Dog Upset Stomach Treatment

When your dog has an upset stomach, it can easily be treated at home with a bland diet and a couple of simple at home remedies.  But if your dog's vomiting persists for more than four hours or you notice that  there is blood in the vomit or in the diarrhea, make a visit to your veterinarian immediately!

There are many causes for an upset stomach, such as him eating something he should not have or having a change in his diet.  But most of the time, these problems are mild and can be treated at home.  One of the most important things is preventing your dog from becoming dehydrated when he is not keeping his food down.  One of the ways to find out if your dog is becoming dehydrated is by pulling back on his skin and see if it snaps back quickly.  If it does not, then he is becoming dehydrated.

You can also replenish his water bowl with a little Pedialyte or Gatorade.  Encourage him to drink, and if he does not, then use a dropper if needed.

If your dog has diarrhea or is vomiting, it is a good idea to have him fast for twelve hours.  This will allow them to purge whatever is making them sick without making them even more sick.  Then after the twelve hours feed him a reduced portion of food or give him a bland diet.  A bland diet consists of half boiled skinless chicken or turkey and half of some brown rice.  The brown rice will help harden their stool and the chicken or turkey will give them the nutrients they need to bounce back.  Feed them three to four times a day rather than their usual meal times.

Sometimes a spoonful of yogurt or cottage cheese can help replace some of the good bacteria that was lost when they were sick.

At times, veterinarians will recommend antacids to help reduce stomach inflammation.  But do not do this without consulting with your veterinarian first.  Ginger root in the pill form can also help with the nausea naturally.  If you happen to notice your dog eating grass, let him.  It is his little way of cleansing his system out.  These remedies will only work for a mild stomachache.  

If your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, it should not be ignored.  But if it is a mild problem, make sure to not feed your dog for 12 to 24 hours, proceed with a bland diet, and add a little pumpkin, cottage cheese, or ginger to help with the nausea.  This should clear up the problem in a short period of time.