereals are included and what they are. Please visit each company’s website for more information on their food.

Dog food	Ingredients	Analysis (% protein, fat, fibre, ash)	Approx. Price
Barking Heads Bad Hair Day	Fresh Lamb (min 26%), White Rice (min 26%), Dried Lamb (min 26%), Ground Oats, Lamb Fat, Salmon Oil,	22%, 16%, 3%, 9%	£42 (12kg)
Barking Heads Little Big Foot – Puppy (large breed)	Deboned Chicken, Dried Chicken, Brown Rice, Potato, Pea Starch, Oats, Deboned Salmon, Trout, Pea Protein, Chicken Fat	26%, 16.5%, 3%, 7.25%	£46 (12kg)
Barking Heads Big Foot – Lamb (large breed)	Deboned Lamb, Dried Lamb, Brown Rice, Oats, Barley, Trout, Pea Protein, Lamb Fat	24%, 14%, 4%, 9.75%	£42 (12kg)
Barking Heads Big Foot – Chicken (large breed)	Deboned Chicken, Dried Chicken, Brown Rice, Oats, Barley, Trout, Pea Protein, Chicken Fat	25%, 14%, 3.75%, 8.5%	£42 (12kg)
Barking Heads Fat Dog Slim	Brown Rice (min 26%), Dried Chicken (min 20%), Potato, Chicken, Lucerne, Oats, Peas, Sunflower Oil	20%, 9%, 4.3%, 9%	£42 (12kg)
Barking Heads Golden Years	Brown Rice, Dried Chicken, Dried Scottish Salmon, Potato, Ground Oats, Salmon, Salmon Oil, Lucerne, Sunflower Oil	25%, 11%, 3.5%, 10%	£44 (12kg)
Barking Heads Puppy Days	Fresh British Chicken (min 22%), Dried Chicken (min 21%), Brown Rice (min 21%), Ground Oats, Dried Salmon (min 10%), Potato, Chicken Fat	28%, 18%, 2.5%, 8%	£46 (12kg)
Barking Heads Tender Loving Care	Fresh British Chicken (min 26%), White Rice (min 26%), Dried Chicken (min 26%), Ground Oats, Chicken Fat	24%, 17%, 3%, 7%	£42 (12kg)
Barking Heads Fusspot	Fresh Scottish Salmon (min 26%), Potato (min 26%), Ground Oats, Dried Salmon, (min 15%), Potato Starch, Rapeseed Oil, Salmon Oil	22%, 16%, 3%, 7%	£44 (12kg)
Orijen Puppy	Fresh boneless chicken, chicken meal, fresh boneless salmon, turkey meal, herring meal, russet potato, chicken fat	40%, 20%, 3%, 7.5%	 £60 (13.5kg)
Orijen Puppy Large	Fresh boneless chicken, chicken meal, fresh boneless salmon, turkey meal, herring meal, russet potato, sweet potato, peas, fresh boneless turkey, chicken fat	38%, 16%, 3%, 7.5%	£60 (13.5kg)
Orijen Adult	Fresh boneless chicken, chicken meal, fresh boneless salmon, turkey meal, herring meal, russet potato, peas, sweet potato, fresh boneless turkey, fresh whole eggs, fresh chicken liver, fresh boneless lake whitefish, fresh boneless walleye, sun-cured alfalfa, pea fiber, chicken fat	38%, 17%, 3%, 7.5%	£58 (13.5kg)
Orijen 6 Fish	Fresh boneless salmon, salmon meal, herring meal, fresh boneless herring, fresh boneless walleye, russet potato, sweet potato, peas, salmon oil	38%, 18%, 3%, 7%	£72 (13.5kg)
Orijen Regional Red	Fresh deboned wild boar, fresh deboned lamb, fresh beef liver, fresh deboned pork, lamb meal, peas, salmon meal, russet potato, herring meal, fresh whole eggs, fresh deboned bison, potato starch, fresh deboned salmon, pacific whitefish meal, fresh deboned walleye, salmon oil	38%, 18%, 3%, 7.5%	£80 (13.5kg)
Orijen Senior	Fresh boneless chicken, chicken meal, fresh boneless salmon, turkey meal, russet potato, herring meal, sweet potato, peas, pea fiber, fresh boneless turkey, fresh whole eggs, fresh chicken liver, fresh boneless lake whitefish	38%, 15%, 5%, 7.5%	£60 (13.5%)
