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:
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, its important to keep your trash can secure!
âBesides the obvious vomiting or diarrhea, dogs with upset stomachs usually exhibit certain behaviors like being unable to settle down, pacing back and forth, and/or using grass to help quickly purge the contents of the stomach (if available),â explains Johnna Devereaux, a clinical pet nutritionist, decades-long Herbalist, and Director of Nutrition & Wellness for Bow Wow Labs. You may also hear audible gurgling in their bellies or notice excess flatulence.
If your dog has a digestive problem, the first thing to think about is how severe the problem is. âThere are a few times where youll need to contact your veterinarian straight away,â says Dr. Turner. For example: if your dog is seeming very quiet, lethargic or confused; if your dogs poop or sickness turns black, or contains lots of blood; or if your dog is trying to be sick, but nothing is coming up. âUnfortunately every dog (and person!) will get ill at some point,â says Dr. Turner.
Constipation is unusual in dogs but it does sometimes happen. âMore often, dogs that initially look constipated actually have a problem called colitis,â explains Dr. Turner. This makes dogs strain to try to poop, over and over again, without producing anything. âColitis makes dogs think they need to go to the toilet, but theres nothing there to come out anymore,â says Dr. Turner. So sometimes dogs with “constipation” actually have diarrhea!
It can be hard to deal with, but remember, youve got to forgive any accidents at this time. Your dog cant help it! The best thing is to just clean up any messes and not to punish your dog, punishing in this situation wont help anybody.
For cases where the upset is more unpleasant than concerning there are a few things you can do at home.
Rest is really important to let your dog get better, so take it easy! âPlenty of relaxation and cuddles is the order of the day, but a bit of gentle exercising and walking (just around the block or so) can be beneficial,â says Dr. Turner.
Sometimes, you can give dogs electrolytes in their water. âThis helps them to recover and ensures that they do not dehydrate. You can buy this from your vet, and it is usually chicken flavor to encourage them to drink it. Itâs basically Dioralyte for dogs,â says Jeff Carbridge, a dog trainer at DogOwner.co.uk.
Signs & Symptoms of Upset Stomachs in Dogs
Vomiting and diarrhea are common signs of an inflamed, irritated stomach and intestines, or gastrointestinal upset in dogs and puppies.
Other signs that your dog has an upset stomach could include, licking lips or licking the air (sign of nausea), gulping (as a way to combat acid reflux), loss of appetite and lethargy.
But when it comes to treatment, the severity of your dogs symptoms should dictate your response.
If your dog is displaying severe signs of illness such as repeated, frequent vomiting and diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, or fever, contact your vet or your local emergency veterinary hospital immediately.
If you have a puppy between 6 weeks and 6 months old that is showing severe signs of upset stomach, call your vet immediately. Parvovirus (parvo) is a very serious and contagious condition that can be fatal for puppies.
If your dog is vomiting infrequently, chances are good that there is nothing seriously wrong with your canine friend. That said, its always advisable to call your vet before giving any remedies to your dog for their upset stomach.
Here are a few things you can try, to help your dog feel better if they have an upset stomach:
Withhold food.
Provide your dog with ice cubes.
Give your dog bone broth to drink.
Feed your dog canned pumpkin.
Signs of an upset stomach should disappear within 24-48 hours. If your dogs symptoms continue for more than a couple of days. its time to see the vet.
How to Settle a Dog’s Stomach – 4 Most Effective Methods
Just like people, dogs can get stomach aches for a variety of reasons, from eating something they shouldn’t have to catching a disease. Because these causes have a wide range of severity, many dog owners are unsure of how to respond to a dog showing gastrointestinal (GI) upset and if a trip to the veterinarian is always necessary.
Dr. Emily Gould, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, discusses the common causes and symptoms of digestive issues, as well as what owners can do to help their pup through the pain.
“The most common gastrointestinal issues causing owners to seek veterinary care for their dogs are dietary indiscretion (eating of food that upsets their GI tract), ingestion of a foreign object, intestinal parasites, pancreatitis, and chronic inflammatory intestinal disease (caused by food allergies/intolerance or immune-mediated inflammation),” she said.
The most common symptoms for any form of GI upset are vomiting and diarrhea, which can appear as acute symptoms with a sudden onset or chronic symptoms with multiple episodes over several weeks.
“Some animals with GI upset will also become nauseous, which can manifest as excessive drooling/salivation, lip licking, and lack of interest in food,” Gould said. “The development of flatulence and/or loud ‘gut sounds’ (known as borborygmi) might also be noted in some cases.”
Many cases of GI upset will resolve on their own, but there are several symptoms owners can watch out for to determine if a trip to the veterinarian is necessary, including if the dog stops eating or drinking, is depressed/lethargic, has frequent or persistent vomit or diarrhea (lasting beyond 24 hours), blood in the vomitus or diarrhea, or is known to have ingested a foreign object.
“For the most part, if your pet is still acting like itself and eating and drinking normally, there is not always a need to bring them in for signs lasting less than 48 hours,” Gould said. “If signs continue for more than 48 hours or any of the earlier criteria are noted, veterinary care is warranted, as vomiting and diarrhea can cause life-threatening dehydration if medical care is not provided.”
One notable cause of GI upset in puppies, specifically, is parvovirus, a condition that can be life-threatening for dogs that have not been fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated puppies with GI issues should always be taken to a veterinarian because parvovirus can cause extreme dehydration and death within 24 hours without supportive care.
“Puppies, in general, also become dehydrated very quickly, so more than one or two episodes of vomiting or diarrhea in a young dog necessitates veterinary care,” Gould said.
If a dog begins showing signs of stomach upset but is still willing to eat and drink, its owner can first try offering a bland, low-fat, highly digestible diet to resolve the issue.
“Boiled, skinless chicken or turkey breast mixed with white rice or low-fat cottage cheese can be offered in the short term,” Gould said. “The low-fat component makes the food easier to digest and helps the stomach empty its contents quickly.
“However, these are not balanced diets for long-term consumption, and continuing to feed an unbalanced diet can result in life-threatening nutrient deficiencies,” she reminds owners. “Long-term home-cooked diets must be formulated via a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.”
Other dietary changes that may help resolve and prevent GI upset are feeding smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day and not giving a dog table scraps, raw meat, or foods high in fat.
Because the causes of digestive issues can range from mild to severe, dog owners should always be on the lookout for any signs of discomfort. A quick response, and trip to the veterinarian, if necessary, can save time, money, and even a dog’s life.
“Gastrointestinal upset can be very distressing for owners, and it is always better to be on the safe side with having your dog evaluated if you are at all concerned,” Gould said. “While many causes of GI upset are not life threatening, some can be, which is why assessment by a veterinarian is never wrong.”
Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to [email protected].