What soothes a puppy s stomach

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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Does your dog have an upset tummy? Do you know what causes this pain? Are there any natural remedies? How can you avoid it?

When your pet has experienced an upset stomach, that does not mean that he is unhealthy or you are not a good dog parent. Just like in humans, your dogs body also rejects some food. It does not happen all the time, but it is common for other dogs, too.

According to veterinarians, the causes of an upset stomach vary from physiological to environmental-related changes because of weathering, food allergies, something they should not eat, stress, or even aging.

In this article, I will give you some ideas on how to calm a dogs stomach. However, you should not take this information as a replacement for expert veterinary care. Please remember that consulting a veterinarian is always the best for dogs that experience extreme pain.

What are the Symptoms of Severe Stomach Pain?

I know it is difficult to tell if your dogs stomach is mild or severe. This article will give effective remedies for dogs with an upset stomach but do NOT display any of the following symptoms:

Bloated, painful, or hard belly
Dehydration (dry gums)
Trying to vomit or difficulty in pooping
The appearance of any amount of blood in urine, poop, or vomit
Drowsiness
Suspected ingestion of medications, toxic food or object, poison, or chemicals

How to Calm a Dogs Stomach at Home?

Step 1. Keep your fur baby hydrated.

Make sure that your pet drinks enough water at all times. Water can mostly help him, especially when he experiences diarrhea, too. However, your pet also needs more vitamins to keep fluid. If you noticed that your dogs condition is not improving, do not continue self-treating since it can lead to dehydration. Extreme dehydration can cause organ failure and even fatal death. If your dog is still not improving for almost twenty-four hours, take him to the veterinary clinic immediately.

Step 2. Give your dog an over-the-counter antacid.

Put an over-the-counter antacid into your dogs water. But first, you need to consult the veterinarian since the amount of antacid will depend on your dogs weight.

Always remember to consult the veterinarian before giving your dog any treatment.

Step 3. Check your dogs body temperature.

A rectal thermometer is the best tool to check your dogs temperature since it provides the most information. You can also use an ear thermometer, but it does not give a precise temperature. A dogs average body temperature is about 101.5F or 38C. A temperature that reaches at least 102F and above is considered being a fever that needs to be checked by a veterinarian immediately. If your dogs temperature is lower than 99F, also go to the vet to find out the cause.

Step 4. Find out what your fur baby ate.

I have nibbled look around your house and check. Houseplants are toxic to dogs. Therefore, check all of your plants at home. You should also check all trash cans and bags for any signs of mess. This action will help your vet to diagnose your dogs situation and give the best advice on how to calm a dogs stomach.

What are the Dangers of a Dogs Upset Stomach?

There will always be issues that can threaten your dogs health if his upset stomach is not cured immediately.

Flu causes an upset stomach, but so does parvovirus. Dehydration is also one of the most dangerous threats to dogs since 75% of your dogs body has water.

5 Additional Expert Tips in Calming Your Dogs Stomach

Adding a tablespoon of plain (unsweetened) yogurt on his food can soothe the stomach. Yogurt is excellent in producing good bacteria inside the body and stimulates a dogs appetite. Some veterinarians also suggest keeping a dog in daily probiotic since it minimizes the possibility of digestive problems. Ask your pets veterinarian if its suitable for your dog.

Bananas, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins can also help your dogs upset tummy to calm. Try to give it to your pet.

Always leave fresh water on his side. Water can help your dog to do his potty break.

What are the Toxic Substances for Dogs?

Caffeine
Alcohol
Chocolate
Grapes and raisins
Avocados
Bakers yeast or uncooked bread dough
Sugar

Please be reminded that this is not the complete list of substances harmful to dogs. You may research on the internet to learn more.

How to Avoid a Dogs Upset Stomach?

Looking for remedies on how to calm a dogs stomach is difficult. Therefore, with proper digestive health, you will prevent your dog from suffering in this painful issue too often.

Make sure that your dog absorbs all the needed nutrients every day. It covers his intestines with cells that require a lot of vitamins and minerals to function. The cells that need a lot of nutrients are the immune cells.

You should also give them high-quality and easily digestible proteins. These nutrients will help your dogs digestive system to develop beneficial bacteria inside and outside his stomach.

Last, you can also ask your vet if what kind of food is best suitable for your dogs breed and age. The right diet will help your dogs digestive system to absorb the nutrients.