Applaws Adult 75% Chicken	Dry Chicken Meat, Dry Potato, Poultry Oil, Fresh Chicken, Poultry Gravy, Salmon Oil	37%, 20%, 3.5%, 9.5%	 £42 (12kg)
Applaws Adult 75% Ckicken and Lamb	Dry Chicken Meat, Dry Potato, Poultry Oil, Fresh Chicken, Poultry Gravy, Dry Lamb, Salmon Oil	 37%, 20%, 3.5%, 9.5%	 £42 (12kg)
 Applaws Dry Puppy Food	Dry Chicken Meat, Dry Potato, Poultry Oil, Fresh Chicken, Poultry Gravy, Salmon Oil	39%, 22%, 3.8%, 9.4%	 £9 (2kg)
Arden Grange Sensitive – Ocean White Fish and Potato	Potato (min. 42%), White Fishmeal (haddock) (min. 26%), Beet Pulp, Chicken Oil	25%, 14%, 3%, 7%	 From £45 (15kg)
Arden Grange Adult Mini Lamb & Rice	Lamb Meal (min 30%), Whole Grain Rice (min 26%), Whole Grain Maize, Chicken Fat	25%, 16%, 2%, 8.5%	From £20 (7.5kg)
Arden Grange Weaning/Puppy	Fresh Chicken (min 25%), Chicken Meal (min 25%), Whole Grain Rice (min 14%), Whole Grain Maize, Chicken Fat	32%, Oil 20%, Fibre 2.5%, Ash 7%	From £38 (15kg)
Arden Grange Puppy/Junior	Fresh Chicken 18%, Chicken Meal 18%, Whole Grain Rice, Chicken Fat	29%, 18%, 3%, 6%	From £38 (15kg)
Arden Grange Puppy/Junior Large Breed	Chicken Meal (min 30%), Whole Grain Rice (min 19%), Whole Grain Maize, Chicken Fat	26%, 16%, 2.5%, 7%	From £42 (15kg)
Arden Grange Adult Chicken & Rice	Chicken Meal (min 27%), Whole Grain Rice (min 26%), Whole Grain Maize, Chicken Fat	25%, 15%, 2.5%, 7%	From £35 (15kg)
Arden Grange Adult Salmon & Rice	Fresh Salmon (min 26%), Whole Grain Rice (min 26%), Whole Grain Maize, Chicken Fat	25%, 15%, 2.5%, 7%	From £40 (15kg)
Arden Grange Adult Lamb & Rice	Lamb Meal (min 30%), Whole Grain Rice (min 26%), Whole Grain Maize, Chicken Fat	25%, 16%, 2%, 8.5%	From £25 (15kg)
Arden Grange Adult large Breed Chicken & Rice	Chicken Meal (min 27%), Whole Grain Rice (min 26%), Whole Grain Maize, Chicken Fat	24%, 14%, 2.5%, 7%	From £35 (15kg)
Arden Grange Senior	Chicken Meal (min 23%), Whole Grain Rice (min 23%), Whole Grain Maize, Dried Brewers Yeast, Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat	22%, 12%, 2.75%, 5.5%	From £35 (15kg)
Arden Grange Performance	Chicken Meal (min 26%), Whole Grain Rice (min 26%), Whole Grain Maize, Chicken Fat	25%, 18%, 2.4%, 6.5%	From £35 (15kg)
Arden Grange Premium	Fresh Chicken (min 19%), Chicken Meal (min 19%), Whole Grain Rice, Potato, Chicken Fat	26%, 17%, 3%, 7%	From £40 (15kg)
Arden Grange Prestige	Fresh Chicken (min 19%), Chicken Meal (min 19%), Whole Grain Rice, Whole Grain Maize, Chicken Fat	30%, 21%, 3%, 7%	From £45 (15kg)
Arden Grange Adult Light	Whole Grain Rice (min 31%), Whole Grain Maize (min 31%), Chicken Meal, Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat	18%, 7.5%, 3.5%, 6%	From £33 (15kg)
Skinners Field & Trial Duck & Rice	Whole rice (40%), duck meat meal (20%), naked oats, peas, whole linseed, sunflower oil	22%, 11%, 3.5%, 5%	From £20 (15kg)
Skinners Field & Trial Salmon & Rice	Whole rice (40%), salmon meal (17.5% dry weight), naked oats, peas, sunflower oil	20%, 12%, 3.5%, 5.5%	From £22 (15kg)
Skinners Field & Trial Turkey & Rice	Whole rice (40%), turkey meat meal (21%), naked oats, peas, linseed, sunflower oil	 21%, 11%, 3%, 6.2%	From £26 (15kg)
Skinners Field & Trial Superior	Chicken meat meal, maize, chicken fat	 30%, 20%, 2.5%, 8%	From £24 (15kg)

