Have you ever wondered if your dog can drink some of that bubbly sugary Sprite? No dogs should not drink Sprite! Never give your dog any sugary or caffeinated beverage. The risks of Sprite having an adverse effect on your dogs’ health are too high.
Not only does soda not provide any nutritional benefit to your dogs at all, but it is also loaded with harmful artificial ingredients and GMOs along with sugar, carbonation, and possibly caffeine.
If you must buy a special beverage for your dog, we highly recommend sticking to drinks that are designed for canine consumption. Sprite and other sodas are for humans, they contain artificial ingredients such as sweeteners and caffeine which can be extremely dangerous to dogs.
If your dog consumes too much soda (more than a little lick) he could experience elevated heart rate or even caffeine toxicity. Some brands of diet Sprite could contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs, so be extra careful if your drink contains it. Never mix sodas such as Sprite with any dairy products like milk to make soda floats, since dogs do not handle dairy well.
3 Remedies for Upset Stomach in Dogs
It is crucial to consult with your veterinarian before administering any home remedies to soothe your pup’s tummy troubles. If your veterinarian recommends at-home monitoring, these are a few ideas you can ask them about trying while you are at home with your dog.
When your dog’s stomach is trying to get rid of something, it can be helpful to stop putting more things in their stomach for 12-24 hours, Dr. Backus says. “If the gastrointestinal (GI) system is having a tough time, you don’t want it to digest things.”
Fasting may seem simple enough, but it’s important to speak with your veterinarian first because some dogs (particularly small breeds or those with prior health conditions) cannot tolerate fasting as well as others.
If your veterinarian does recommend fasting, ask whether they would like you to start a bland diet (and what they recommend) after the fasting period is complete.
When your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, you want them to stay hydrated, but giving him too much water may make his stomach even more upset, Dr. Backus says.
Monitoring your dog’s water intake and discouraging gulping is important. Offer your dog ice chips to help encourage drinking.
If your dog can keep down small quantities of water or ice chips, you can gradually increase the amount and how often you are offering the water and ice.
When fighting indigestion and upset stomach in dogs, 100% canned pumpkin is a favorite of many holistic veterinarians.
“It has a low glycemic index, so it slowly absorbs, which helps with upset stomach and digestion,” Dr. Bearman says.
Make sure to get 100% canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix, as you don’t want to feed your dog spices and other ingredients, she says. Check that there are no ingredients listed other than pumpkin (such as sugar or sugar substitutes).
According to Dr. Bearman, smaller dogs (approximately 5 pounds) can be fed one-half teaspoon of canned pumpkin, while larger dogs (approximately 75 pounds) can be fed 1 tablespoon.
Common Causes of Upset Stomach in Dogs
There are many reasons your dog may have an upset stomach, though there’s one common cause: they ate something they shouldn’t have, says Kathy Backus, DVM, at Holistic Veterinary Services in Kaysville, Utah.
“Dogs are curious like kids; they’re always putting things in their mouth,” she says. “Vomiting and diarrhea are signs that a dog’s body is trying to expel something that shouldn’t be in their system. In a healthy dog, it’s a protective mechanism of the body that’s totally normal.”
These are a few (of many) things that can trigger an upset stomach in dogs:
How to Reintroduce Regular Food
At this point, gradually add the regular diet and taper off the rice meal. This is best done very gradually and slowly over the course of a few days.
To give you an idea of how gradually:
This is the same protocol used when introducing any new food to your pet.
FAQ
Does Sprite help dogs stomach?
- Chicken and Rice. Chicken and rice are prime ingredients in many dog foods, and these mild foods sit well on upset canine stomachs. …
- Shredded Chicken. Shredded chicken is easy on upset stomachs and acts as a huge eating incentive for dogs with decreased appetites. …
- Pumpkin. …
- Bone Broth. …
- Baby Food.