Conclusion

If you do not know how to calm a dogs stomach, it is always the best if you consult a veterinarian or other dog parent. Do not treat your dog with medications with no prescriptions from the veterinarian.

Maintaining a healthy digestive system is the most important thing to do as a dog owner. This allows my dogs body to fight harmful bacteria inside. I also give him vitamin every day to keep his immune system strong.

However, I also admit that sometimes, I cannot control my dog from nibbling on questionable substances around the house which is the reason I created this article.

So, have you planned to do these remedies for your dogs upset stomach? Did you contact your dogs doctor regarding his condition? What did the doctor say? Let me know in the comment section below and share it with other dog parents, as well!

Related Topic: 5 Easy Ways on How to Leave Dog Alone for 12 Hours

References:

What to Give a Dog with Upset Stomach: 10 Remedies

What to give a dog with upset stomach?

All dogs will experience stomach upset issues at some point.

In most cases, that is not a cause for concern, and this issue will go away in a day or two.

There are also ways to alleviate the symptoms for a dog with an upset stomach to make them feel comfortable.

Note that if your dog is frequently showing signs of stomach upset, especially if they are accompanied by vomiting and/or diarrhea, they may have a food allergy, are sensitive to specific foods or ingredients, or there might be a medical problem that needs to be addressed with a veterinarian.

But you can handle a dog with an upset stomach on occasion with a minor dietary adjustment and some home remedies.

Dog with Upset Stomach Symptoms

Common tell-tale signs of a dog with upset stomach are:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Eating Grass or licking the floor
Nipping at their sides
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Passing very smelly gas
Gurgling noises from the stomach

Each of these symptoms by themselves doesnt necessarily indicate an upset stomach in a dog.

But if your pet has two or more of these symptoms, or it lasts longer than a few days, they're likely dealing with tummy issues.

How to Treat a Dog with Upset Stomach

1. Fasting

Intermittent fasting is completely safe for dogs as long as it's for a short period of time, so put your pet on a food time-out.

A 2014 study with 20 dogs treated for cancer found that fasting helped with vomiting and diarrhea and did not pose any dangers.

Therapeutic fasting is not the same as starving your dog, and it's necessary when a dog is going through bouts of diarrhea and/or vomiting caused by tummy problems.

A 24-hour fast for a dog with an upset stomach will give its digestive system time to recover. While the dog is fasting, ensure access to cool fresh water.

The more water a dog drinks, the faster this stomach upset will subside.

2. Bland Meals

Bland foods will be best for a dog with an upset stomach.

The most common homemade bland diet for adult dogs is simply mixing 75% of plain boiled white rice with 25% of boiled lean chicken breast without skin/bones (you can also use lean ground beef).

Keep a dog with an upset stomach on a bland diet for a few days to prevent further issues.

The symptoms should resolve, and stool should return to normal in about 5 days, but sometimes the bland diet regimen may take up to 10 days.

Use the below feeding amounts for a homemade diet recipe:

Dogs weighing:

<5 pounds: cup of food.

5 15 pounds: cup of food.

16 30 pounds: 1 1 cups of food.

31 50 pounds: 1 2 cups of food.

51 75 pounds: 2 3 cups of food.

76 99 pounds: 3 4 cups of food.

>100 pounds: 4 5 cups of food.

Bland homemade diet feeding instructions: For dogs with an upset stomach, it's best to feed them smaller amounts more frequently.

So take the above total amount and break it down into 3 6 meals per day (i.e., for a dog of approx. 51 75 lbs weight, cook 3 cups of food and separate it into six 1/2 cups to feed six times during the day).

Note: This bland homemade diet should be fed to your dog strictly without anything else added (no other treats, supplements, table scraps, foods, or bones) for 4-5 days.

To transition your dog back to a normal diet:

When you reach days 4 to 6 on a bland diet and the symptoms have resolved, start reintroducing your pet's regular diet by gradually mixing it with the bland diet.

Keep reducing bland diet ingredients and increasing amounts of regular food for approximately 5 7 days.

Note: When reintroducing a dog back to the normal diet, keep up with the feeding frequency (i.e., 3 6 feed times a day) until you're finished with the transition.

Also, still keep all dog treats, table scraps, etc., away from your pet for at least another week.

If homemade dog food cooking is not an option, you can also choose a commercial bland diet.

