Common Causes of Upset Stomach in Dogs

Is your dog showing a taste for grass eating? Be sure he has an upset stomach. But do not bother. It is quite natural for dogs to eat grass.  Since grass is not dogs’ natural diet, their elementary system will make them vomit, grass and all, to cleanse the system. Dogs being the animals of the mammalian order, they experience same set of pains and ailments just as we people do.  While we immediately consult a doctor in case of even a minor problem in our bodies, pets can only show their problems through outward symptoms. It is important to know about these symptoms to make your pets back on track. 

A dog with an upset stomach will usually show one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • Bloated stomach and abdominal pain
  • Flatulence
  • Trying to bite their sides
  • Aversion for even his favorite food
  • Grass eating
  • Being lethargic

The above is just an indicative list.  It is desirable that you should consult your veterinarian for proper diagnosis.  Most of the time, problems are minor and could be addressed by home remedies.  Make him fast for 24 hours while feeding him lots of water could resolve less serious problems.

There could be various causes of upset stomach in dogs. Let us examine some common causes.

  • Intestinal Worms in DogsDiet: food allergy, especially from eating cheap quality dog food, eating too much or too fast, changing his diet too often, stale food, and eating foreign objects (or pica) – these all could lead to upset tummy.
  • Intestinal Parasites: worm-infested dogs, especially those with advance stage of infestation will suffer from excessive vomit and diarrhea, weight loss and lethargy.
  • Bacteria and Viruses: bacterial and viral infections can result in gastritis, vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Motion Sickness: although quite rare, if your dog is scared of a car ride, he could be susceptible to motion sickness.
  • Other tummy problems could be because of ulcers, tumors and stomach obstructions and injury to the stomach area.

Stomach problems are hard to diagnose. Ideally, if your dog shows symptoms of severe or persistent vomiting and diarrhea, it’s time for a vet visit.