What To Do When Your Dog's Stomach Hurts

How To Reset Your Dogs Upset Stomach

Tips for Treating Your Dog’s Stomach Issues

There are plenty of perfectly innocent reasons why a dogs digestive tract can go off the rails. Maybe there was a sudden change of diet because the pet store was out of the usual brand. Or your well-intentioned friend snuck your dog too many salami bites. Even stress can give your dog a stomach ache. And when that happens, you may be scrubbing vomit or diarrhea from the living room rug.

That said, there are also many serious reasons why a dog may have gastrointestinal trouble. Toxin ingestion, a foreign body blockage, and pancreatitis, to name just a few. You should also be concerned if you see blood in the vomit or diarrhea, if your dog is extremely lethargic, or if the vomiting or diarrhea is increasing in frequency.

In many of these cases, a wait and see approach can be devastating. Thats why its always best to discuss the situation with your veterinarian first, before simply handling the situation at home.

However, for mild cases of vomiting, diarrhea or loss of appetite, there are several ways you can help your dog.

Signs Your Dog Has An Upset Stomach

The hardest part of knowing when your dog feels sick is that they cant tell you directly. Instead, dog owners have to pay close attention to body language and behaviors. While some behaviors are obvious , others require owners to pay a bit closer attention.

Here are seven indicators your dogs stomach may be bothering them:

Bad breath While dog breath will never smell like roses, particularly acidic smelling breath can be a sign of stomach acid build-up.

Acting lethargic or uncomfortable There are a few behaviors that may indicate stomachaches. First, they may lose energy. A dog acting lethargic may be trying to minimize discomfort. They may also stay in a scrunched-up or tense position, similar to how humans will clutch their stomach. Finally, your dog may start stretching its front paws out repeatedly in a doggie bow.

Excess gas If your dog is releasing more flatulence or burping more than usual, that indicates gas building up in their stomach.

Swollen or distended stomach Bloating or swelling of the abdominal cavity can also indicate gas build-up. A belly that has bloated to the point of feeling hard or tight is a serious medical emergency.

Gulping, gagging and lip smacking All of these behaviors indicate your dog is struggling with nausea. They may be trying to hold back an urge to vomit.

It’s Easier To Prevent An Upset Stomach In Dogs Than To Cure It

When it comes to upset tummies in dogs, itâs important to remember prevention is better than a cure. âI recommend feeding a high quality diet, and limiting the number of treats you give,â says Jordan Turner, a veterinary surgeon. For those dogs who like to scavenge, try to keep things out of reach. For some dogs, it’s important to keep your trash can secure!

Prevention Of Upset Stomach In Dogs

There are several things pet owners can do to help prevent their dogs from One of the most common problems pet owners face is their dog getting sick. One of the main causes of illness in dogs is an upset stomach. An upset stomach can be caused by a variety of factors, but many times its due to eating something that makes your dog sick. Prevention is the best way to avoid upset stomach in your dog, so here are some tips:

Make sure your dog has a balanced diet. A diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates will help keep your pets digestive system healthy.
Avoid giving your dog food that has been left out too long. If youre going to leave food out for your dog, make sure to clean up any messes made beforehand so that your pet doesnt get sick from contaminated food.
Be careful about what you give your dog as treats. Keep treats to a minimum and try not to give your dog too many at one time.
Make sure that you keep your dogs vaccinations up to date, especially rabies.

When To Go To The Vet

When youre a pet owner, deciding when to contact your vet and take your dog in for an appointment can be a tough call. Your dogs stomach upset might disappear within 24 hours, or it could be one of the signs of a serious illness. If home remedies youve tried arent working, its time to contact the vet.

No one likes unnecessary vet bills and another appointment at the vet clinic. At the same time, many people find that peace of mind from their veterinarian is worth it.

Vets are expert at getting to the bottom of things. A call to your vet can help you avoid a trip to the emergency veterinary hospital!

In the meantime, monitor your dogs temperature using a rectal thermometer. Generally, a temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit, or more, means your dog needs to see the vet right away.

Be aware that if your dogs temperature is 99 degrees Fahrenheit, or lower, they also need veterinary attention. A temperature outside this range is one of the symptoms to be concerned about.

Here are a few other signs to look out for:

Blood in the stool
Vomiting any blood

Some of these are the same symptoms of poisoning or an illness like canine parvovirus. If you notice these signs, have your dog seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Infectious Causes Of Dog Stomach/intestinal Problems

Young puppies are most prone to infectious diseases especially viruses like Parvovirus that can be fatal since their immune systems are not yet fully developed. So its always a good idea to schedule a vet visit ASAP for a puppy with gastrointestinal problems. But, dogs of any age are susceptible to certain bacterial, viral, or even fungal infections.