Pick either a sensitive stomach brandor among the below best bland dog food brands designed for upset stomach:

3. Feed Some Yogurt as a Source of Probiotics

Certain foods are good for a dog with an upset stomach.

Yogurt contains natural probiotics, the helpful live bacteria (albeit a minimal amount) that will relieve an upset stomach and help get rid of gas and diarrhea.

Scientists confirm that a helping of yogurt can positively affect the digestive system in humans, mice, and our pets, dogs, and cats in particular.

When feeding it, ensure that its plain yogurt, the kind used for cooking, and not flavored or sweetened yogurt.

4. Use Broth During Fasting

Bone broth is a trendy food choice for those who are fasting, and it's perfect for pets who are going through therapeutic fasting after and during bouts of diarrhea or vomiting caused by stomach upset.

When your pet is hungry for more than just water but isnt up to solid food yet, either chicken broth or beef broth is a good compromise.

You can cook it yourself or buy pre-made broth.

When buying, read the label carefully and make sure there are no spices like onion or garlic.

It cannot be easy to find completely plain broth that will be safe for dogs, but some do exist. There are also broths made specifically for dogs, and our three favorites are:

5. Include Sweet Potato or Pumpkin

Finally, two great bland foods for a dog with an upset stomach are fresh, raw sweet potato and pumpkin (not the store-bought, canned varieties).

Give the dog a fresh pumpkin or cook up a couple of sweet potatoes.

Remove the skin and mash up the insides, then give your dog a few tablespoons to help get rid of diarrhea, gas and soothe their upset stomach.

Sweet potatoes and pumpkin are often part of a bland diet guide for any dog with an upset stomach because of their low-calorie content and nutrition, their fiber content, and that they're easy on a dog's digestive system.

How to Prevent Stomach Upset in Dogs

1. Change Your Dogs Water More Frequently

Water that sits around in your dog's water bowl can get stale and even start growing bacteria from your dogs saliva.

Studies show that some pet bowls also make our dogs sick, and it's better to use a stainless steel bowl than plastic ones.

Also, ensure your dog always has fresh cold water to drink. Note that not all tap water is safe for dogs.

While it may not necessarily cause stomach issues, hard tap water can have health consequences like urinary health issues, according to a 2016 study.

If you have access only to hard water at home, you'll need to switch to bottled water or distilled water kept in the fridge so its always cool.

Distilled water is very inexpensive and is much better for dogs than hard water from the tap.

2. Dont Change Your Dogs Food Suddenly

Completely switching a pet's diet all of a sudden can be the reason for a dog with an upset stomach.

Any diet changes should happen gradually because a dog's stomach needs time to adjust to new ingredients.

Also, food variety is rarely necessary for dogs as long as they get a well-balanced meal. More than variety, dogs need consistency when it comes to their diet.

If you are going to change your dogs food, do it slowly over the course of 6-10 days.

Add a handful of new food to a dogs regular food and slowly increase the amount of new food mixed with the old food until your dog is comfortable eating only the new food.

3. Dont Feed Your Dog Human Food

Certain human foods are healthy for dogs to consume.

But most foods from your table could be the reason a dog's stomach is upset.

Their digestive system isn't designed the same way as ours is and may not process those foods properly.

Some other foods may even be downright deadly.

4. Give Your Dog Probiotics

Studies show that probiotics can benefit a dog's digestive system.

But if you have a dog with an upset stomach, you'll need to first deal with this problem until it goes away completely and starts giving probiotics only after to prevent future stomach problems.

Probiotics for dogs are a great way to keep their digestive system healthy and prevent diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach upset.

You can use probiotic supplements, adding them once or twice a day, or choose foods with probiotics in them (e.g., yogurt).

5. Avoid too Many Dog Treats

Too many rich and high-calorie treats are the most common reason a dog develops an upset stomach. No more than 10% of their daily caloric needs should come from treats.

While some healthy treatsare less likely to upset a dog's stomach, keep the amount to a minimum and only use them as a training reward.

Remember that you can also use your dog's regular dry kibble as treats, which will normally be lower in calories and healthier for the dog.

When to Take Your Dog to the Vet for a Stomach Ache

You don't necessarily need to see your vet immediately if your dog likes to eat grass or shows other mild symptoms of an upset tummy.

However, if your dog shows any of the following symptoms, it may be an emergency. If you notice the following, take your dog to the vet immediately.

