Snapshot: If you are a dog owner, you might have experienced your dog having stomach issues. This can be because of a lot of reasons. The problem can sometimes be in the diet of your dog as well.
Sensitivity in the stomach is a common problem with dogs and to know how you can deal with it, give this post a read.
Just like humans, dogs too have an upset stomach at times.
During these times, the owner needs to take care of the meal that he is offering to his dog. It is also important for you to make sure that your dog doesn’t get into trash or nibble upon anything that can cause contamination in your dog’s stomach.
Read this post till the end to get all your questions related to sensitivity in the stomach of dogs answered.
What can be the cause of Sensitive Stomachs in your dog?
Before starting your search for the best food for your dog, you need to know what exactly is the cause of the sensitive stomach in your dog.
Just like human beings, some dogs are intolerant of certain specific food ingredients. And, you must avoid those ingredients from their meal.
For some dogs, a sensitive stomach might not be a very serious concern whereas, for some other dogs, it can become fatal as well. However, if you find your dog showing any symptom of a sensitive stomach you must take him to the vet immediately.
You might feel that booking an appointment with the vet for your dog can be expensive, but you shouldn’t also forget that the food you buy for your dog is no less expensive.
There are different causes of a sensitive stomach in a dog. Some dogs are intolerant of certain proteins whereas some other dogs cannot tolerate much fat.
Sometimes, it can be so that the meal you are giving to your dog is not enough to suffice his requirements which is causing an upset stomach. You must make sure to provide all the necessary ingredients in your dog’s food such as vitamins and minerals, fats, proteins, etc.
Another common reason for upset stomach in dogs is the consumption of trash such as table scraps, etc. If your dog has a habit of getting into the trash or nibbling upon any random thing from the garbage disposal, chances are high that he might have an upset stomach.
How do you know if your dog has a sensitive stomach?
In simple terms, the term ‘ sensitive stomach ‘ is generally used for describing moderate stomach-related problems in dogs. These are very common with dogs only if they don’t become too severe after which they can even become fatal to your dog.
Some common symptoms by which you can understand that your dog has a sensitive stomach is mentioned below as follows:
- Loose motion
This is one of the most common symptoms of the sensitive stomach in dogs. If you find your dog producing loose, watery stool you should understand that there is something wrong with his stomach. People also refer to this condition as Diarrhoea. It can become severe if not treated at the right time.
- Occasionally puking
Another common symptom that can be found in dogs with a sensitive stomach is vomiting. Dogs who have a sensitive stomach can be seen puking sometimes or frequently as well. This vomit can sometimes be covered in blood too. So, if you find your dog puking occasionally even if not always, it is high time you should take him to the vet real soon.
- Flatulence
Flatulence can never really be a bad symptom for your dog. But, at times when it becomes too much, it demands your attention. If you find your dog showing too much flatulence, you must become very conscious and take him to the vet so that he gets examined thoroughly.
Hence, these are some common symptoms of a sensitive stomach in your dog. If you find any one of these symptoms in your dog, you shouldn’t make it late and take him to the vet as soon as possible.
How can you find the best food for your dog’s sensitive stomach?
Nowadays, the internet is the sole source of every other information you need. Similarly, you can find a lot of advice and suggestions about dog food on the internet.
However, not all advice and suggestions can be suited for the stomach of your dog because different dogs have different stomach conditions. Sometimes, these devices can be very misleading for you.
So, it is always better to start your research by consulting with the vet himself. The vet knows your dog like no one else and so consulting him can be a reliable option. Your vet can also suggest a few good dog food brands which you can go for.
Apart from that, another way by which you can search for the best dog food is by considering the health of your dog and his stomach conditions. You can try giving him the food you want and notice if there are any negative effects. If you find any negative effect on your dog, you must stop giving him that food immediately.
How can the elimination of extra food items help?
A very important thing that you must keep in mind is the fact that your dog is not a garbage disposal and you just cannot feed him anything you want. Similar to some people, dogs also have sensitivity in their stomach and their stomach becomes upset or irritated very easily. This can make it difficult for the owners to choose the right meal for their dog.