Intestinal parasites such as worms or Giardia are also very common in dogs. Fortunately, most parasites respond well to treatment, but left untreated may cause more severe illness.

Changing Your Dogs Food

Although dogs will eat almost anything you put in front of them, their stomachs dont always agree with this free-for-all type of consumption. One of the most likely causes for an upset stomach is a change in diet. Something as simple as a change in brand or flavor of dog food can upset a dogs tummy. Also, making that shift too quickly can cause upset because the digestive system needs time to adjust to diet changes.

So make sure you still have some of your dogs current food to allow time for the transition. For about a week, slowly start mixing in more and more of the new food into less and less of the current food until the shift is complete.

Read our articles on changing dog food and transitioning your puppy to adult dog food for more specific details. Go slow and keep an eye on your dog while changing food to make sure they remain healthy. And make sure your dog doesnt eat too fast as that can also cause an upset tummy. Consult your vet if you have any questions during this process of changing dog food or run into any health concerns.

If you havent changed your dogs diet, you might start searching for another reason.

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Feed Some Yogurt As A Source Of Probiotics

Certain foods are good for a dog with an upset stomach.

Yogurt contains natural probiotics, the helpful live bacteria that will relieve an upset stomach and help get rid of gas and diarrhea.

Scientists confirm that a helping of yogurt can positively affect the digestive system in humans, mice, and our pets, dogs, and cats in particular.

When feeding it, ensure that its plain yogurt, the kind used for cooking, and not flavored or sweetened yogurt.

Why Is My Dogs Stomach Gurgling And Eating Grass

How To Settle A Dogs Stomach

Dogs can suffer from a number of GI issues including gastric reflux, pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. If your dog is eating grass and has other symptoms such as lack of appetite, decreased energy, or constipation, its time to take a closer look at the grass diet.

Grass-fed dog food is made from grass that has been fed to cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, guinea pigs and other animals. The grass used in this food has not been genetically modified or altered in any way. It is the natural grasses that have been used for thousands of years to feed the animals that we eat.

Grass is a natural source of protein, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, all of which are essential for the health of your pets digestive system and overall well-being.

Other Causes To Be Aware Of

Its important to note that there are other causes of abdominal swelling in dogs, though these conditions are often accompanied by pain.

However, dogs can hide their pain exceptionally well, so we may not always be aware that our dogs are struggling.

A few other causes of a hard or swollen stomach in dogs include:

S To Take When Your Dogs Stomach Is Upset

As a pet parent, your dogs health is your top priority. So when they arent quite feeling themselves, you want to do everything you can to help them. The most obvious signs that your playful pup is feeling under the weather are frequent defecation or diarrhea or vomiting. If you notice your dog wanting to go outside more often than usual, they may have an upset stomach that needs your attention. But what can you do to help?

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Chewing On & Swallowing Items He Shouldnt

Puppies are a lot of work. They need constant supervision and entertainment. Otherwise, theyll get bored, and bored puppies will find ways to entertain themselves, which can involve chewing on things like your new shoes, chair legs or other objects around the house.

If your puppy manages to break off pieces and swallow whatever hes chewing on , they could potentially cause GI upset, damage or even potential blockage in the stomach or intestines. Watch for symptoms like bloody stool, vomiting, inability to defecate, low energy and even weight loss.

Any of these symptoms warrant a visit to your veterinarian.

To help prevent boredom, make sure your puppy gets plenty of exercise and mental enrichment each day. Playing games and obedience training with your puppy will also help him get plenty of exercise and keep his brain busy too.

Should I Take My Dog To The Vet For A Hard Stomach

We always suggest taking your dog to the vet if they are experiencing a hard or swollen stomach.

Its impossible to rule out any serious causes of abdominal swelling on your own at home, making it important to have them seen by a veterinarian to be safe.

Even a mild case of abdominal swelling can be uncomfortable for your furry friend, so we suggest getting to the bottom of your dogs symptoms as soon as possible.

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Recovery Of Painful Abdomen In Dogs

Many cases of illness result in a need for dietary management. Painful abdomen in dogs is certainly no different. The importance of what you feed your pet, and the need for a balanced diet are paramount to maintaining health. The veterinarian will describe the dietary needs of your pet and tailor them to your dogs needs, based upon the cause of the abdominal pain.

Dogs who have had surgery to resolve pain will have a longer recovery time due to stitches, food and exercise restrictions, and the need for follow-up visits to assess wound healing. Anti-inflammatories, pain medication, and antibiotics may be part of the medication regimen to be followed upon release from the clinic.

A painful abdomen could be symptomatic of a serious medical condition. To avoid high vet care expenses, secure pet health insurance today

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How To Prevent Bloat In Dogs

Avoiding bloat in dogs altogether can be tricky since theres a lot of moving parts to the condition. Switching your dog to a raw diet, noticing poor eating habits and monitoring their exercise times can all be beneficial.

