Dog Upset Stomach
Dogs bring joy, companionship, and unconditional love into our lives. That wagging tail and sloppy kiss can cure even the worst human days. However, when dogs experience stomach upset—whether from what they ate, stress, or a diet change—it can leave both the pet and its owner feeling down in the dumps.
Fortunately, we live in the 21st Century, and help is in the palm of your hand. In a jiffy, you can research: “dog upset stomach,” one of the most common reasons dog owners seek veterinary advice. The good news is that with some basic knowledge and understanding, pet owners can manage and help prevent stomach upset. With a perspective on how the canine digestive system works, what causes canine stomach upset, and how nutrition influences gut health, take a proactive approach to your pet’s health.
This blog will walk through the most common causes of dog upset stomach. We’ll cover symptoms to watch for, supportive care options, and how proper nutrition can help maintain a balanced digestive system.
Vitalize® Products Promote a Healthy Gut
The Vitalize® Team is comprised of dog lovers just like you. We have Corgis, Australian Shepherds, English Sheepdogs, Great Danes, Blue Heelers, and everything in between. We breed dogs for companionship. Overall, our goals are the same as yours—keep them healthy and happy. However, we know that sometimes they sneak a treat, and a dog upset stomach happens.
At Vitalize, we focus on dog nutrition because we know that good nutrition influences every facet of your dog’s life: overall health and well-being, coat and skin health, dental health, and general attitude. At Vitalize, we make supplements for horses, dogs, and cats with proven solutions to keep your animal healthy and performing.
Enough about us. Let’s dig into what causes a dog upset stomach, and what we can do to prevent it.
Why Dogs Experience Stomach Upset
The digestive system in dogs is designed to break down food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate waste. When something interrupts this process—diet, stress, bacteria, or illness—it results in vomiting, diarrhea, gas, lack of appetite, or simply not behaving like their usual selves.
Common Causes of Digestive Upset
1. Dietary Indiscretion or “Garbage Gut”
Dogs are natural explorers and scavengers. Whether it’s the trash can, outdoor scraps, or table food dropped on the floor, eating things that aren’t part of their regular diet can cause sudden dog upset stomach.
2. Rapid Diet Change
Unlike humans, dogs’ digestive systems adapt slowly to new foods. Switching foods too quickly can disrupt the natural microbial balance, leading to diarrhea or upset stomachs in dogs.
3. Food Intolerance or Sensitivity
Some dogs are sensitive to certain proteins or ingredients. Common triggers include beef, dairy, chicken, wheat, and soy. These sensitivities often cause chronic loose stool, gas, or itching.
4. Stress & Routine Changes
Travel, boarding, weather changes, new family members, extra noise, holiday excitement or separation anxiety can alter normal gut function. The gut and brain are closely connected, meaning stress can directly influence digestion. Dogs are definitely creatures of habit, so keeping them on a schedule, including meals, play, and bedtimes, is important to their health.
5. Parasites or Illness
Worms, infections, pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease can also cause ongoing digestive problems. Regular veterinary care is key to identifying these issues.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Dog Upset Stomach
Signs of a dog upset stomach can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Soft stools or diarrhea
- Excessive gas
- Reduced appetite
- Gurgling stomach noises
- Eating grass
- Low energy or irritability
When It’s Time to Call the Vet
Some symptoms of stomach upset suggest something more serious, and it becomes time to seek veterinary assistance. If your canine companion shows the following signs, seek medical attention:
- Blood in stool or vomit. Anytime you see blood where you shouldn’t, seek medical attention. Especially if it is persistent.
- Repeated vomiting lasting longer than 12–24 hours. Dogs are known to throw up a little grass once in a while. However, if your pet vomits repeatedly in 12 hours, call your vet.
- A swollen or tight abdomen. This is often a sign of bloat.
- Signs of dehydration. Look for dry gums, sunken eyes, or skin that stays “tented” when gently pinched.
- Weakness or collapse. When your high-energy dog turns lethargic or doesn’t move, you need to seek medical attention. It’s their way of saying, “help.”
Remember, those fur friends can tell us so much with a wagging tail and a sloppy kiss. The converse is true when they don’t feel well. Please seek immediate veterinary attention when they show any prolonged negative signs.
It is vital to have an established relationship with your veterinarian. Listen to him or her, and make sure to have your dog examined annually. That is the best way to build a veterinary-client relationship with your dog and the vet. That also helps with dog anxiety, and the dog won’t think going to the vet has to be just for troubleshooting or sickness.
The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Digestive Health
Inside the digestive tract is a community of billions of microorganisms known as the gut microbiome. These bacteria help break down food, produce vitamins, support immune function, and protect the gut against harmful organisms.
When the microbiome is balanced, digestion runs smoothly. But when that balance is disrupted—through stress, antibiotics, diet change, or environmental shifts—dogs are more prone to stomach upset.
That’s where nutrition and targeted digestive support come into play.
Addressing a Dog Upset Stomach at Home
For mild, temporary symptoms, we suggest some at-home support methods to see if they offer relief to your dog. Remember, these are only suggestions, and we always recommend working with your dog’s veterinarian for long-term sustainable care.