Continuous vomiting
Continuous diarrhea
Retching, but nothing comes up
Blood in his stool
Foreign objects in the vomit or stool
Distended stomach
Fever
Lethargy
Dehydration
Nervous pacing
Uncontrollable drooling
Weight loss

You should also take your dog to the vet for his upset stomach if the symptoms last more than two or three days.

Most of the time, a dog's upset stomach should clear up within 48 hours, so longer than this may indicate a more serious issue.

Potential Causes of Your Dog's Upset Stomach

Part of dealing with your dog's stomach being upset is figuring out what caused the issue.

The most common reason for upset stomach in dogs is because of something your dog ate or how he ate it.

If your dog eats too quickly and immediately goes outside to play, you may find yourself dealing with an upset stomach in dogs.

Or, if your dog eats something bad for him, this can also cause an upset stomach.

Your dog's stomach may also get upset if he is constipated or has gas.

It can also be due to parasites or bacteria.

Yet another possibility is that your dog has food sensitivities.

If your pup's stomach gets upset regularly, then dog owners may want to ask their vet about possible conditions causing the problem.

Bloating, gastrointestinal infections, obstructions, inflammation, ulcers, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, digestive system cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, motion sickness, or malabsorption can all cause.

Other potential causes include liver failure, kidney issues, parvovirus, or uterine infections.

Your dog may also have a viral or bacterial infection or have ingested poison.

You don't always need to figure out the cause of your dog's upset tummy.

That is especially true if it goes away on its own or with one of the remedies mentioned above.

However, if it continues or happens frequently, you should visit the vet.

He will ask about your dog's symptoms other than the upset stomach.

He will also likely ask about your dog's diet.

Depending on the symptoms, your dog may also undergo some tests.

Dog With Upset Stomach: FAQs

Whether your dog only occasionally has an upset stomach or seems to have one frequently, you may still have some questions.

Your vet can answer them for you, but you don't want to waste his time if it's unimportant.

The following FAQs should get you closer to understanding upset stomachs in dogs.

What Do You Give a Dog with an Upset Stomach?

You can give your dog bland foods instead of his normal dog food. Good options include chicken, rice, pumpkin, baby food, and bone broth.

How Long Does It Take for a Dog to Get Over an Upset Stomach?

Your dog's stomach issues should disappear within 48 hours or so, possibly within 24 hours.

If you still notice the symptoms after a few days, you should make an appointment with the vet.

What Causes Upset Stomach in Dogs?

There are dozens of potential causes of your dog's upset stomach.

The most common reasons are the same ones humans would have an upset stomach.

These include eating something he should not have eaten or eating too fast right before playing or exercising.

Stomach issues may also be due to parasites, viral or bacterial infections, or a range of other conditions.

Your dog may get an upset stomach if there are issues with his kidneys, liver, stomach, digestive system, or other organs.

A dog's upset stomach can also be from diabetes, cancer, or a range of other conditions.

As you can tell, some of the causes of a dog's upset stomach are minor and nothing to worry about. Others are much more serious.

That is why dog owners should always take their pups to the vet for upset stomachs that last more than a few days.

What to Give a Dog for Upset Stomach and Vomiting?

Dog owners frequently wonder if they can give their pup human medicine for an upset stomach.

Most dogs can safely have bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol).

However, it is best to consult your vet before giving your dog any human medication.

Your local emergency veterinary hospital can also offer suggestions.

They may also give you a prescription after examining your dog.

What Can I Give My Senior Dog for Upset Stomach?

A great option for dogs with stomach aches is canned pumpkin.

This is good for your canine's digestion.

You can also try giving him a tablespoon of unsweetened yogurt.

Other options include plain brown rice or boiled and shredded chicken.

When Should I Take My Dog to the Vet for an Upset Stomach?

Take your dog to the local emergency veterinary hospital if you notice blood in his vomit or diarrhea.

You should also take him if he vomits at least three times within eight hours.

Dog With Upset Stomach: Before You Go

If you have a dog with upset stomach, there are some remedies that you may try at home to help relieve his symptoms, ease indigestion, and speed his recovery.

It's critical to take into account the potential triggers of stomach upset in dogs and be mindful of the clinical symptoms they show.

By taking the appropriate step, you can help them feel normal again.

Dogs may recover from an upset stomach naturally, but if it persists after 48 hours, consult with your vet.