Dog Health Stomach"Dog health stomach depends on good nutrition and keeping your dog from eating foreign objects such as bones, rocks and grass. The most common symptoms is vomiting with/without diarrhea which should resolve itself within 24 to 48 hours once food and water is withheld. If your dog is not acting normally, you see blood, the vomiting is projectile and you sense something is not right such as unusual behavior, consult a veterinarian immediately. If you see the stomach becoming enlarged also seek immediate treatment as this could be bloat, a life threatening condition where the stomach contents is not draining properly." Dog health stomach issues can be due to many different types of dog stomach problems including:
Sometimes dog stomach problems are confused with problems that effect the different places along the digestive tract (GI disease). These problems cause inflammation. Common causes and problems include:
The key to understanding these issues is the severity of the symptoms and how long they last. If the stomach is the problem, then the most common symptom is vomiting. If the problem is due to inflammation in the digestive tract then vomiting is often accompanied by diarrhea, weight loss, appetite loss, avoidance of eating (anorexia). Vomiting vs. RegurgitationThe most common symptoms of a dog health stomach issue is vomiting. It is important to distinguish between regurgitation and vomiting. In regurgitation food that enters your dog is rejected before it enters the stomach. It is due to an issue with the esophagus, which is the tube which leads from the mouth into the stomach. Regurgitation happens when there is something blocking the esophagus such as something your dog has eaten. Another accompanying symptom is drooling. A partial blockage will result in a persistent problem. Vomiting is when the contents of your dogs stomach is expelled by the body. It usually has a bad smell and looks like it contains food which hasn't been digested all of the way. Stomach problems are related to vomiting. Other illnesses related to dog vomiting includes diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, liver disease or a problem wi ht your dog's electrolytes (the sales and minerals that help the body conduct electrical impulses). Treatment for Dog Health Stomach
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| Dog Ulcers | This is caused by medications which irritate the stomach such as ibuprofen. Treatment involves common stomach remedies such as Pepcid. |
| Blockages | This happens when your dog's stomach cannot be emptied. X-rays and ultrasound are used to see inside your dog's stomach with surgery the most common treatment for the problem. |
| Stomach Tumors | Older dogs suffer from this problem and involves removing the growth causing the problem with surgery. |
| Bloat (gastric dilatation volvulus) | A very serious issue involving emergency treatment. The stomach fills with fluid and then rotates pulling other organs with it. Your emergency veterinary center will drain the stomach and then attempt to reposition the organs. |
| Gastritis | Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes irritated. The most common cause is a food allergy or from eating something your dog shouldn't such as grass. The problem will either resolve itself within 48 hours or your veterinarian will prescribe a medication designed to protect the stomach and GI system such as Pepcid or Tagamet. |
| Motion Sickness | Young dogs that are not used to being in a moving car sometimes get motion sick. Once your dog gets used to the motion, they should be fine. Until then your veterinarian can prescribe common motion sickness drugs such as Dramamine. |
| Irritable Bowel Disease | Canine irritable bowel disease happens when the stomach or intestines suffer from inflammation. It is caused by either eating table scraps or by a parasitic infection. Treatment includes limiting food intake and eliminating the underlying cause. |
| Addisons Disease | These are glands that excrete hormones that help the body function. This is not a stomach problem, but the symptoms are similar such as diarrhea and vomiting. Prescription medications such as Florinef and Percorten can treat this condition. |
Preventing Dog Health Stomach Problems
Prevention of dog health stomach problems includes feeling your dog a balanced diet and avoiding opportunities for your dog to over eat or ingest a foreign object. A balanced diet contains:
- Carbohydrates (starch, sugar, roughage, fiber, grains, cereals)
- Fats (important for vitamin absorption)
- Proteins (vegetable, meat, eggs, dairy)
- Vitamins (B, A, D, E, K- dogs do not require C)
- Minerals (Iodine, iron, copper, cobalt, zinc, manganese, flourine, chromium)
- Water
As long as you are feeding your dog a reputable commercial brand that is AAFCO certified. then you should be providing the necessary nutrients for dog health stomach. The biggest difference between types is the amount of water in the food, which isn't an issue if your dog is drinking properly. Dry dog foods tend to cost less and are fine for most dogs. If you believe diet is a problem your veterinarian can recommend a Prescription Diet that limits certain parts of the diet.
There are also several natural herbal remedies that are associated with helping dog's maintain normal balance in the digestive tract. One product to research which is made specifically for this purpose is PetAlive Digestive Support to treat Digestive System Problems in Pets. Discuss this option with your veterinarian so that he or she can track progress.
References for Dog Health Stomach:
The Complete Book of Dog Health
Kay, William J., The Animal Medical Center
Hound Health Handbook
Brevitz, Betsy DVM
Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
Eldredge, Debra,; Carlson, Liisa; Carlson, Delbert; Giffin, James
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