Short-term Bland Diet
Boiled chicken or rice gives the gut time to recover and heal from any trauma it has experienced. However, neither of these ingredients are packed with complete nutrition, so only use them for a short-term solution.
Support Hydration
Water is the most essential nutrient for every living being. Ensure your dog has constant access to fresh, clean, cool water, at least daily. Check with your vet before adding any electrolyte solutions to the water.
Pumpkin Season
Provide your fur baby with fresh or canned pumpkin—plain, hold the spice. Pumpkin is a great source of soluble fiber and helps normalize stool consistency.
Slow Diet Transitions
Dogs are creatures of habit, and so are their digestive systems. To prevent diet-related stomach issues, slowly transition any dog food changes over several days. Start with a small amount of the new food with some of the old and gradually increase it each day so they eventually get all new food and none of the old.
Prebiotics, Probiotics & Why They Matter
Although similar in name, probiotics and prebiotics are actually very different.
Probiotics are beneficial live bacteria that support digestion and immunity. Prebiotics are specialized fibers that feed those beneficial bacteria.
They work best as a team—probiotics add helpful microbes, while prebiotics create an environment where those microbes can thrive. Prebiotics are often more stable than probiotics, making them especially useful for daily digestive support.
We have already introduced you to AO-Biotics Amaferm, earlier in this blog. Amaferm is a research-proven prebiotic that promotes digestion and absorption of nutrients across all animals. At BioZyme, we make Vitalize for dogs, cats, and horses to help give animals a good gut feeling and support digestive health to help prevent dog upset stomach.
Amaferm Can Prevent Dog Upset Stomach Challenges
Amaferm is a precision prebiotic that promotes optimal gut health. It is derived from a proprietary fermentation process and is designed to support microbial activity in the gut. Unlike generic dietary fiber prebiotics, Amaferm is scientifically developed to enhance the growth and efficiency of beneficial gut microbes, helping dogs digest feed more effectively and maintain a balanced digestive system.
Vitalize is the line of supplements for dogs with proven solutions to keep your animal healthy and performing. Amaferm is the key ingredient in Vitalize to keep your dogs feeling good from the inside out.
Let’s explore the key benefits that Amaferm offers dogs:
Improves Digestive Efficiency
Dogs get a better breakdown and utilization of nutrients from every bite of food they eat.
Support a Balanced Microbiome
A balanced microbiome helps reduce the risk of digestive upset, often the result of stress or diet change.
Enhances Nutrient Absorption
Nutrients are better partitioned and better support healthy skin, hair coat, energy levels, and immune function for your pet.
Assists with Stool Consistency
Reduces incidents of loose stool or unexplained diarrhea.
Since Amaferm works directly in the gut to support the natural microbial population, it is beneficial every day, not just during times of digestive distress. Vitalize offers three Amaferm-powered products to help give your dogs a good gut feeling.
Vitalize Products for Dogs
Here is a rundown of the products Vitalize offers, specifically for digestive health.
Vitalize® Dog
Vitalize® Dog is a granular vitamin and mineral supplement for dogs designed to support breeding and performance. It contains Amaferm, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility, omegas for healthy skin and hair, and a high-quality blend of vitamins and minerals for daily support of any diet.
Vitalize® Alimend® K9
Vitalize Alimend K9 is a liquid product for dogs designed to support gastric health and GI tissue and which may relieve occasional gastric issues. In addition to Amaferm, it contains MHB3®, a patented high molecular weight hyaluronic acid that coats the stomach and supports GI tissue integrity. It also contains beta-glucans to support the gut and immune system.
Vitalize® Dog Gel
Vitalize Dog Gel is a prebiotic and nutrient-rich gel for dogs. It immediately supports the digestive and immune systems. It contains Amaferm and MOS to help normalize gut microflora and the immune system. The gel works fast to support appetite and hydration.
The Final Word
Providing digestive support before stressful times in your dog’s life helps prevent dog upset stomach challenges. Take a proactive approach by supporting the gut consistently, not just waiting to reduce issues once they start. You can do that with products from Vitalize!
Daily supplementation with Vitalize can help your canine friends during several stressful times, including:
- Travel, boarding, and stressful events
- Transition between foods more smoothly
- Support senior dogs with slower digestive function
- Promote normal stool quality in active or working dogs
- Aid puppies with developing digestive systems
Stomach upset is common in dogs, but with the right knowledge and proactive care, most digestive issues can be managed or minimized. Understanding the role of the microbiome, recognizing common causes, and supporting gut health with proven ingredients like Amaferm helps dogs feel better, stay healthier, and maintain the energy and happiness we love them for.
Get Your Vitalize Now
A healthy gut is the foundation of a healthy dog, and with the right nutritional tools, we can keep their tails wagging and their stomachs comfortable every day. Are you ready to invest in the products that keep those tail wags and sloppy kisses greeting you each day?
We have made purchasing Vitalize as easy as possible.
You can visit your local dealer to purchase Vitalize products. Discover where to buy near you, today.
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