Do you suspect your dog has a sensitive stomach? Pet Plate is here to help. Until we invent a way to talk directly with man’s best friend (fingers crossed!), we’re not able to ask our dogs if their tummy is rumbly. But there are plenty of signs to look for, which we’ll discuss here.
If you’ve noticed your poor doggo has a sensitive stomach, don’t fret! There are plenty of ways to help resolve the problem, including feeding healthy, easy-to-digest meals. We’ll cover those options below. But first, let’s dive into what counts as a “sensitive stomach.”
Symptoms of a Sensitive Stomach
If you suspect your pup has a sensitive stomach, there are a few telling symptoms. Your dog may display one or all of these symptoms on a fairly consistent basis. On their own or occurring irregularly, these symptoms aren’t anything to worry about. Just like with humans, the occasional gas or bathroom emergency isn’t out of the ordinary. But— and this can’t be stressed enough— if you think anything is wrong with your dog, take your loved one to the vet as soon as possible.
Vomiting: It’s not uncommon for dogs to throw up because they ate something odd or even just ate too much. But if your poor pup can’t handle certain foods, they’ll likely vomit much more often than other dogs. Vomiting more than once in a day, or multiple days in a row, could mean an upset stomach. Ideally, take your dog to the vet to have them checked out.
Diarrhea: Just like with the vomit, wet or watery stool once in a while is nothing to worry about. But if it’s happening frequently over multiple days, better go visit your vet.
Gas: If you notice your dog toots too much, it’s entirely possible it’s brought on by something that just doesn’t agree with their tummy.
Eating Grass: This is fairly common in dogs, and there are a number of theories as to why it happens: an attempt to induce vomiting, as a way to aid with digestion, or to get more fiber. But it’s generally agreed upon that it means something is up with their stomach or diet.
Causes of Stomach Sensitivity
There are a ton of reasons this could all be happening. Understanding why is instrumental in getting your pup the right treatment. These typically require medical treatment as opposed to a change in diet alone (although making adjustments to what they’re being fed certainly doesn’t hurt, especially if the root cause is a parasite or infection).
Common Causes of Digestive Issues
- Stress: there are a variety of reasons your dog could be stressed, including (but certainly not limited to) changes in their environment or schedule. Some dogs can also just be more high-strung.
- Parasites: dogs can pick up parasites from a variety of foods, or even something they ate outside.
- Bacterial infection: Your dog can pick this up in a variety of ways;, upset stomachs are a symptom.
- Fungal infection: Same as with a bacterial infection: there are multiple ways dogs can become infected.
- Kidney Infection: Another issue caused by a bacterial infection.
- Tumors: They may be benign.
- Foreign Substances: If your dog got into the garbage, under the sink, or otherwise ate something it shouldn’t, it can cause digestive issues.
- Pancreatitis: Your vet can determine if this is the underlying cause.
- Ulcers: Just like humans, dogs can form ulcers on the linings of their stomach that can result in sensitivity to acidic foods.
If you and your vet have ruled all of these out, it means that there are one (or more) things that just don’t agree with your dog’s stomach.
What Should I Feed a New Dog?
It’s important to note that the new addition to your family needs time to adjust to its new surroundings, schedules, and, of course, diet. Stress can definitely contribute to upset stomachs (and all the symptoms that come along with it). Consult with your vet if you have any worries, but consistency is key. Your pup may just need time to adjust to all the new things going on in his or her life.
What Causes Food Sensitivity in Doggos?
There are a handful of food types that typically trigger reactions in the stomachs of pups. But every dog is different, and can have reactions to one (or several) food items. Quantity of these foods is also a factor. For example, your dog might be OK with some fiber, but having fiber in all of their daily meals could cause issues.
Causes of Food Sensitivity
- Proteins: Certain meats might not agree with your dog’s stomach. It’s important to find one they like that doesn’t make their stomach do somersaults.
- Fiber & Grains: Fiber is generally a good thing, but too much fiber or too many grains can cause digestive issues.
