What can you give a dog for an upset stomach?

An upset stomach in dogs can lead to problems like vomiting and diarrhea. No matter how small or big the issue looks like, it needs a treatment. Everybody can agree to the fact that frequent vet visits can cost a lot. Sometimes it becomes hard to afford vet trips. But in such cases, the question arises is what can you give a dog for an upset stomach that can provide fast relief. Not all stomach issues require instant medical treatment and small steps can help improve the symptoms. All you have to do is follow a routine in order to help improve the symptoms.

What can you give a dog for an upset stomach?

If you are looking forward to treating your dog’s upset stomach at home, then you can follow the tips given below:

Give enough water

Keeping your dog hydrated is the best thing you can do to help your dog with its upset stomach. It is important because diarrhea can lead to quick dehydration. That’s why it is necessary to give your dog water frequently to manage the hydration level of the dog. Apart from giving water, you also have to maintain a pet’s hydration level by retaining vitamins and electrolytes.

What can you give a dog for an upset stomach

So make sure you also give them in plenty.  If your dog is not drinking enough water, then you can trick them by adding water to their meal. This way they will be able to retain water in their body that is lost due to vomiting and diarrhea.  If your dog is too much dehydrated then it needs immediate medical attention as dehydration can quickly cause organ failure.

Dog upset stomach symptoms

Generally, if a dog is suffering from stress or has eaten something that it shouldn’t have then it can upset its stomach. If you can’t reach out to the vet right away, then you can’t always know what’s really happening, but still, there are some symptoms that you can look out for that give an indication towards the upset stomach in dogs.

  • Bloated stomach
  • Dehydration
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Drowsiness and lethargy

   What to do in such case?

If you think that your dog is sick and having stomach issues, then what you can do is, you can check the dog’s temperature. This is advised in such cases when the vet isn’t available. You can use a rectal thermometer in order to check your dog’s body temperature.

What can you give a dog for an upset stomach

Normally, a dog’s body temperature should be 101.5 degrees F. IF your dog’s body temperature is 102 degrees or more then it means that your dog has a high fever. And if it’s lower than 99 degrees, then it is also an emergency case where the dog should be taken for medical treatment.

If the temperature is normal, then you can relax as the dog might not need medical treatment. If your dog is on some medication already then it can result in a change in your dog’s bowel movement which is not alarming.

Can I give my dog Pepto-Bismol for an upset stomach?

Yes, you can give your dog Pepto-Bismol. It works amazingly well in treating an upset stomach. All you have to do is mix crushed up Pepto-Bismol in a small amount with water. In order to start dosage, it is important to consult a vet as it is not safe to start any medication without any medical professional guidance.

What can you give a dog for an upset stomach

This way you can be sure and not give something harmful to your dog. Overall, Pepto-Bismol is pretty safe if you want to relieve your dog’s upset stomach. But as we said before, you should always ask a vet if you want to start a new medication.

Another remedy for an upset stomach

If you want to treat your dog’s upset stomach, you can go for fasting. Don’t give our dog food for the next few hours. This remedy might work because by fasting, the gastrointestinal tract of a dog’s stomach can recover from all the inflammation that it might be suffering from. Even though dogs do this on their own by losing some appetite, but if the dog is not sick enough then this natural phenomenon won’t happen.

That’s why, as an owner, it is your responsibility to stop feeding your dog for the next 12 hours. Moreover, not feeding your dog for some time won’t do any harm. Preventing your dog from eating actually help in stopping any further damage.

What to feed your dog when it is sick?

Even though the dog will stop eating on its own after sickness, still you need to ensure that it doesn’t eat for a few hours. And after that, make sure that the dog is hydrated. Sickness can dehydrate your dog making it even vulnerable to severe health issues. Also, make sure that you start your dog’s diet only when the digestive tract of your dog has completely recovered.

This can be confirmed when diarrhea and vomiting have reduced. And once you see the relief in the sickness, you can start a bland diet after 24 hours. Just like the name suggests, bland food is healthy and light on the dog’s stomach, which makes it easy to digest. In order to avoid sickness, feed the dog in small quantities.

Conclusion

If you want to know what to give your dog for an upset stomach then the only safe answer is water. An upset stomach can lead to dehydration in dogs. If you can avoid that and provide your dog with required vet treatment, you can treat your dog’s upset stomach. If you frequently see the signs of vomiting and diarrhea, you need to understand that it’s a case of medical emergency and required immediate medical attention.

So, look out for the signs and don’t feed your dog with anything until the doctor prescribes something. Not eating for some time can actually help with your dog’s symptoms. These gastrointestinal problems may look harmless and minor, but in reality, if not treated in time can put your pet’s life at risk.