See the next five makes in the next blog post.

Causes of Chronic Diarrhea

Could It Have an Everyday Cause?

Chronic diarrhea has many causes. Malabsorption, Crohn’s disease, colitis, and pancreatic insufficiency are topics for another day. This article focuses upon those causes where a change in behavior may result in a rapid improvement in the diarrhea. Such diarrhea is usually painless and persistent, unaccompanied by signs of disease such as bleeding, anemia, weight loss or fatigue. Frequent loose stools are a daily occurrence. There may be occasional normal stools. Despite the need to stay within running distance of a toilet, the patient is manifestly well.

Very frequently the diarrhea is due to something in the diet that is taken in excess. Here, I am not speaking of an allergy to a certain fruit or vegetable (which in fact is very rare), but rather to the excess of a sugar or chemical substance. The classic examples are alcohol and caffeine. An excess of alcohol, especially beer and wine, will cause loose stools the next day. It is sometimes not an obvious cause in someone imbibing large amounts regularly. The best test is to stop alcohol completely and see if the diarrhea abates. If it does, drinking may be cautiously resumed at a more modest level.

Many people fail to recognize the laxative potential of caffeine-containing drinks. More than two or three cups of coffee or tea daily can often cause diarrhea. Here again, the test is abstinence. Decaffeinated drinks are not a perfect solution, as other chemicals not removed by the decaffeination process may also loosen the stools. Cola drinks contain caffeine as well.

Knowledge that a caffeine drink is causing the chronic diarrhea provides the individual with control. He or she may now monitor and regulate the dose of caffeine in order to control the diarrhea. A word of caution is necessary. The sudden withdrawal of caffeine can cause a headache – indeed it is an ingredient of some headache medication. If so addicted, it is best to withdraw gradually. Most people can tolerate smaller amounts well.

Some sugars can cause diarrhea. The artificial sugar sorbitol is used as a sweetener. For example, it is often used to sweeten diet gums and candies. It has no calories, but is a known laxative if taken in sufficient amount. A glance at the ingredients of many confections or sweets will reveal the offending sugar. Mannitol is another sweet substance frequently found with sorbitol.

Fructose is a natural calorie-containing sugar found in fruit. It is one reason why large amounts of fruit can cause diarrhea. It may also be found in candies, soft drinks, honey, and preservatives and in sufficient amounts can cause diarrhea. Many people notice that their bowel movements are looser and more frequent in the summer when fresh fruits and vegetables are freely available. This is seldom a big problem, but moderating intake of these otherwise commendable foods should give comfort to some.

Lactose intolerance is the cause of chronic diarrhea in some people. However, the frequency of this effect has been exaggerated. Studies show that most people who believe they are lactose intolerant are not. Even those that are, can tolerate small amounts of milk. Lactose is a sugar that is contained in cow’s milk. Its proper digestion requires the presence of an enzyme (lactase) in the wall of the small intestine. Most Europeans have this enzyme in abundance, but descendants of people who did not traditionally raise cattle have lower, but not absent, lactase levels. Even they may tolerate some milk if it is spread out through the day. Addition of the enzyme (e.g., Lactaid) to milk should permit larger amounts daily. This is an important topic. Milk is a major source of calcium. With age, there is an increasing risk of osteoporosis especially in women, so a calcium substitute should be added if milk is withdrawn.

Few people are aware of the frequent presence of laxatives in herbal medicines. Senna tea is an obvious example. But herbs with a laxative effect like senna or cascara can be found in many other popular remedies. If you’re lucky, the contents of an herbal remedy will be spelled out on the package. More often, nobody has any idea what the package includes.

Only by stopping the medicine for a trial period can one be confident that it is not the cause of chronic diarrhea. Of course, many regular medicines can have diarrhea as an unwanted side effect. A list of suspects includes: cisapride, misoprostol, antacids containing magnesium hydroxide, laxatives, stool softeners, drugs for “regularity,” alcohol, and caffeine. Furthermore, it pays to be cautious of any regularly consumed drug or “natural” remedy.

True food allergies are rare as a cause of chronic diarrhea. Persons allergic to strawberries or shellfish experience a short-lived intestinal upset, and there are usually symptoms elsewhere such as in the skin (hives) or the bronchi (wheezing). If an elimination diet is embarked upon (they are very difficult), one must take care not to end up with a nutritionally deficient diet. Supervision by your doctor is important here.

Occasionally, chronic unexplained diarrhea may be explained by an infection with the parasite giardia lambia [an intestinal parasite]. This may be detected in some cases by stool tests, or more accurately by a biopsy of the upper small intestine through a gastroscope. There are areas where this parasite is commonly found, such as St. Petersburg in Russia. It is known as “beaver fever” in the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachians, or Northern Ontario because beavers are carriers of the bug. If a doctor is suspicious he or she may try a course of the antibiotic metronidazole.

If one is suffering from chronic diarrhea, it is important to note if there have been previous intestinal operations. Removal of the lower small intestine, or extensive gastric surgery may cause diarrhea through complicated mechanisms. By letting bile spill constantly into the intestine, a gall bladder removal may also cause diarrhea. Inform your doctor of the precise nature of any previous abdominal surgery, since this type of diarrhea is often treatable.

In summary, if you have chronic diarrhea you should carefully review with your doctor all that you ingest, and your past surgical, drug and travel history. This may disclose a cause that can be remedied. In general, any excessive ingestion of items that are not natural foods should be regarded with suspicion and not acquitted until proven not to be the cause. Careful consideration of these everyday items may avoid extensive and costly tests and lead to earlier relief.