Every dog can experience digestive discomfort every now and then, just like humans. While the occasional upset stomach isn’t anything to be concerned about in your pup, ongoing digestive issues can indicate that there is a more serious health problem at hand.
Dogs can suffer from a wide range of digestive conditions, the symptoms of which are often very similar. Because of the overlapping symptoms, it can be difficult to determine which issue your dog is dealing with.
Knowing the cause of your dog’s digestive discomfort is key to finding the best form of treatment. If your dog has been showing signs of digestive problems for more than a week, contact your vet.
Your vet will be able to take a blood sample and perform a variety of diagnostic tests to identify the cause of the issue. They’ll also be able to provide you with the best treatments or prescribe the best dog food for a sensitive stomach to resolve or manage the digestive condition.
Symptoms of Digestive Issues in Dogs
Here are some of the most common symptoms of gastrointestinal issues in dogs:
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Increased flatulence
- Straining when passing stools
- Blood or mucus in the stools
- Changes in appetite
- Refusal to eat or drink
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Swelling around the abdomen
- Loss of interest in play
Your dog might display one or a combination of these symptoms. Whether you’re caring for your family’s senior dog or a young pup, you should take your dog to see a qualified vet within a day or two of symptoms appearing. Waiting any longer could put your pup’s health and safety at risk.
It’s hard to tell whether the above symptoms are a sign of an upset stomach that will quickly resolve itself or a more serious underlying condition that might be life-threatening. Sometimes, minor symptoms can develop into major problems if left untreated.
What Causes Digestive Problems in Dogs?
Unfortunately, many digestive disorders aren’t preventable and they can reduce your dog’s ability to absorb important nutrients from their food. Your dog’s digestive health relies on a number of different factors and it can negatively respond to any one of the following things:
- Significant changes in diet
- Food allergies or intolerances
- Ingesting foreign objects
- Toxins
- Infections with bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites
- Medications
- Underlying health conditions, such as endocrine issues, pancreatitis, or cancers
- Blockages in the gastrointestinal tract
What Treatments Are Available for Dogs with Digestive Issues?
The best treatment for your pup depends on the underlying cause of their digestive problems. For example, if the issue stems from endocrine issues, your dog will need a treatment that corrects hormonal imbalances. If it’s due to intestinal parasites, they’ll need a deworming treatment.
Sometimes, surgery is required to resolve the issue. This is usually the case if there is a blockage in the digestive tract or tumours that need to be removed.
Additional treatments that the vet might provide for your dog include:
- Medications to reduce nausea or vomiting (antiemetics)
- Medications to lower the levels of stomach acid (antacids)
- Probiotics to improve gut health
- Fluid and electrolyte therapy to replace lost water and minerals
- Special diets to remove common trigger foods
There are also lots of great things that you can do at home to support your dog’s digestive health and reduce their symptoms. If you can’t get to a vet straight away, you can try a number of things to make your dog more comfortable.
Here are some great things to try when you want to keep your dog as healthy as possible at home:
- Switch them over to a plain diet that is free of trigger foods, such as wheat and corn
- Avoid feeling your dog any leftovers from dinner
- Add high-fiber foods to your diet to prevent diarrhoea
- Stick to regular meal times and limit snacks in between
- Make sure they stay well hydrated
- Allow your dog to rest
What Are the Most Common Digestive Symptoms in Dogs?
There is a wide range of digestive issues that can affect dogs, and some that are more common than others. Below, we have listed the most common digestive symptoms that indicate an underlying digestive issue in dogs.
- Vomiting
While vomiting might seem like a normal occurrence in dogs (especially if they enjoy eating random bugs or plants on their walks), it’s not normal if they vomit multiple times at once.
Take note of how often your dog is vomiting, how much they’re vomiting at a time, and whether there is any blood in the vomit. You should also keep an eye on your dog after they have vomited to check they don’t have any seizures.
Vomiting can indicate that there is a deeper illness at play and it can be a sign of something life-threatening.
- Diarrhoea or Changes in the Stool
As with vomiting, diarrhoea can occur when your dog eats something unusual while they’re out in the garden or the park.
If your dog has diarrhoea, you should always take a look to see if there is anything unusual. Take note of the following:
- Colour – your dog’s stool should be a rich brown colour. If it’s very dark brown or black, there may be blood present.
- Mucus – the stool should not have a shiny coating of mucus.
- Blood or worms – there should be no blood or signs of worms (such as the presence of eggs or white, stringy material) in the stool.
- Consistency – your dog’s stool should be intact and not watery or too firm.
- Weight Loss
Weight loss is a sign in most digestive conditions. It occurs because your dog has stopped eating or is eating a lot less than usual due to digestive discomfort or abdominal pains.
If your dog has experienced rapid weight loss in just a few short days, it’s important to take them to the veterinary clinic for further investigation. Meanwhile, try to encourage your dog to eat their meals and make sure they stay well hydrated in between.