Raw Diet

The digestive tract in dogs is ideal for breaking down protein, and not so much for grains and starches. Processed dog food like kibble, premixes, and synthetic vitamins contain carbs your dog doesnt need.

Research suggests dog food that features rendered meat meal with bone and fat in the first four ingredients drastically increases your dogs risk of developing bloat. These benefits make raw diets optimal for preventing bloat.

Raw bones also offer many nutrients that are great for cleaning a dogs teeth. Some bones help strengthen a dogs stomach muscles, which can improve digestion and reduce gas buildup.

Elevated Bowls

Interestingly, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the topic of using raised bowls. While theres no evidence backing elevated bowls, there is a study that found that in 20% of cases among large breed dogs and in 52% of cases among giant breed dogs, the bloat was actually directly related to having a raised food bowl.

Exercise

Exercise is essential, but it might not be when it comes to bloating. All dogs need it, but the level and type vary depending on the dog. Although several people swim after they eat and live to tell the story, that same line of thinking might not work for dogs.

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Home Remedies For Stomach Pain In Dogs

See files for Dogs

When a dog suffers stomach pain, it is not always something that we can easily detect with the naked eye. A dog suffering from this symptom may show lethargy, groans, unusual body langauge to protect their stomach, abdominal swelling and difficulty breathing. Occasionally, the stomach pain will also be accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting, signs that obviously should alarm us.

Sometimes it is possible to offer natural treatment in these cases, so AnimalWised want to elaborate on some home remedies for stomach pain in dogs.

Stop Or Modify Physical Activities With Your Pet

What to do if your dog has an upset stomach

If your pet is showing signs of pain during an activity, avoid it until you can talk to your veterinarian.

Your veterinarian will be able to help you figure out how to best help your pet, whether it is stopping that activity altogether or establishing modifications that will minimize pain.

Simple pain-reducing modifications to common activities can include: taking shorter walks, using a ramp or steps, rolling the ball or tossing it shorter distances, and raising food/water dishes to a more comfortable height.

For some instances of acute pain, these changes might be temporary, but for some chronic pain conditions, they may be long-term.

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Diagnosis Of Dog Stomach/intestinal Problems

Its important to differentiate between symptoms and a diagnosis.

Vomiting and diarrhea are not diagnoses in and of themselvesrather, they are symptoms. They are also considered non-specific symptoms, which means they are associated with many different health issues, rather than just one specific condition.

For this reason, getting to the bottom of the issue and diagnosing a dog in order to provide the best possible treatment requires some investigation.

Reaching a diagnosis involves:

A dogs history. Your veterinarian will ask questions about your dogs symptoms and anything they could have been exposed to . Try to relay as much information as you can including describing the vomiting or diarrhea in detail as this may help your vet reach a diagnosis faster.

A physical exam. Your veterinarian will perform a full physical exam. Not only does this include feeling the abdomen for signs of abnormalities, it also covers checking a dogs temperature, pulse, heart, lungs, hydration, glands/lymph nodes, and more. This provides valuable information about a dogs overall health, and helps to guide the diagnostic testing plan.

Diagnostic tests. Laboratory tests provide information about whats going on inside a pets body. Examples of common diagnostic tests for stomach issues in dogs include:

A fecal/stool check for parasites.
A urine analysis.
A food trial to rule out food allergies.
If indicated, additional procedures such as a surg e ry, endoscopy, or biopsies.

When To Call Your Vet

Monitor your pups symptoms. If your dog is consistently uncomfortable, or if the signs worsen at any point, call your veterinarian.

Watch for these signs:

Vomiting or having an episode of diarrhea more than twice
Blood in their vomit or stool
Toy or other foreign object in their vomit or stool
Weakness or collapse

These can all be signs of something more serious, including pancreatitis, stomach bloating, a severe allergic reaction, or internal parasites.

If you realize that your dog has eaten something he shouldnt havea plant, food, toy, or chemicalyou should seek immediate veterinary care.

If your primary veterinarian is unavailable, call your local emergency veterinary hospital. They will be able to advise whether your pet needs to be seen or whether you can continue to monitor him at home.

You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline at 888-426-4435 for a fee. They can also determine a poisons level of toxicity and recommended care for your dog.

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Inflammatory Conditions Of The Digestive Tract

Some dogs may develop food allergies, or even inflammatory bowel disease . Not all the causes of these conditions are understood, and diagnosis may involve a feeding trial on a specific type of food with limited ingredients.

Once diagnosed, treatment often involves strict adherence to a diet that works best for that individual dog, as well as certain supplements or medications to manage symptoms.

What To Do When Your Dog’s Stomach Hurts