Common Causes of Upset Stomach

There are many reasons Dog/Cat may have a disturbed stomach, however there's one normal cause: he ate something he shouldn't have. 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.

Stress may also trigger an upset stomach, as can bacteria imbalances in the gut and food sensitivities, which are most likely caused by dog’s diet. Diarrhea and vomit are the most obvious signs that dog’s stomach isn’t feeling right, but you should also keep an eye out for fatigueand loss lost of appetite. Your dog may gulp a lot to combat reflex, lick his lips, or even lick the air or objects, too. If he’s nauseous, you may also see him eat grass in order to soothe his stomach or try to induce vomiting.

An upset stomach once in a while is normal in dog, but when a dog suffers often, it could signal that something is wrong in his gastrointestinal tract.In that case look at your dog’s diet and staying away from foods that may create inflammation because of a food hypersensitivity, like chicken, lamb and venison. Instead, choose meats like beef, buffalo, and fish that shouldn’t irritate your dog’s GI tract. To  maintain a healthy dog gut, you can also consider giving him a pre and probiotic.

Treatment 

When dog’s stomach is trying to get rid of something, it can be helpful to stop putting more things in his stomach for 12 to 24 hours. Fasting for that long is absolutely fine for the dog.

When dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, you want to make sure he stays hydrated, however, giving him too much water may make his stomach even more upset.

Remove his water bowl from his reach, and give him ice chips every 2 to 3 hours, if he can keep that down, then give him some more ice cubes and a couple teaspoons of water.

One of the most powerful things you can give to dog to soothe and healhis stomach while keeping him hydrated is bone broth. Once the meat falls off the bone, continue to simmer the bones until the minerals and marrow are released into the water. Bone broth takes at least a day to make, so you’ll need to make this meal before your pet actually gets sick. If you make it ahead, however, you can skim off the fat and freeze it, then you can give your dog bone broth ice cubes when he’s sick.
When fighting indigestion, canned pumpkin is a vital. It has a low glycemic index, so it slowly absorbs, which helps with upset stomach and digestion. Make sure to get canned pumpkin, and not pumpkin pie mix, as you don’t want to feed dog spices. Smaller dogs (approximately five pounds) can be fed ½ teaspoon of canned pumpkin, while larger dogs (approximately 75 pounds) can be fed 1 tablespoon. Add a tiny bit of ginger to the canned pumpkin.

Offer several bowls of water throughout the house. Basically almost every room has a water bowl in it so they don’t have to go far to get a drink.

Offer a variety of bowls. Some dogs like to drink from ceramic bowls, some stainless steel bowls and some plastic or glass bowls. Keep a variety of bowls in the house or stick to one style that you know your dog likes. If your dog doesn’t drink a lot of water try switching the bowl.

Make the water easily accessible. If you have a senior dog maybe it hurts for them to bend down and grab a drink.  An elevated bowl might be more comfortable for them. It’s suggested that a dog or cat’s bowl be raised to a level above the wrist and below the elbow. At this height less stress is put on the muscles, ligaments, tendons, vertebrae, and intervertebral discs of the neck because the head remains at a normal level instead of having to stretch to the ground to lap water or grasp food and then lift back up to swallow. You can do this without buying an expensive product. Check out this elevated dog dish made from a planter. 

Add water to your dog’s food or add canned food to their diet. If you don’t think your dog is getting enough water on their own try helping them out by adding it for them. Can food is normally made up of 70-80% moisture. Dry food contains about 10% moisture.

Add some flavoring to their water. Low sodium chicken broth (minus onions) or bone broth added to plain water may entice your dog to drink more. Does your dog like cucumbers? Try some of those!

Make sure the water and the bowls are clean. Do you  drink dirty, warm water? Why should your dog?  Changing the water frequently throughout the day will keep the water fresher, cooler and healthier. Make sure your washing the water bowl regularly also. Slime build ups on the bowl over time and can contain harmful bacteria.

