It’s a battle that each and every dog lover will encounter at some point in their lives. You’ll be worried about what’s wrong with your dog and how to tell it if it’s acting unusual or unwell. The most common cause is an unsettled stomach. Knowing the indications that your dog’s stomach is hurting will make it simpler to calm both them and you.
This blog discusses the most common symptoms of upset stomach (also known as gastroenteritis), as well as the symptoms to look out for and how to cure it.
Understanding The Signs Of An Upset Stomach
It is not uncommon for dogs to experience stomach problems. Most puppies and dogs experience nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal pain at some point during their lives.
Most dogs will display signs of discomfort when they have belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, but these indicators may not necessarily match what we might expect. To make matters even more confusing, tiny indications frequently evaporate at the veterinarian’s office.
Here are some of the more typical indicators of an upset tummy in dogs, as well as a few less usual ones. Naturally, vomiting and diarrhea are indications that aren’t worth discussing because they’re so obvious!
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Lip Smacking
Lip-smacking is a well-known symptom of an upset tummy in dogs, as it’s commonly connected with other illnesses. When a dog’s stomach hurts, why do they lick their lips? Learning what happens when a dog’s tummy is upset to the extent of vomiting is necessary for a better understanding of this behavior.
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Drooling
Dogs drool as a result of excessive salivation. It occurs only when salivary glands generate too much saliva, similar to hyper-salivation. Drooling is caused by the protective part that saliva plays in shielding the dog’s mouth, throat, and teeth from the negative effects of the vomit in the case of an upset stomach.
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Gulping
Another indication of sickness in dogs is gulping. Gulping, like lip licking, is a method of reducing excessive saliva production.
Gulping is also found in dogs with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Affected canines are jittery and have panicked expressions on their faces. As stomach acid refluxes, they may gulp and have esophageal spasms.
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Loss Of Appetite
Don’t think your dog is unexpectedly fussy or it is just part of aging if he turns his nose up at the food. When their stomachs are disturbed, dogs will do what their instincts tell them to do.
The idea of consuming food is often unattractive, and this is usually because nature is telling you that it really is time to recover your stomach. Extra work processing food at such a delicate time may aggravate the situation, resulting in vomiting and more recovery time.
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Burping
Burping is a natural function of digestion in dogs. Dogs who eat quickly are more likely to ingest air, which will lead them to eructate properly. Burping excessively, on the other hand, could indicate a digestive issue. Affected dogs may experience gastritis, including burping as a result of stomach acid.
Increased burping could indicate a back strain on the belly or impaired motility, allowing food to travel back upward rather than through the intestinal system as it should.
This can happen as a consequence of waste buildup, as with organ failure, or as a result of the existence of a tumor in the abdomen, or as a result of a primary disease process like inflammatory bowel disease.
Types Of Dog Food For A Sensitive Stomach
According to multiple food advisors, there are usually the following three types of food that
can be given to a dog that has a sensitive stomach.
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Limited Ingredients
Limited ingredient food contains lesser ingredients than ordinary food, which is ideal when
you’re trying to figure out what’s causing your furry friend’s stomach difficulties. It typically
contains one novel protein source (meat) and moderate fat levels, as well as enzymes to
help digestion. Simply avoid limited-ingredient foods that contain synthetic colorings and
additives.
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Hypoallergenic
This sort of food is prepared from protein that was reduced into amino acids, which makes
them less detectable by your dog’s immune system and reduces the risk of a negative
reaction.
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Prescription gastrointestinal
Prescription GI meals are dog diets made especially for dogs with digestion issues that must
be purchased with a veterinarian’s approval.
Ingredients In Food That Triggers Sensitive Stomach
Every dog is unique in its own way. Some canines are capable of digesting anything that
enters their stomach, including full rolls of toilet tissue. Others are bothered by even the
tiniest alteration in their diet. You should be familiar with a few areas of dog nutrition that can
assist you in finding the finest diet for dogs with fragile stomachs.
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Fiber
Dogs, like us, sometimes require a little additional fiber in their diets. According to the Merck
Veterinary Manual, beet pulp is a rich source of nutrients that “provides high fecal quality in
dogs without impairing other nutrient digestibility.” Other fiber sources in dog food contain
inulin and psyllium. Consult your veterinarian about including fiber in your dog’s diet.
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Protein
Certain forms of protein are just not efficiently digested by some dogs. If your dog seems to
be on a chicken-based food, for example, consider moving to a different source of protein,
such as lamb, beef, or fish, to see if the problem goes away.
- Minerals And Vitamins
The majority of commercial dog diets have enough minerals and vitamins in their recipes.
However, if you provide specialty food to your dogs, such as a raw food diet or a freshly
cooked dinner, your dog may be deficient in some nutrients. Consult your veterinarian to
ensure that you are providing your dog with all the necessary nutrients that it requires for
optimal digestion, and change your pet’s food as needed.
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Fats
High-fat diets are harder to process than diets rich in proteins or carbohydrates. Examine
your dog’s current food ingredient label to verify if oils and fats are listed among the first five
ingredients. This is a sign that the food has too much fat for your dog’s digestive system to
handle. Compare the fat content of your existing food to that of other brands to locate one
that contains lesser calories. Looking at the list of ingredients and the fat content in the
nutrient content on the label is a simple way to do this.