A common cause of your dog having a sensitive stomach can be the meal he consumes. Many times, searching for the best dog food for your dog can help in the reduction of symptoms of sensitivity in the stomach and help in fixing his GI tract.
Sometimes, interpreting what is wrong with the food your dog consumes might not be an easy thing to do. All it needs is a strong will to get started. You can begin by removing all the extra items from the meal of your dog. Here, by the term extra items, we mean everything except his food ingredients. This can include, garbage, table scraps, and a lot of other things too.
You must make sure to keep checking if your dog is sneaking into the trash or is nibbling onto something which can be harmful to his stomach. This will not just keep the stomach of your dog healthy but will also keep you away from frequent visits to the vet.
What are the common ingredients that can cause an upset stomach in your dog?
Every dog is different from the other in many aspects. Some dogs are capable of digesting everything that gets in their stomach without any issue.
This can also include toilet paper rolls. Many other dogs can feel discomfort from even the slightest Chinese in their meal. There are some aspects of dog nutrition that you must be well aware of so that they can help you in finding the best food for the dogs who have an upset stomach.
Some common causes of the sensitive stomach which are related to food are as follows:
- Fat
The meals which contain rich fats are not easily digestible by the dogs. Fats are difficult to digest than carbohydrates or protein. You must check the ingredients of the food of your dog before feeding him. You must make sure that there is no excess fat in the food of your dog. This can be done easily by checking out the list of ingredients and making sure that the percentage of fat in the information mentioned on the label.
- Protein
Certain proteins are not easily digestible by your dog. These proteins can cause your dog to have an upset stomach. These proteins can be inclusive of animal proteins, fish, etc.
- Fiber
Sometimes, your dog might need a bit extra fiber in his meal. There is a different food item that can be a good source of fiber for your dog. However, you can talk to your vet and decide the best source of fiber that you can give to your dog.
- Ample minerals and Vitamins
The next important thing to take care of is checking whether there is a sufficient amount of minerals and Vitamins in the meal of your dog. You must give him such things in his meal which can be enough in providing him the sufficient minerals and Vitamins which are needed by his body.
- Quality of ingredients
Although, it can be tricky for you to judge the quality of ingredients being used in the food for your dog. The labels on the dog food are generally not enough to know the quality of the ingredient used in the preparation of the dog food. You can check the clinical studies that have been performed on the dog food you are buying. This is a good way to check the grade of ingredients that have been used in the dog food you are buying.
What are the things to consider while looking for the best-packaged dog food?
Packaged dog food is one of the best ways to feed your dog with all the essential nutrients. There are many ways by which you can search for food that can be safe and healthy for your dog. Some important things to consider while doing the same are as follows:
- Well balanced
The foremost thing to look for when you are buying packaged dog food is to check whether it is well balanced with all the important nutrients that your dog needs. By choosing a well-balanced diet helps in the elimination of sensitivity in the stomach of your dog which might arise due to several reasons.
- Check the labels
Before buying any packaged food for your dog, you must not forget to check the labels. By checking the labels, you can know the nutritional value of the food you are giving to your dog.
- Transitioning is must
It is very important that you keep changing the meals of your dog at regular intervals, if not very frequently. By changing the meals you can understand what mean is suiting your dog better. You can keep changing the meals from time to time and check which meal is the most effective for your dog.
Can you prepare a homemade meal for your dog?
This is a very common question amongst dog owners. You can certainly prepare homemade food for your dog. All you need to do is maintain the nutritional value to make sure that your dog gets what he wants from the food he is eating.
You must include protein, carbohydrates, and every other thing in the required amount. You can add meat as animal protein and many other vegetables to the diet of your dog.
You must also be careful about not adding too much salt and sugar or spices to the food that you prepare for your dog. The body of your dog is different from that of a human being which makes some food nondigestible by them.
Henceforth, you must be careful that you don’t feed human food to your dog. Even if you do, make sure to keep a check on the spices and salt in the food. For better results, you can simply provide boiled food to your dog.
Hence, this is everything you need to know about the sensitivity issue in the stomachs of dogs. All the related questions have also been answered above in this post. You must follow these dietary tips if you want your dog to consume a healthy meal because that is the only way you can ensure that your dog has a healthy stomach.
