Is your dog suffering from a sensitive stomach? Digestive issues are never fun, for dogs or humans! Thankfully, there are ways in which we can support our canine friends and improve their tummy troubles. Read on to discover our top tips and advice. And, as always, we’re always here to help if you have any questions!
How do I know if my dog has a sensitive stomach? Here are the signs to watch out for
Just like us, dogs can suffer from sensitive tummies when they eat certain foods. They may also suffer from an upset stomach when you change their foods. Here are a few signs which you might notice if your dog does have an upset stomach:
Lack of appetite
Excessive wind
Diarrhoea
Loose and/or runny stools
Change in mood
Should I take my dog to the vet if I suspect an upset stomach?
If your dog is suffering from a sensitive or upset tummy there are ways you can manage this at home, however, there are various symptoms that require immediate veterinary attention. This includes blood in their stools, frequent vomiting, sudden weight loss, and any signs that your dog might be suffering from abdominal pain (for example when you touch their tummy, are they reacting and displaying signs of pain?). If your dog is displaying any of these, then it’s best to head to your veterinarian.
What causes a sensitive/upset stomach in dogs?
There are various different factors that can contribute to your dog’s upset stomach. Some dogs are simply born with inherited digestive issues and need an extra hand when it comes to their digestive system. Other causes can include; eating their food too quickly, a change of diet, sensitivity to certain foods and bacterial infections/parasites.
How can I treat my dog’s sensitive/upset stomach?
When it comes to treating your dog’s sensitive stomach it can be a trial and error process, as, unfortunately, there is no universal solution – every dog is different! If you can identify what you think is causing your dog’s tummy problems this will make life easier. Here are our top tips for treating your dog’s tummy…
Analyse their diet – what does your dog eat in a day? If you’re giving your dog lots of scraps and human foods then try cutting this out as it could be the root cause of their issues.
Stick to natural treats – it might not be their food that’s causing upset but their treats. Check the ingredients list and try to stick with treats that are as natural as possible. Discover natural dog treats here.
Change their food – certain proteins can cause issues with dogs so you might find that your pooch isn’t getting on with chicken or fish for example. It might be that you need to change their food but it’s important that this is a gradual change.
Choose quality – ditch the rubbish ingredients and opt for a dog food that uses high-quality, natural ingredients.
Go grain-free – some dogs don’t get on well with grains so by switching to grain-free dog food you might find this greatly improves your dog’s digestive system.
Introduce a supplement – just like humans, there are various supplements our dogs can take to support their digestive system. Our range of natural digestive support for dogs has been specially formulated to support sensitive tummies.
Can probiotics help to improve my dog’s sensitive stomach?
Nasty bacteria can cause an imbalance in your dog’s digestion and this is where a probiotic can really help your pup! With the addition of good bacteria, your dog will be able to better digest their food and fight off the bad bacteria that could be making them ill. It can also give their immune system a boost. BUT you need to ensure you are giving your dog the right probiotic and administering the correct amount too. If your dog is suffering regularly from loose stools and tummy troubles, our probiotics for dogs and puppies could help to soothe their stomach with a combination of three key ingredients! Read our previous blog post here about dogs and probiotics.
What foods can affect a dog’s digestive system?
As we said before, every dog is different but there are a few usual suspects that crop up when we’re talking about sensitive tummies. Common foods that cause sensitive stomachs in dog’s include:
Dairy products such as milk and cheese
Soy
Grains
Certain proteins e.g. chicken and fish
Deli-style meats
Overly-processed foods
What foods are poisonous to dogs?
If your dog’s tummy issues have come on suddenly, it might be that they’ve got their paws on human foods that are not suitable for pups. If you think this is the case, veterinary attention should be sought immediately. Foods that are highly toxic/poisonous to dogs include:
Chocolate
Onions
Grapes and raisins
Garlic
Macadamia nuts
Avocado
Cooked bones
Did you know an upset stomach can also trigger itchy skin?
Your dog’s diet can also kick off itchy skin problems in your dog. Classic signs of this include; excessive scratching, hair loss, and patches of sore and dry skin. You can, of course, try itchy skin supplements to aid this but if it is being caused by digestive issues then it’s important to treat the root cause, and, hopefully, the tips you’ve read will help!
We hope these top tips help you and your dog’s journey to better gut health. If you have any questions about any of our products, you can contact us by calling 01223 855857 or emailing us at sales@broadreachnature.com.
My Dog Has A Sensitive Stomach: What Should I Do?
Is your dog suffering from a sensitive stomach? Digestive issues are never fun, for dogs or humans! Thankfully, there are ways in which we can support our canine friends and improve their tummy troubles. Read on to discover our top tips and advice. And, as always, we’re always here to help if you have any questions!
How do I know if my dog has a sensitive stomach? Here are the signs to watch out for
Just like us, dogs can suffer from sensitive tummies when they eat certain foods. They may also suffer from an upset stomach when you change their foods. Here are a few signs which you might notice if your dog does have an upset stomach:
Should I take my dog to the vet if I suspect an upset stomach?
If your dog is suffering from a sensitive or upset tummy there are ways you can manage this at home, however, there are various symptoms that require immediate veterinary attention. This includes blood in their stools, frequent vomiting, sudden weight loss, and any signs that your dog might be suffering from abdominal pain (for example when you touch their tummy, are they reacting and displaying signs of pain?). If your dog is displaying any of these, then it’s best to head to your veterinarian.
What causes a sensitive/upset stomach in dogs?
There are various different factors that can contribute to your dog’s upset stomach. Some dogs are simply born with inherited digestive issues and need an extra hand when it comes to their digestive system. Other causes can include; eating their food too quickly, a change of diet, sensitivity to certain foods and bacterial infections/parasites.
How can I treat my dog’s sensitive/upset stomach?
When it comes to treating your dog’s sensitive stomach it can be a trial and error process, as, unfortunately, there is no universal solution – every dog is different! If you can identify what you think is causing your dog’s tummy problems this will make life easier. Here are our top tips for treating your dog’s tummy…
Can probiotics help to improve my dog’s sensitive stomach?
Nasty bacteria can cause an imbalance in your dog’s digestion and this is where a probiotic can really help your pup! With the addition of good bacteria, your dog will be able to better digest their food and fight off the bad bacteria that could be making them ill. It can also give their immune system a boost. BUT you need to ensure you are giving your dog the right probiotic and administering the correct amount too. If your dog is suffering regularly from loose stools and tummy troubles, our probiotics for dogs and puppies could help to soothe their stomach with a combination of three key ingredients! Read our previous blog post here about dogs and probiotics.
What foods can affect a dog’s digestive system?
As we said before, every dog is different but there are a few usual suspects that crop up when we’re talking about sensitive tummies. Common foods that cause sensitive stomachs in dog’s include:
What foods are poisonous to dogs?
If your dog’s tummy issues have come on suddenly, it might be that they’ve got their paws on human foods that are not suitable for pups. If you think this is the case, veterinary attention should be sought immediately. Foods that are highly toxic/poisonous to dogs include:
Did you know an upset stomach can also trigger itchy skin?
Your dog’s diet can also kick off itchy skin problems in your dog. Classic signs of this include; excessive scratching, hair loss, and patches of sore and dry skin. You can, of course, try itchy skin supplements to aid this but if it is being caused by digestive issues then it’s important to treat the root cause, and, hopefully, the tips you’ve read will help!
We hope these top tips help you and your dog’s journey to better gut health. If you have any questions about any of our products, you can contact us by calling 01223 855857 or emailing us at sales@broadreachnature.com.