Have you noticed a sudden change in your pet’s eating habits? Is he not eating as much as he used to? Did your vet say that he is having digestive problems and are you looking for a natural solution to get rid of it? Then this one’s for you. Your pet can experience upset tummy for a wide variety of reasons. Digestive problems in dogs are often developed from their eating habits as dogs eat anything. Diarrhea and vomiting in dogs are some of the commonly seen symptoms but apart from these, peptic ulcers, colitis, IBD, IBS, rumbling in the stomach, watery stools are also common symptoms of GI problems in dogs.
To get sudden instant relief, many dog owners go for probiotics, digestive enzymes and other nutrients. But I would suggest you to try something at your home so that he can be kept safe from any of these formulated medicines. In this article you will come to know about
- Digestive system in dogs
- Causes of digestive problems
- Signs and symptoms of stomach disorders in dogs
- How to prevent digestive disorders in dogs
- Natural home remedies for digestive issues in dogs
- Summary/ conclusion
Dog’s Digestive System
A dog’s digestive system comprises of the stomach, pancreas, liver and intestines. These organs play a significant role in the general functioning of the body. The digestive system along with enzymes and the body’s own benefiting bacteria, work together to transform food into energy and healthy tissue.
A healthy dog will have a good gastrointestinal tract that works properly. He will also have a fresh breath, a good appetite, firm stools, less flatulence and tonnes of energy. But when the gastro intestinal tract and digestive organs become compromised, the result can be diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), flatulence and other disorders.
Don’t worry. Many digestive disorders are temporary and can resolved themselves in a day or two. In other cases, where parasites, bacteria, food allergies or other food sensitivities can harm your pet and result in digestive health concerns thereby making him take supplements.
How Does Your Dog Get Digestive Problems? – Causes
Your pooch eating spoiled food – this can be caused by toxic molds, or bacteria such as E-coli and salmonella. This happens when food is contaminated by unwashed foods and sits at room temperature for too long. Even the leftovers sitting in the refrigerator for longer than 3 days when given to your dog can cause him upset tummy.
- Allergic reaction – allergic to certain food or preservatives can result in rashes, hives, diarrhea.
- Eating high-fat rich foods – this can upset your dog’s gall bladder or pancreas and cause vomiting or bloody diarrhea.
- Over-eating
- Eating when stressed – a slight environmental change can itself create stress in your pet‘s mind. You can minimize stress in your pet by keeping his routine diet consistent as possible.
- Foreign body obstruction – your dog eats anything and everything, from small toys to plastic bags. This is why the chances of getting food poison is high in your dog. Occasionally these objects can cause damage or obstruct the digestive tract, leading to vomiting and surgery to correct.
Symptoms Of Canine Digestive Problems
There are a wide range of symptoms associated with canine digestive disorders. Here are some of the commonly seen signs
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Unexplained weight loss, usually resulting in diarrhea or vomiting. Your pooch will gain weight when the digestive system becomes healthy. But still if he keeps losing weight, your vet should find other causes.
Change in the stools.
- mucus indicates an imbalance in the colon
- large volume of stools indicate improper absorption of nutrients
- yellow or orange stools indicate an imbalance
- gray stools indicate liver problems
- black stools indicate bleeding in the upper part of the intestinal tract
Excessive gas or rumbling in the stomach
Least interested in eating
Worsening Symptoms
If you find your furry friend experiencing any of these symptoms, take him to the vet immediately
- Blood in your dog’s poo
- Dry heaves
- Excessive panting or shaking
- Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea
- Inability to keep water down
How To Avoid Stomach Problems? – Preventive Measures
- Avoid feeding your dog with any of the following leftovers from a party
- Processed meats – avoid giving him sausage, spam, dried fish, jerky or meat
- Sweets – cake, cream pies or ice cream
- Rich foods – that are gravy or sauce including mayonnaise
- Avoid feeding dog food that has been there in the fridge for more than 3 days
- Don’t over feed meats and treats.
- Make sure you do not give snacks that have a dressing, gravy or mayonnaise sauce.
- Do not play with your pet just after he had meals. Wait for at least 45 minutes for the food to digest.
- Avoid feeding off the table. Treating your pet with heavy foods can take so much of time to digest. Stick on to vegetables and dog treats and limit meat to less than 10% of the diet.
- Avoid foreign body obstruction. As mentioned above, foreign parties can enter into your pooch’s body to hamper the normal functioning of the digestive system. One way to prevent this from happening is to provide your pet with toys that are pet safe.
- Stress is on reason why your dog gets upset tummy. You can minimize your pet’s stress by keeping his routine as consistent as possible. If this is unavoidable, you can use a natural pheromone diffuser or spray such as D.A.P to help him feel more comfortable.
- Use a coating agent to slow down diarrhea and prevent your pet from dehydrating. Replacing good bacteria in the intestinal tract with probiotics will help regain normal gut flora.
Home Remedies For Digestive Problems In Dogs
Baking soda water: Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 1/2 cup of water. Give a little bit of this mixture to your pet every 2 hours. When his vomiting stops, follow this up with a little bit of ginger.
Ginger tea: As we drink ginger tea for getting relief from vomiting and upset tummy, same can be used for dogs. Grate 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger root or use 1 teaspoon of ginger powder and gently sum it with 1/2 cup of coconut milk for about 10 minutes. Store this in a glass mug for easy use. Give 1 to 3 teaspoons every 1-2 hours
Cooked white rice in canned coconut milk: This is a home remedy for dogs with diarrhea. Take 1 cup of cooked white rice and 1/4 cup of canned coconut milk. Give 1-2 tablespoons every 3-4 hours for small-sized dogs. Give 1/2 cup of this mixture every 3-4 hours for medium sized dogs and 1 cup every 3-4 hours for large dogs.
Summary
You can keep an emergency kit for your pet so that next time you find him upset with his tummy, you can take care of it. Coconut milk, coconut juice, ginger powder, white rice, thermometer, probiotics, baking soda, some paper towels and pee pads.
Although digestive problems are a part of life, it shouldn’t be ignored. Early treatment will speed up your pet’s recovery and provide him with comfort and happiness.
