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OK, I know it's not apropos to talk about such things as diarrheal pet problems over lunch, but it's something every pet owner has dealt with on more than one occassion. Not only are you suddenly on your hands and knees scrubbing the carpet, but you're also feeling bad for your pet undergoing such unpleasantries.

Whenever diarrhea strikes your pet, the first thing any caring pet owner wants to know is this: "How can I stop it and get my pet to feeling better again?" Well, Amy D. Shojai in her book New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs & Cat: Over 1,000 At-Home Remedies for Your Pet's Problems has plenty of answers -- and they are natural organic answers, too.

Here's how Shojai recommends solving the aforementioned problem:

"The quickest way to stop diarrhea is to put your pet on a food fast for 24 hours. When food isn't going into the intestines, nothing will come out, says H. Ellen Whiteley, D.V.M, a veterinary consultant in Guadalupita, New Mexico, and consultant for The Country Vet's Home Remedies for Cats.

"After a daylong fast, give your pet bland foods, such as skinless, boneless chicken breasts for cats and hamburger and rice for dogs. Keep the meals very small and give them often, up to five or six times a day, she says. Fasting doesn't include taking away water, so be sure to keep the water bowl full. And check with your vet before putting young or diabetic pets on a fast.

"Stop the discomfort with Nux vomica. A homeopathic remedy called Nux vomica is good for the entire digestive tract and will help stop diarrhea, says Dr. Carson. She recommends using a 6X potency, mixing 20 drops in an ounce of spring water. Give your pet half a dropperful three times a day."