If your dog has regular or continuous problems, such as vomiting or diarrhea, unthriftiness or not holding his weight, seek the help of your veterinarian. Worms or infectious disease are sometimes responsible but your veterinarian is the best authority on the cause and what to do. You can do severe damage to your dog by experimenting on your own diagnosis and using do-it-yourself "cures." For example, there are many types of internal parasites and these must be controlled by more than one worming compound. Your veterinarian can make the diagnosis and prescribe the proper treatment.

Vomiting
The dog can vomit at will much easier than humans, to which anyone who has tried to give a dog a foul-tasting medicine can attest. Therefore, vomiting may merely show dislike. Grass, which dogs often like to eat, may cause the same thing.

A drastic change in diet may cause vomiting (or diarrhea). Whenever you anticipate a change, go slowly. Mix a small amount of the new food in with the former food. At each feeding, add a bit more of the new, decreasing the same amount of the old, until, within a couple of weeks, you have changed the diet gradually, and with no problems. Persistent vomiting, however, can be a symptom of some disorder. In that case, be sure to consult your veterinarian.

Constipation
An annoying and worrisome problem in dogs is constipation. This may be caused by an unbalanced diet, not enough water in the diet or by feeding too many bones, causing impaction. Older dogs commonly suffer from constipation, due to reduced activity and because their whole system is slowing down. Natural foods, such as liver, may be useful in relieving constipation or a dose of milk of magnesia will often be enough to take care of the problem. Here, again, if it continues, if the dog appears to be in pain or has other symptoms, he should be examined by your veterinarian. Don't experiment.

Diarrhea
Although diarrhea is one of the symptoms of a number of disorders, it may be of temporary nature, and caused by improper feeding or diet. Many people neglect to follow feeding instructions on the labels of commercially produced foods and add excess milk, rich gravies or fats to the dog's food, causing diarrhea. Cow's milk, because of the lactose is not always easily digested by certain puppies and will cause diarrhea. The dry or evaporated milks, diluted with water, can usually be digested more easily. Raw eggs can also cause diarrhea.

If the diarrhea is only a slight occurrence, withhold food for awhile. It may be nothing more than an intestinal upset, caused by a change in diet, a change in drinking water (as when traveling), nervousness or fright. But if it continues, a dog soon becomes dehydrated. Any persistent case of diarrhea should be diagnosed by your veterinarian
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Flatulence
Indigestion is not always to blame when your dog passes foul-smelling gases. Usually the cause is feeding too much meat or too many eggs in the diet. Cut down on such foods and keep your dog on a complete diet. A charcoal tablet given every day or so may help until the condition clears up.

Feeding Fallacies
There are many "old-wives" tales about various foods being helpful or harmful. Here are just a few:

"Meat is dog's natural food."
False: In the wild state, the dog not only eats the flesh of the animal he kills for food but the mineral rich organs, and the grain and vegetable matter in the animal's digestive tract. He balances his own diet. In the home it is up to the owner to supply a balanced diet.

"Dogs need bones."
False: There is little in a bone that a dog's system needs, as long as he derives calcium from his regular food. While a puppy is teething (around 4 months of age) a large, tough bone with some meat on it is useful in getting rid of baby teeth. It relieves the puppy's urge to chew on everything in sight and keeps him pleasantly occupied. But, only large bones, such as beef knuckle or shank, should be given to dogs. The small, sharp bones of poultry or chops can splinter, damage the mouth and when swallowed may puncture the intestinal tract. An occasional bone of the right kind is all right and will help prevent tartar formation on the teeth but so will dry dog foods or biscuits. Too much bone chewing will wear the enamel off the teeth and too many hunks of bone in the digestive tract can cause constipation or serious impaction.

"Garlic will cure worms."
False: Generally the only effect garlic has on dogs is the same one it has on people. It practically insures privacy.

".Raw eggs will make the dog's coat shiny."
False: On the contrary, raw egg white interferes with the absorption of biotin, a vitamin needed for proper digestion. Eggs should be soft-boiled or otherwise cooked, if fed to dogs.

"A dog should chew his food."
False: "Wolfing" his food without chewing it is natural for the dog whose teeth are designed for tearing, not masticating, food. Almost all digestion takes place in the dog's stomach.

"Sugar causes worms."
False: Sugar or any other food does not "cause" worms. All digestible forms of carbohydrate are converted to simple sugars in the digestive tract. These are the dietary sugars that provide energy.