- Fats: Fatty food like red meat or dairy products are culprits for certain breeds.
- Nutrients: While it may not be as common as the others on this list, any number of nutrients can potentially cause an adverse reaction.
- Food Quality: Processed foods, foods with meat byproducts, foods containing chemicals… the list goes on. Any of these can cause a problem for your dog’s tummy. Feeding your dog fresh, natural foods with a balance of minerals and vitamins is best.
Work with your vet to understand what is causing problems for your dog and why. In mild cases, a few simple changes to diet or feeding schedule are sometimes enough to solve the problems. With more serious instances, finding a healthy, comprehensive food solution is critical.
Common Questions
Below are some common questions you may have about your dog and their sensitive tummy that haven’t been covered yet.
How Long Does an Upset Stomach Last in Dogs?
As with humans, typically a day or two. Anything longer than three days is worth looking into.
What Helps a Dog with a Sensitive Stomach?
Simple foods like chicken and rice can help soothe a sensitive stomach, as these ingredients are generally easy to digest and good for your dog (more on that later!). Probiotics or medication in more severe cases can also help.
Should I Be Worried if My Pup Throws Up?
Not if it just happens once. A dog throwing up multiple times in a day or multiple days in a row is a potential problem. You should certainly take your dog to the vet in those cases.
What Can Stool Tell Me About My Dog’s Diet?
Well, you’re likely not a pup poop expert, so it’s best to leave things up to the professionals. But some obvious signs that your dog’s stomach isn’t happy are wet or watery stool, lots of trips outside for the bathroom (or worse… accidents in the house), or even blood in the stool.
What Should I Do if My Pup Has a Sensitive Stomach?
The causes of a sensitive stomach are incredibly varied. Some, like parasites or infection, are preventable. Others, like food sensitivities, are simply down to your dog’s genetics. For the vast majority of these issues, the solution is simple: feed your dog fresh, healthy, natural foods.
Pet Plate offers a variety of meals that are custom made to meet your dog’s nutritional requirements. These meals are made with all-natural, USDA-grade ingredients and an important blend of vitamins and minerals, and are kettle-cooked in a USDA kitchen. The meals are then flash-frozen (to lock in the freshness) and delivered right to your front door. That means each meal contains all of the good stuff your pup needs and none of the bad (and potentially stomach-upsetting) processed ingredients and preservatives. These meals are also custom-portioned in accordance with the size of your dog. That’s great news, because it means you’ll never worry about overfeeding or underfeeding your dog, another great way to help prevent an upset stomach.
Pet Plate offers beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb meals. Each recipe features different proteins and ingredients, so it’s VERY likely your dog will find something they like (and something that’s easy on their digestive tract). As mentioned previously, chicken is a great place to start, unless you know your dog has another favorite meat. Let’s look at the ingredients:
Ground chicken, sweet potatoes, chicken liver, broccoli, butternut squash, apples, natural flavor, safflower oil, dicalcium phosphate, salmon oil, calcium carbonate, salt, potassium chloride, parsley, vitamins and minerals (taurine, vitamin E, zinc oxide, ferrous fumarate, copper gluconate, sodium selenite, manganese gluconate, potassium iodide, vitamin D3
Everything listed here is either a delicious, natural ingredient (apologies to all the broccoli-haters out there), a vitamin important to your dog’s health, or critical minerals. No fluff, no fillers. These are ingredients you likely recognize. Most are things you’d probably want to eat yourself (again, with apologies to any humans that don’t like eating their vegetables). Beyond just being helpful in terms of settling their stomach, these meals taste great and are great for your dog. You’ll feel good knowing your dog is getting everything they need to be happy and healthy.
We’re so confident your dog will love their Pet Plate meals, we offer a money-back guarantee. And, if that’s not enough, you can save 50% off your first order. You’re here because you want what’s best for your pup. Pet Plate wants what’s best for your dog, too. It’s why we stand behind our healthy, nutrient-rich meals. Try Pet Plate today!
