4 Tips For Caring for a Dog With a Sensitive Stomach

Author: Moses Mwangi | September 26, 2022 | Updated October 2, 2022
dog hydration, dogs with sensitive stomach, feeding your dog, gentle foods, natural treats
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caring dog sensitive stomach
Photo by Inge Van den Heuvel on Pexels

It’s common for dogs to have sensitive tummies. This might be caused by canine domestication and how you feed your pets. Common signs of a sensitive stomach in dogs include vomiting, flatulence, constipation and diarrhea. This condition makes it hard to feed a pet and may cause malnutrition and chronic pain in dogs.

Knowing how to care for a dog with a sensitive tummy is key to alleviating these symptoms. Here are some tips if your dog has a sensitive stomach.

1. Feed your dog the right food

Feeding your dog proper food is an essential part of caring for a sensitive stomach. Most vets will recommend easy-to-digest food for between 3–10 days. You can feed your pet therapeutic food or your vet might recommend a homemade recipe.

The best dog food for sensitive stomachs will have low-fat content and is highly digestible. Easy-to-digest dog foods offer more nutrients for the food volume. Low fat is essential since fat is one of the hardest things for a dog to digest, and consuming too much can lead to pancreatitis.

2. Keep your dog hydrated

Ensure your dog stays hydrated throughout the day by giving it clean, fresh drinking water at different times, especially before a meal, for detoxification. An upset stomach can cause diarrhea, leading to dehydration and loss of essential nutrients. It’s important to ensure your furry friend replenishes what they have lost.

Watch your dog’s water intake and ensure they also don’t drink too much after the meal since this may lead to severe diarrhea. To avoid this, give your pup a few ice cubes or teaspoons of water instead of a full bowl.


3. Stick to natural treats.

Giving your dog your food leftovers can seem like a fun and natural treat, but even small portions of unusual foods can lead to a sensitive stomach. A consistent diet can help in soothing an upset stomach in dogs.

Avoid giving your pup meat and vegetables cooked with spices and herbs since these foods are not easy for a dog to digest. Dog treats are good, but they should make up only 10% of your dog’s daily calories. Ensure the treats are natural and appropriate for your dog’s digestive system to prevent side effects.

4. Try gentle foods

dog with sensitive stomach

Canned pumpkin is another perfect, natural remedy for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Pumpkin is rich in soluble fiber which can help soothe an irritated bowel and help fight indigestion in dogs. In addition, the fiber causes a delay of the bowel transit time, relieving the digestive system from diarrhea. However, ensure the pumpkin you serve is pure, without any spices.

Pumpkin is also a good source of potassium, an essential nutrient your dog may lose from diarrhea. Potassium deficiency may lead to weakness, fatigue, abnormal heart rate and hypokalemia. A half teaspoon serving of pumpkin daily is enough for a small puppy, while adult dogs typically need one teaspoon.

Endnote

Managing a dog’s sensitive stomach can be difficult, especially when you try to isolate the ingredients causing the reaction. Luckily for dogs with an upset stomach, plenty of options are available to help your pet feel better fast. With your vet’s assistance, you can help your furry friend get over a sensitive stomach and get back to ball-chasing and tail-wagging.

About the Author

caring dog sensitive stomach

Moses Mwangi

Moses is a committed, seasoned content creator who turns ideas into valuable website content and offers quality, fluff-free information across various niches. His area of specialization is writing about pets and animals, and he has passionately been creating content on the niche for over four years. Being a pet lover and having raised and traine[...] Author Details

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