Health

How To Help Dog With Upset Stomach? Insights

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Author: Jacob Kay

Dogs tend to lick surrounding and objects that are nearby, which results in upsetting their stomach and illness. This is the biggest headache for paw parents to see their dog suffering from upset stomach and being unable to help them. In this situation, you might think, “How to help dog with upset stomach?”

Through our blog we will guide you on how to help your dog suffering from an upset stomach.

How To Help Dog With Upset Stomach

How To Help Dog With Upset Stomach

If your dog is having an upset stomach then here’s what you can do to help them:

Identifying the symptoms

The very first thing to do to provide your dog relief from an upset stomach is to identify their symptoms. This identification of the symptoms helps to treat the dog properly. Here’s how you can identify the symptoms:

Vomiting

Normally the upset stomach is treated easily in dogs and it gets well within 48 hours. But if the upset stomach is accompanied by frequent vomiting then you need to immediately visit the vet.

Lethargy

If you observe a change in your dog’s activity then he needs your help. Check if your dog seems lethargic and inactive. A dog with an upset stomach will seem to be more lethargic.

Loss of appetite

Dogs will lose interest in food and will not eat like even their favourite meal. Illness makes the dog lose interest in eating making them either eat less or nothing at all.

Gurgling noise

A gurgling noise from the dog’s stomach can be normal for some, but if the noise is coming more than frequently then your dog is in trouble.

Dogs cannot tell on their own that something is wrong with them, but their actions and changes in behaviour will. For this, you need to observe your fur baby closely and upon noticing the slightest change consult the vet immediately.

Steps to Provide Your Dog Relief

Steps to Provide Your Dog Relief

To treat your dog’s upset stomach and to make them help them get relief, you can follow the following steps:

Fasting

For dogs suffering from upset stomachs make them fast for at least 24 hours. This fasting will give them a break to their intestine for 24 hours giving the stomach time to recover.

Hydration

Keep your dog hydrated. Provide them with water or other fluids which will keep them energetic. Apart from this the hydration helps the dogs to flush out the toxins and promotes recovery.

Provide your dog with bland meals

Here are the bland meals that you can include to feed your dog with upset stomach[1]:

  • Boiled chicken and rice are one of the bland meals to provide your dog with an upset stomach. To make this meal boil boneless chicken and white rice, then mix and serve it to your dog. This meal is easily digestible and rich in protein and carbs.
  • You can also feed your dog boiled turkey and potato. For this, you need to boil the turkey and mix it with the boiled potatoes. You can also opt for boiled sweet potatoes.
  • Mix plain white rice with cottage cheese and feed it to your dog. Before feeding your dog rice with cheese make sure that you use the low-fat cottage cheese.
  • Pumpkin puree can also help dogs with upset stomachs but always remember to feed your dog the fresh pumpkin puree and not the canned one.

Natural remedies

Here are the natural remedies that might help the dog to get relief from the upset stomach issue:

  • Probiotics help the dog’s stomach by soothing it and supporting gut health. It also provides balance to the dog’s digestive tract. You can either feed your dog with an upset stomach the probiotic supplements or yoghurt.
  • Grass grazing is one such natural remedy that helps the dog to recover from an upset stomach. Grass grazing helps the dog to soothe their grumbling stomach.

As mentioned by Barri J. Morrison, DVM, in petmd:

Depending on the severity and cause of your dog’s upset stomach, your vet may recommend a period of fasting to rest your dog’s digestive system.

Other times it might be necessary to place a feeding tube to ensure your dog receives proper nutrition for recovery. A special diet, such as a low-fat or hydrolyzed protein diet, may be instituted to help with your dog’s upset stomach. If the diet helps, your vet may recommend that you continue feeding it long-term.

When to Seek Veterinary Help

when you can seek veterinary help for the dog’s upset stomach

Here’s when you can seek veterinary help for the dog’s upset stomach:

  • If the symptoms of upset stomach lasts more than 24 to 48 hours.
  • Frequent diarrhoea and vomiting persistently.
  • The dog is lethargic and inactive.
  • Loss of appetite and disinterest in eating.
  • Blood in vomiting or in poop.
  • Extreme dehydration and bloating.

FAQs

How to help dog with upset stomach?

Dogs can safely fast intermittently. Set a 24-hour food time-out for your pet. A higher water intake during this period may help in the stomach’s recovery, so make sure you have access to cool, fresh water. Give your dog a plain diet. 25% boiling lean chicken breast (without skin or bones) or lean ground beef should be combined with 75% plain boiled white rice.

How long does an upset stomach last in a dog?

In most situations, dogs with moderate gastrointestinal recover in one to two days. It might not be essential to visit a vet if your dog appears well overall, has only a few symptoms, and is eating properly. Fortunately, 48 hours is usually enough time for most upset stomachs to settle.

What can I give my dog to settle his stomach?

To maintain digestive health, think about feeding your dog probiotics. When they are dissatisfied in the stomach, some dogs consume grass. They can use it to assist throw up and feeling better. Remember to keep your dog hydrated. Hydration correctly promotes healing.

Does milk help dog’s upset stomach?

For dogs, milk is among the top two food allergies. Many people are intolerant to dairy, and symptoms of a milk allergy include licking at the paws, red, itchy skin, loss of hair, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Milk isn’t satisfying it’s heavy in calories and fat. It’s not a good choice for dogs and if given to them might result in excessive weight gain.

What home remedy can I give my dog for diarrhea?

Give their digestive tract a break and allow it to settle before introducing more food. Make sure your dog still drinks water during this time to prevent dehydration. You can add bone broth, chicken broth, or beef broth to their water to entice them to drink.

Conclusion

We hope that through our blog, “How to help dog with upset stomach” we have provided you with all the necessary information. If your dog is suffering from an upset stomach then no need to panic, just observe the symptoms and try the ways suggested by us.

If the dog’s upset stomach persists for a longer period and is accompanied by other worrisome symptoms then you need to consult a vet immediately. Remember to handle the situation calmly and keep your dog hydrated.

Reference:

  1. Burke, A. (2024, March 14). Five foods to feed dogs with upset stomachs. American Kennel Club.
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About
Jacob Kay
Jacob Kay is a Veterinary Advisor and Editor at WWD. He’s also a dog lover and has two pet dogs of his own. He has extensive knowledge in the field of veterinary medicine and is always happy to share his insights with others.

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