CURE A DOG'S UPSET STOMACH

First, do not panic. One of the most common complains to the veterinary surgery is “my dog has an upset stomach, what should I do?” If you can find out what your dog ate, it may help the vet’s diagnosis of your situation. One of the first things to look for is if any of your house plants have been eaten. Many house plants are toxic to dogs.

Normally dogs will eat grass to cleanse out their system – this is the natural method for curing your dog’s upset stomach. However, at times this won’t do the trick, or your dog won’t even feel like eating grass. In this case it can help to give your dog a little bit of Pepto-Bismol (the amount will depend on your dog’s weight – consult your veterinarian). As with any treatment, always consult your vet before proceeding with any treatments.

However, the first thing you need to do is check out a few things to determine if this is really just an upset stomach, or something more serious. If you can answer yes to any of the following questions I would advise you to seek veterinary care.

Is your dog vomiting? If it is vomiting, is there any blood in the vomit?

Is your dog Dehydrated? To check, pull a pinch of loose skin away from your dogs neck. The skin should ping back instantly. If it stays raised for a second, or retracts slowly they are dehydrated.

Is there any blood in the feces?

Has your dog been ill for more than twenty-four hours?

Does your dog feel hot? ie, they have a temperature.

Is your dog obsessively drinking?

Has your dog eaten a poisonous substance?

Okay, so hopefully you have answered no to the above questions and we are just dealing with an upset stomach. Your dog will probably feeling very sorry for himself and may mope around the house. Make sure he has somewhere warm and comfortable to lay down.

The first natural cure is to starve your dog for twenty four hours. This may sound extreme but it is actually how dogs behave in the wild. They often have to binge eat, but then go without food the next day until they make another kill. It is actually quite good to empty their stomach and let the offending germ pass through their system.

Always make sure your dog has access to fresh clean water at all times.

If your dogs stomach settles during the twenty four hour fast, you need to introduce them to a small amount of bland food. The best one I have found is steamed chicken and plain rice. It is a very light meal that is easily digested. Make sure the chicken is cooked thoroughly and then set it aside to cool. It is best served at body temperature.

Keep your pup hydrated!

One of the most important things is to keep your pup hydrated at all times. Especially if they are experiencing diarrhea, they may very quickly (within hours) become dehydrated, as they will lose water that they would retain under normal conditions.
Natural ways to cure your dog’s upset stomach

If you prefer not giving your dog Pepto-Bismol, and your dog won’t eat grass to clear her or his upset stomach, there are other natural home remedies that can do the trick. However, these may not be the best cure for your dog, so make sure you check with your veterinarian before proceeding. Some natural home remedies include:

* Rice
* Boiled chicken (boneless and no salt added)
* Banana baby food

Do not use hamburger meat – this is a fairly common recommendation on bulletin boards, but the fact is the meat is too greasy and will not help your dog’s upset stomach (nor is it healthy for your dog). No matter what you choose, however, make sure your dog stays well hydrated. The point of the grass is to make your dog vomit, to clear out whatever is upsetting his or her stomach. For more serious situations, your best bet is to limit food intake, keep getting your dog water, and take them to the vet.