Dogs can get upset stomachs for many reasons, including eating something they shouldn’t have, getting into the trash, or being exposed to bacteria or parasites.
If your dog has an upset stomach, give it access to plenty of fresh water. Dehydration can worsen an upset stomach, so it’s important to keep your dog well-hydrated. Also offer him small amounts of bland food, such as boiled chicken or rice. Avoid giving your dog fatty or spicy foods, as these can further irritate his stomach.
Upset stomachs are common in dogs, but usually not something to worry about too much. With a little TLC, your furry friend will be feeling better in no time.
18. Consult A Vet If Symptoms Persist
If your dog’s upset stomach is severe, lasts more than a day, or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as lethargy, fever, or diarrhea with blood in it, call your veterinarian. These could be signs of a more serious condition that will require medical treatment.
Your vet may prescribe medication to help soothe your dog’s stomach.
17. Try Pepto-Bismol
Pepto-Bismol is a safe and effective medication that contains the active ingredient bismuth subsalicylate.
Pepto-Bismol works by coating the lining of the stomach and intestines, soothing irritation, and reducing inflammation. It also helps to supplement important enzymes and nutrients that can sometimes be lost during bouts of nausea or vomiting. As a result, Pepto-Bismol can help to reduce symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas associated.
The recommended dosage of Pepto-Bismol for dogs is 1 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight, fed once every 6 to 8 hours. So, if your dog weighs 50 pounds, you would give them 5 teaspoons of Pepto-Bismol.
16. Honey
Honey is easily one of the most popular home remedies for most dog issues from allergies to flea infestation. This seemingly all-powerful remedy also has a lot to offer if your dog is suffering from an upset stomach. You just need about a teaspoon of raw honey per day.
Honey has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects which come in handy when dealing with gastroenteritis. It also has antimicrobial properties. Finally, it is a great way to replenish the lost minerals, sugars, and salt during vomiting and diarrhea.
15. Bananas
Bananas are a great choice for dogs with an upset stomach – they are gentle on the stomach and can help to settle any nausea your dog may be feeling
With their natural enzyme called protease, bananas help to break down protein in your dog’s system, reducing nausea and supporting digestion. Additionally, bananas provide beneficial nutrients like potassium and fiber, which are essential for overall health.
14. Pumpkin
Pumpkin is celebrated among dog owners as one of the best sources of fiber and vitamins for dogs. The seeds in particular are very rich in fibers which will come in handy if your dog is suffering from gut issues like diarrhea or constipation.
The pumpkin flesh is also a fantastic source of compounds that soothe the irritated gut lining.
For all these benefits, we recommend the Farmer’s Market Organic Pumpkin Puree as the GMO-free, natural formula.
13. Scrambled Eggs
Dogs love eggs whether scrambled, boiled, or even pouched. If your pooch is suffering from a low appetite due to an upset stomach, this is the perfect way to get them to eat something.
The calorie-rich treats are full of proteins and fatty acids which are easier to digest than those found in most other animal sources.
You just have to ensure that you cook the eggs properly to avoid transmission of bugs like salmonella which will only make things worse.
12. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is another wonder cure on our list with benefits in multiple systems in the dog’s body.
In this case, it is the soothing power of proteins in oatmeal that land it on our list of remedies for gastroenteritis in dogs. This helps ease the discomfort associated with issues like food poisoning or gut infections.
Oatmeal is also very rich in fiber which makes it a fantastic option if your dog is dealing with tummy issues as a result of constipation.
11. Get Your Pooch Dewormed
There are a few different types of worms that can infect dogs and cause an upset stomach. The most common are roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. All of these worms are parasites that live off of the host (in this case, your dog), and can cause serious health problems.
That’s why you should deworm your dog as soon as possible.
There are a few different ways to do this, but the most common is through oral medication. Your vet will prescribe the appropriate medicine for your dog based on their weight and type of worm.
10. Consider Changing Their Diet Completely
Sometimes, it is what you feed your dog that causes all the issues. Maybe they are allergic to some of the ingredients included. It could be that the chemicals used in preparation and preservation are triggering irritation in the digestive tract.
Whatever the case, a change in diet could be all that is needed to get rid of your furry best friend’s troubles especially if they have been recurring for a while.
