Remember your last bout of an upset stomach? That’s probably an experience you’d rather forget. Like people, dogs can get the occasional tummy ache. Fortunately, most cases of upset stomach in dogs do not require veterinary attention; a few days of good at-home care will often do the trick.
There are times, however, when stomach upset is severe enough for a veterinary visit. In this article, we’ll discuss why dogs get stomach aches, how you can treat them at home, and how to know when veterinary care is required.
Why Do Dogs Get Stomach Aches?
A comprehensive list of causes for stomach upset in dogs could stretch a mile long. Some common causes include: * Stomach ulcers * Motion sickness * Weak immune system * Diet, including food allergies * Gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation * Viral or bacterial infections in the GI tract
Dogs with stomach aches can have a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, reduced appetite and gas. Dogs will also eat grass to settle an upset tummy.
Not sure if your dog needs veterinary care? More severe symptoms, like those listed below, warrant a trip to the vet: * Collapse * Pale gums * Weight loss * Abdominal pain * Severe weakness * Bloody vomit or diarrhea * Not eating for more than two days * Vomiting that occurs multiple times a day or lasts for more than one day
How Do You Treat an Upset Stomach?
Treatment can be grouped into three categories: home remedies, over-the-counter (OTC) medications and veterinary care.
Home remedies Home remedies are often all that’s needed to treat a dog’s upset stomach. First, provide your dog with unlimited amounts of fresh, clean water to stay hydrated.
Next, fast your dog for 12 to 24 hours, which probably won’t be difficult because your dog won’t feel like eating much anyway. Fasting will help the GI tract take a break. During the fasting, encourage your dog to keep drinking water to flush his system.
After fasting, feed your dog a bland diet. Here are some food suggestions: * Cottage cheese * Unseasoned ground beef * Canned, unseasoned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) * Unseasoned chicken (boiled and cut or shredded) and white rice
A bland diet provides nutrients but doesn’t make the GI tract work too hard to digest the food. Feed your dog multiple small meals a day. Talk with your veterinarian to determine how much of each bland food to feed your dog.
OTC medications Some human medications, like Pepto Bismol and Kaopectate, can relieve a dog’s upset stomach. If you want to give your dog an over-the-counter medicine, talk with your veterinarian first to determine which medicine to give and in what amount.
Prescription medications If the at-home care isn’t curing your dog’s tummy ache, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Your vet will examine your dog and run diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the upset stomach and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
For dogs who aren’t feeling great but don’t need to be hospitalized, a veterinarian will prescribe medications that the pet parent can give at home to reduce vomiting or GI inflammation. Seriously ill dogs will need hospitalization and more advanced veterinary care, such as intravenous fluids.
Tummy aches, even for a fun-loving dog, are a literal pain. When you notice the signs of an upset stomach in your dog, act promptly to relieve the discomfort. Keep a close watch on your dog’s symptoms and seek veterinary care if home remedies and OTC medications aren’t helping your dog feel better.