Offer ice cubes. Ice cubes can be a great summer treat for dog and there’s no harm in them.  You can even add some dog safe fruit to them for an extra special treat or mix some water with low sodium chicken broth of bone broth. The Honest Kitchen makes product called Ice Pups that you combine with water and serve to your dog warm or cold or you can get some Freezy Pups and make some healthy frozen treats. You can even make a flavored ice bowl. 

Invest in a pet fountain. Most dogs love drinking moving water so give it to them! A big plus is you’ll be changing the water less frequent and it’s filtered water! That’s a win for everyone.

Make sure you’re bringing water with you on outings. Cold water. With ice.There are several different types of products out on the market today that this shouldn’t be an issue. Traveling water bowls, water cups, water bottles…etc. Don’t want to buy one of those? Bring along a water jug. I fill half with water and half with ice and it stays nice and cool for a long time!

*Bonus tip-If you have a bigger dog, fill up a bucket full of water and add some ice cubes or frozen fruit and let them go bobbin for some fat free healthy treats! If you have a smaller dog, try a pail!
 

Common Causes of Upset Stomach

There are many reasons Dog/Cat may have a disturbed stomach, however there's one normal cause: he ate something he shouldn't have. 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.

Stress may also trigger an upset stomach, as can bacteria imbalances in the gut and food sensitivities, which are most likely caused by dog’s diet. Diarrhea and vomit are the most obvious signs that dog’s stomach isn’t feeling right, but you should also keep an eye out for fatigue and loss lost of appetite. Your dog may gulp a lot to combat reflex, lick his lips, or even lick the air or objects, too. If he’s nauseous, you may also see him eat grass in order to soothe his stomach or try to induce vomiting.

An upset stomach once in a while is normal in dog, but when a dog suffers often, it could signal that something is wrong in his gastrointestinal tract.In that case look at your dog’s diet and staying away from foods that may create inflammation because of a food hypersensitivity, like chicken, lamb and venison. Instead, choose meats like beef, buffalo, and fish that shouldn’t irritate your dog’s GI tract. To  maintain a healthy dog gut, you can also consider giving him a pre and probiotic.

Treatment 

When dog’s stomach is trying to get rid of something, it can be helpful to stop putting more things in his stomach for 12 to 24 hours. Fasting for that long is absolutely fine for the dog.

When dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, you want to make sure he stays hydrated, however, giving him too much water may make his stomach even more upset.

Remove his water bowl from his reach, and give him ice chips every 2 to 3 hours, if he can keep that down, then give him some more ice cubes and a couple teaspoons of water.

One of the most powerful things you can give to dog to soothe and healhis stomach while keeping him hydrated is bone broth. Simmer meat (on the bone) with apple cider vinegar and water in a crockpot (Backus prefers using a whole organic chicken). Once the meat falls off the bone, continue to simmer the bones until the minerals and marrow are released into the water. Bone broth takes at least a day to make, so you’ll need to make this meal before your pet actually gets sick. If you make it ahead, however, you can skim off the fat and freeze it, then you can give your dog bone broth ice cubes when he’s sick.
When fighting indigestion, canned pumpkin is a vital. It has a low glycemic index, so it slowly absorbs, which helps with upset stomach and digestion. Make sure to get canned pumpkin, and not pumpkin pie mix, as you don’t want to feed dog spices. Smaller dogs (approximately five pounds) can be fed ½ teaspoon of canned pumpkin, while larger dogs (approximately 75 pounds) can be fed 1 tablespoon. Add a tiny bit of ginger to the canned pumpkin.

8 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Dog in the Summer

1. Never, ever leave your dog in the car;
2. Make sure your dog has unlimited access to fresh water;
3. Make sure your dog has access to shade when outside;
4. Take walks during the cooler hours of the day;
5. When walking, try to stay off of hot surfaces (like asphalt) because it can burn your dog's paws;
6. If you think it's hot outside, it's even hotter for your pet – make sure your pet has a means of cooling off;
7. Keep your dog free of external parasites (fleas, ticks) and heartworms – consult your veterinarian about the best product for your pet;
8. Consider clipping or shaving dogs with long coats (talk to your veterinarian first to see if it's appropriate for your pet), and apply sunscreen to your dog's skin if she or he has a thin coat.