9. Increase The Frequency Of Potty Breaks
When a dog has an upset stomach, the last thing they want is to hold it for the next potty break. It is nothing short of torture for the little buddies.
Instead of putting them through additional discomfort, just find time to take them out for more potty breaks. This is especially important if they have diarrhea as sometimes letting it all out is the best source of relief and comfort.
8. Limit Your Dog’s Food Portions
It could also be that the upset tummy is a result of overeating whether it is in terms of the amount or the frequency between meals.
If you suspect this has something to do with overeating, you have to make sure that you limit the amount of food that the little pooch eats every meal. The best thing to do here is to study how much food the specific dog breed should eat at their specific age.
7. Slow Down Your Dog’s Eating Speed
In some cases, it is not so much about how much the dog eats but how fast they eat. Eating too fast is often associated with swallowing gas which could lead to bloating and an upset stomach.
Fortunately, there is a lot that you can do to deal with the problem. The most effective is using food bowls like JASGOOD Slow Feeder Dog Bowl designed to make the dog work for the food. This also turns every mealtime into a fun experience by stimulating their hunting instincts.
6. Give Your Dog Some Probiotics
An upset gut is an unhealthy gut. Therefore, probiotics can come in very handy to restore health and proper functioning. The micro-organisms serve a variety of functions from improving gut immunity to promoting actual digestion.
You can give your dog foods enriched with probiotics. You could also offer them special probiotic supplements in which case we suggest the Zesty Paws Probiotic for Dogs. The soft chews also include pumpkin for complementary pro-gut effects.
5. Use Gut-Friendly Essential Oils
Essential oils could also work really well when your dog has abdominal issues. A few are considered good for the gut, especially ginger and peppermint. This helps reduce irritation along the gut lining which is present with most causes of upset tummies.
Peppermint and ginger also serve the added benefit of reducing nausea which is very useful for conditions like indigestion and food intolerance where vomiting is more or less inevitable.
4. Use Imodium
Imodium is a drug that is used to reduce the intensity and frequency of diarrhea. It is very useful in dogs that suffer from issues like gut infections or food intolerance. It offers very fast relief which is very important as it reduces the excessive loss of fluids.
3. Give Your Dog Bland Food For A While
A bland food diet is often the answer to many causes of stomach upsets in dogs. Bland food allows you to reach the required caloric provision for the dog without overloading its fragile systems with heavy foods.
The best options here include boiled eggs, plain rice, boiled potatoes, and pumpkin. You could also give your suffering furry best friend some boiled and unseasoned chicken for their protein requirements.
2. Keep Your Dog Hydrated
Whether you decide to go the fasting route or you still feed the dog, it is crucial that you keep the pooch hydrated.
Water helps a lot with easing irritation and promoting digestion and passage of food along the gut.
It is also necessary to replace all the fluids lost through vomit, diarrhea, and excessive sweating which accompany most causes of gastroenteritis.
For the best results, just leave out a bowl of fresh water for the inevitably thirsty pooch to easily access.
1. Nothing
Sometimes the best thing you can do when your dog has an upset tummy is absolutely nothing. This is particularly useful in cases where it is indigestion due to eating too much food or even mild food poisoning.
So yes, you can actually help your dog by starving them when they have the runs or are vomiting.
This helps give the irritated gut time to recover. A fasting period of about 12 to 24 hours should do the trick.
Related Questions
How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Digestive Problems?
Dogs with digestive problems often present with specific symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. Sometimes, the symptoms may be a bit more vague and general including lethargy, mood changes, and changes in appetite. You may also notice signs of pain like whining and unwillingness to let you touch their abdominal area.
What Causes Upset Stomach In Dogs?
Abdominal upset, also known as gastroenteritis, is caused by a variety of things in a dog. A lot of them are diet-related causing irritation of the gut lining during digestion while others are non-dietary. All these include:
- Food poisoning
- Food intolerance
- Eating too much or too fast
- Gut volvulus
- Gut infections
- Worm infestation
- Gut tumors
How Long Does An Upset Stomach Last In Dogs?
The duration of an upset stomach in a dog depends on the cause. Food-related stomach problems last between one to two days. If it lasts any longer than that, you may be dealing with more serious problems that require urgent veterinary attention so do not hesitate to get your pooch checked out.
