How to Treat a Dog's Sensitive Stomach

Dogs instinctively eat grass to induce vomiting when their stomach is upset.

Sensitive stomachs in dogs are common and can be treated at home in most cases. There are various reasons dogs get upset stomachs, including eating the wrong kinds of foods, eating rotten foods or that the breed is naturally prone to sensitive stomachs. A mild upset stomach can be treated with simple changes to your dog's diet. The dog will be back to normal within a day or two.

Things You'll Need

• Unseasoned rice
• Skinned, boiled or baked chicken
• Ice chips
• Yogurt or Cottage cheese
• Pedialyte or Gatorade
• Pepto Bismal
• Canned pumpkin

Instructions

1. Remove all foods and treats immediately when your dog has an upset stomach. Put an adult dog on a 12- to 24-hour fast, no more than 12 hours for puppies. If the dog is vomiting, omit water and replace with ice chips until the dog is feeling better.

2. Feed your dog a bland diet after fasting. Offer small amounts of boiled, unseasoned rice, and baked or boiled skinless chicken three to four times a day.

3. Give your dog a small amount of plain yogurt or canned pumpkin. Good bacteria, called acidophilus, found in yogurt helps heal inflamed intestines and replaces good bacteria lost during illness. Feeding your dog a small amount of yogurt each day will ensure a healthy intestinal tract. Give 1 to 2 tsp. of canned pumpkin as needed. Pumpkin contains fiber that absorbs water and can aid in alleviating diarrhea within a few hours.

4. Replace electrolytes if your dog has diarrhea, to avoid dehydration. Veterinarians suggest mixing Gatorade or Pedialyte in the dog's water. If ingesting water is causing frequent vomiting, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately to determine if IV fluids are necessary.

5. Give your dog Pepto Bismal every 3 to 4 hours. Pepto Bismal works the same for dogs as it does for humans. Check with a veterinarian for dosage by weight.

6. Avoid feeding your dog table food. If your dog constantly has an upset stomach, it may be a reaction to human food or spices. Consider preparing your dog's food specific to its needs. Select healthier products and avoid preservatives and additives that can cause upset stomachs.

7. Feed your dog three to four small meals throughout the day instead of one to two bigger meals. Smaller portions allow easier digestion. Your dog may be eating too much at one time, leading to vomiting.

Tips & Warnings

• Feeding smaller meals throughout the day instead of two larger meals is often easier on dogs with sensitive stomachs.

• The Missing Link is a powdered supplement that can be added to your dog's food to aid in digestion. There are also enzyme/probiotics powders that can be mixed in with your dog's food to help aid in digestion. NaturVet makes a good one that is sold at pet supply stores and online at sites such as 1800PetMeds.com. Enzyme supplements have been proven effective for dogs with digestion problems and recurring pancreatitis.

• Famotidine (Pepcid and generic versions) is an over-the-counter drug for human indigestion that can be given to dogs with sensitive stomachs before their meal. Veterinarians usually prescribe one 10-mg. tablet per day for most dogs (you can also obtain it from your vet). It's mild enough that certain dogs with digestive issues can take it most of their lives, but always have your dog examined by a vet first and get the OK.

• If blood is found in your dog's vomit or stool, see a veterinarian immediately.

• Ask a veterinarian before administering medicine and follow dosages carefully.

• Avoid extreme dietary changes.

• Vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than 24 to 36 hours requires the attention of a veterinarian.

References

• Vet Info., Dog Upset StomachTreatment with Home Remedies
• Fashion Hound; How to Cure Your Dog's Upset Stomach
• Vet Info., Dog Upset Stomach Treatment

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Alternative Medicines for Dogs; Dietary Considerations; R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD