How do you handle an upset stomach in your dog?

Just like us people, some dogs are born with a sensitive stomach and can suffer from frequent bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. A change in weather, eating or drinking something slightly off, stress or even allergy to a food or new toy can cause an episode of diarrhea. A little bit of tummy trouble is easy to manage and with a little effort, it is easy to get things back to normal. Instead of going to a vet every time and having to pay up size-able vet bills, how about trying some home remedies? Do remember though, that these remedies are NOT alternatives to medical treatment in case your dog is suffering from:

• Dehydration (dry and pale gums, low skin elasticity).
• Painful, distended or hard belly.
• Retching, trying to vomit, or difficulty pooping.
• Blood in vomit, urine, or feces.
• Lethargy.
• If you suspect your dog has eaten chemicals, poisons, medications, toxic foods, or a foreign object.

All the above scenarios are medical emergencies and you must rush to a vet immediately. For other more harmless tummy upsets, you can try the following:

• Fast your dog for 12 to 24 hours.

  This is NOT a bad idea, and you are not being mean. Your dog’s stomach needs to take it easy and the best way to do that is to not put more stress on it. How will the stomach heal if it continues to be busy digesting food? A regular, healthy dog can easily go without food for a day. So hold the chow for a day. And believe us, your pooch will forget soon enough that you didn’t feed her.

• Make fresh water available at all times.

  Loose motions or vomiting can quickly dehydrate your dog. Make sure there is plenty of fresh water available at all times for your dog to slake his thirst.

  Feed a bland diet.

  After the 12-24 hour fast, re-introduce solid food by feeding your dog small meals of 1 part boiled, skinless, boneless chicken to 2 parts boiled rice (brown or white). Shred the chicken so there is no scarfing and no solid pieces for the stomach to deal with. Keep away from oil, salt, seasoning, or any other additions. (You should stay away from all these additives even otherwise.) Feed these small meals 3-4 times a day for the next 4-5 days or so. You can gradually increase the amount of food and frequency to what was her normal daily routine.

• Gradually reintroduce normal food

  Continue with the bland diet until your dog returns to normal. Add 1-2 extra days for safety’s sake. Then start with your dog’s normal food, introducing it bit by bit, increasing the amount over 2-3 days until your dog is eating her normal meal made entirely of her usual food.

Here are a few more tips on how to manage an upset stomach in your dog:

• Dahi: A few tablespoons of plain dahi in the food work wonderfully. This will soothe the stomach, replace healthy bacteria in the gut, and even help pick up an appetite. You can choose to do this on a regular basis to keep digestive upsets to a minimum.
• You can also use mashed pumpkin, sweet potatoes and ripe bananas can to help settle the stomach.
• While we all know that using human medicines on dogs is not a great idea, there are some meds that can work, as a stopgap measure until you can get your dog to a vet. Of course, do ask your vet for recommendations and only use them as prescribed.
• Lastly, take your dog out on more potty breaks than usual as it might be difficult for her to hold it in in the initial stage of an upset stomach. A better outside than inside the house.

If you do not notice any improvement in your dog’s condition after 1-2 days, or if the condition worsens and you notice some of the symptoms mentioned earlier, take your dog to her vet immediately. It also helps to have a backup vet in case your regular vet is not available. If your pooch is susceptible to upset stomach, ever wondered why? Does her diet primarily consist of processed food and kibble? Have you tried raw?

Have you given thought to BARF – Basic Ancestral Raw Food?

The best way to help your dog’s tummy and overall immune system in good shape is to feed your dog a balanced, species appropriate food. And the best option is raw. A part of the wolf family (yes, even your sweet Lab or lap-sized Apso), your dog needs and will thrive beautifully on a raw diet. Raw food is a natural food and it contains the exact mix of all the nutrients and goodness that a dog would get if it were a wild creature. More importantly, it doesn’t have any of low quality protein that is not good for your dog. Which means no loose motions, no vomiting and no allergies. You can make your own raw food in the right proportion, or you can buy commercially prepared raw food for your dog’s diet. Reduce the intake of processed and packaged dog kibble from your dog’s diet, and watch your furry companion turn into a happy, healthy dog.