How To Treat A Dog With An Upset Stomach
Introduction
Like with any pet, a dog’s health is vitally important to its owner. And while we all do our best, sometimes things happen that are out of our control. Here is a guide to help you understand how to treat your four-legged companion when it has an upset stomach.
Rule out all other possibilities.
- Make sure your dog is not dehydrated.
- Make sure your dog is not suffering from a food allergy.
- Make sure your dog is not suffering from an infection.
- Make sure your dog is not suffering from a parasite.
- Make sure your dog is not suffering from a vitamin deficiency.
Make a vet appointment.
If your dog has any of the symptoms listed above, take him or her to a vet immediately. If you wait too long, your formerly healthy dog could become seriously ill and need to be hospitalized. Don’t let this happen!
If you can’t get an appointment right away (or if it is after hours), call ahead and tell them that you are bringing in an emergency visit. Don’t wait until they are closing up shop—tell them now so they can prepare for you.
Don’t give your dog any food or water.
You should not give your dog food or water. This will cause them to vomit, which is a bad thing for the stomach to do.
You should not give your dog ice cubes, antacids or milk of any kind. Ice cubes will make your dog’s belly cold and that can make it even sicker than it already is. Antacids and milk contain calcium which isn’t good for a sick stomach either because it can cause constipation and make things worse (at least until the sickness passes).
You should never give aspirin or any other human medication to dogs unless they have been prescribed by a vet after being diagnosed with an illness by one first! Many common over-the-counter remedies aren’t safe for pets at all so don’t risk giving them anything that hasn’t been prescribed specifically for them – especially if you know nothing about what might be wrong with them!
Only give your dog specific, easy to digest foods.
Avoid feeding your dog foods that are high in fat, fiber, protein, sugar, sodium, alcohol or caffeine. These can cause stomach upset. The following list of foods to avoid is not exhaustive but it will give you a good idea of which items are best to avoid:
- Fatty meats and skin
- Raw bones (cooked bones may be fine)
- Onions and garlic (all parts—not just the bulb)
- Chives
- Spinach or other leafy greens (leafy greens are okay for dogs with normal digestive systems)
- Carrots
- Avocado pits/skins/rinds
Don’t give your dog rawhide treats or bones.
Rawhide is not digested by dogs, and can cause blockages in the digestive tract. It may also cause internal bleeding and stomach upset if it passes through the intestinal tract without fully being absorbed. Rawhide can also be a choking risk for younger pets that frequently swallow things whole or attempt to chew them up too quickly.
It’s best to avoid giving your dog bones, as well. Even cooked ones could pose a risk of splintering while they’re being chewed (especially if they’ve been cooked into small pieces), which can become lodged in various parts of your dog’s mouth or throat and cause severe injuries.[1]
Add probiotics to their diet.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be ingested, and they can help to improve the health of your dog by aiding in digestion, boosting immunity, and preventing allergies. They also have many other benefits.
Probiotics are found in fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir (a fermented milk drink), sauerkraut or kimchi (both types of pickled cabbage), tempeh (a fermented soybean cake), and miso soup (a Japanese soup made from fermented soybeans). You may want to consider adding these foods to your dog’s diet if he has an upset stomach or any other digestive issues — these probiotic-rich foods may just be what he needs!
Add a spoonful of canned pumpkin to their food each day.
Canned pumpkin is a great source of fiber, vitamins A and C, potassium, iron and magnesium.
A spoonful of canned pumpkin should be added to your dog’s food each day.
You should not cut out food and water if your dog has a mild stomach issue, but it’s important to watch symptoms closely in case they get worse.
If your dog has a mild stomach issue, you should not cut out food and water. It’s important to watch symptoms closely in case they get worse.
Conclusion
A dog with an upset stomach can be treated at home. But in the case of severe vomiting or diarrhea, it is wise to see a vet who will determine if further treatment is necessary.