Tips for Helping Your Dog’s Upset Stomach
Having an upset stomach is no fun, but seeing your dog suffering from an upset stomach is arguably worse. Not sure what to do when your dog has an upset stomach? Check out our tips for helping your dog’s upset stomach below.
Keep Them Hydrated
When it comes to tummy aches, hydration is key, especially if your pooch has diarrhea. Water is often the first solution that dog owners turn to when their dogs are dehydrated. While water can be helpful, your dog will also need electrolytes and vitamins to hold their fluids. For this reason, you should consider using Pedialyte or an electrolyte supplement for pets. If your dog’s dehydration doesn’t seem to ease up within 24 hours after giving them some electrolytes, you should alert your vet and take them in for treatment immediately.
Try Pepto-Bismol
A classic cure for tummy-aches in humans, Pepto-Bismol might be the miracle cure for your dog’s upset stomach. Ask your vet about dosages, but you can usually crush up small amounts of Pepto-Bismol tablets and mix them with water to give them to your dog. Note that giving your dog Pepto-Bismol may darken their stool. This is nothing to worry about, though, so don’t be alarmed.
Reflect on Your Dog’s Diet
Looking back on what your dog has eaten recently could help you pinpoint what the cause of their upset stomach is. If they’ve eaten a lot of human food or got into something funky, that is likely the cause of their stomach problems. Additionally, if your houseplants have been nibbled on, your dog might’ve ingested some of them, which is a sign that you may need to call your vet or poison control. Many houseplants are toxic to dogs, so you should exercise extra caution. Otherwise, whatever weird thing that your pup ate will probably pass through your dog’s digestive system within the next few days, so hang tight and check in on their stool to see what’s going on.
Checking Your Dog’s Temperature
If your dog is demonstrating clear signs of an upset stomach, you should check their temperature to make sure they don’t have a fever. We recommend using a rectal thermometer, since these are the most accurate ways to measure your dog’s temperature. Normal temperatures should be around 101.5 degrees, but anything above 102 or below 99 is a fever in your dog. Take them to the vet immediately if they’re showing signs of a fever.
Tummy aches may be nothing, but it’s important for you to understand what’s normal and what is alarming in your dog when they’re showing signs of an upset stomach. Say goodbye to that stomach ache!