It’s no fun when your four-legged friend has an upset tummy, not for them and not for you. Especially when it comes to cleaning up the mess! It can be hard to know what to do for your dog when he’s feeling unwell. Obviously, the best thing is generally to have a check-up with your local veterinarian. Particularly for any tummy upset that continues for more than a day, or even sooner if; your dog is lethargic, not wanting to eat, not able to keep anything down or has blood in their vomit or diarrhoea. As well as, of course, if you know or suspect that they’ve eaten something they shouldn’t.
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What can cause an upset stomach in dogs?
The short answer is a lot of things! When we say an upset stomach, we normally mean that the dog has some change in their poos. This can range from the stools being just a little less firm than normal, through to them being watery, having excess mucous, or perhaps even having some blood present. However, an upset stomach can also mean that the dog is vomiting. Sometimes they will not be able to keep food or water down, and they will often have some borborygmi (gurgling of the intestines). There are many causes of vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs. This includes intestinal parasites (worms), bacterial or viral infections, eating something different to normal (including scavenging), stress and eating toxic substances. In addition, inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, problems with the pancreas, and tumours can all be responsible for tummy upsets in dogs.
What to do for an upset tummy?
If your dog seems otherwise fine in himself (meaning he still wants to eat, play and is acting normally), doesn’t have any other illnesses, and you aren’t aware that he’s gone and eaten something inappropriate; you might be able to wait out an upset tummy at home and the dog will get better on its own. However, it’s important to bear in mind that this approach is not recommendable for a lot of dogs with more than the mildest vomiting and diarrhoea. It’s therefore always advisable to give your vets a call if you have any concerns. It’s always stressful having a poorly pet. So a quick trip to the vet can be useful; even if it’s just to give you some peace of mind.
How can we treat gastrointestinal upset?
Where a dog has a simple tummy upset causing a small amount of diarrhoea, a light diet can help the gastrointestinal tract recover. This means offering bland and easily digested foods. Such as plain cooked chicken, small amounts of boiled rice or some scrambled egg. It’s generally best to provide these in several small meals throughout the day to avoid overloading and irritating their tummy.
Most cases of simple gastrointestinal upset don’t need antibiotics but what can be helpful are probiotics. Probiotics can be pastes, powders or tablets containing living micro-organisms. These help restore the natural balance among the bacteria that live in the intestines. This balance is disturbed when your dog has a tummy upset. So probiotics can help their gastrointestinal tract recover and prevent unwanted bacteria from taking over. A prescription is generally not needed for probiotics. But it’s a good idea to ask your veterinarian if they could help with your dog’s tummy.
Dogs that are vomiting can sometimes benefit from resting the stomach. This means withholding food for 12 to 24 hours (less in puppies as they have fewer bodily reserves to rely on). The aim here is to help break the vicious cycle of irritation and vomiting that tends to provoke further vomiting. However, once again, do talk to your vet, as a period of starvation can lead to other problems in some cases. Either way, they should, however, be allowed to take in small amounts of water throughout the day to prevent them from getting dehydrated.
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