How to deal with common digestive problems in dogs?

As a dog parent, or any other pet parent, you probably know that at some point your pet may experience: health problems that can be harmful to their overall well-being. Of course, we can recognize that these moments are challenging to deal with, whether you are an experienced pet owner or a complete novice.

If you’re in the business of welcoming a new four-legged friend into your home, you’ve come to the right place. When we did some research on what you need to know when taking care of your dog, we’ve put together a helpful guide below that outlines some of the ways you can deal with common canine digestive issues.

Whether you’re the parent of a large or small puppy, we’re confident you’ll find something of value below. Read on for more!

Common Digestive Problems

Before going any further, it’s probably worth noting some of the most common digestive issues your dog may face. Knowing what your dog could be going through before bringing him into your home will give you the knowledge you need to prepare for these potential events.

Common digestive problems in dogs may include the following:

• Canine Parvovirus: This digestive problem can be fatal for your dog; it is estimated that about 80% of dogs diagnosed with Parvovirus will die from it. Because it is such a highly contagious disease, there is a good chance that your dog could develop this condition at some point. So it is worthwhile to be aware of the symptoms as soon as possible so that you can act as soon as possible in this position. Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea with blood in it, collapse, and fever.

• Colitis: An inflammatory digestive problem that can affect your dog’s gut and colon; this is a stomach problem that can be caused by several factors. If your dog is found to have this stomach problem, you should be able to notice the symptoms relatively quickly. Possible causes of colitis may include foreign body consumption, the presence of parasites or worms in your dog’s digestive tract, food allergies and in some cases inflammatory bowel disease and other related conditions. Like other digestive issues that can affect your pup, this condition is generally easy to notice due to the presence of symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, blood in the stool, and more.

• Gastrointestinal (GI) Ulcers: This is a more general term than the other conditions we’ve mentioned as this is an umbrella term that can include any organ in your dog’s body that makes up the digestive tract. From ulceration in the gut and colon to stomach ulcers, this can be a slightly uncomfortable digestive problem for your dog. Like canine parvovirus, colitis and gastritis, gastrointestinal ulcers in your dog can be caused by many factors; this can include consumption of a toxic substance, a diet high in fat, chronic gastritis, various colon cancers, stress and more. Again, the possible symptoms your dog might experience with ulcers overlap greatly with the symptoms you would expect with other digestive problems, but can include other less common symptoms such as anemia, pale gums and disorientation, just to name a few .

• Cancer: This is the one word that many reading this and otherwise feel a little uncomfortable hearing, whether it’s for their own health, that of their dog, or another loved one in their life. Specifically for dogs, there are three possible types of colon tumors they can experience, which can lead to other GI problems and in some cases, death. Like other cancers, they tend to develop slowly over time and can be noticed by pet parents by symptoms such as vomiting, which has bloodstains in it. However, this is the only GI problem that could be: slightly more challenging to notice than others that have been mentioned.

If you have found that your dog suffers from any of these conditions, you will naturally want to know how best to maintain the condition, as well as how to prevent the stomach problem from developing.

Below are some of the basic things you can do as a committed pet parent to prevent and treat any stomach problems your dog may be suffering from.

Preventing and caring for stomach problems in your dog

There are several things you can do as a pet parent to help positive contribute to your dog’s health if he is found to be suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, as well as many other GI issues.

These preventive and caring measures may include any of the following:

• Being able to pay for treatment: It goes without saying, but the last thing you want to do is get into financial trouble when trying to access the treatment your dog may need. While there are organizations available that can contribute to vet bills and potential medications, they don’t always cover the full cost of these treatments. Instead, it’s a more contributing way to pay for your dog’s treatment. Considering getting dog insurance is one way to afford the treatment your dog needs and should be considered before adopting your dog. While the policies themselves might not prevent your dog from developing any of the ailments listed, they should protect you and your bank account when faced with the potential situation. Insurance for dogs is available from providers such as Everypaw. Their lifetime dog insurance policy has a range of coverage levels to choose from, and their top two are rated 5 stars by Defaqto. Policies from these types of companies can help pay for treatments for gastrointestinal ailments that your dog may be experiencing.

• Doing research and ‘being aware’ of possible circumstances: As humans, we like to know things and have knowledge of things that can affect our lives. With this in mind, this is also something that can be done if you want to effectively and positively manage the condition your dog may be experiencing. By doing your own research and having conversations with professionals about what you should do to control your dog’s condition, you would expand and expand your knowledge of the matter in question and also contribute to your dog’s overall well-being. That is of course what you would want to do as a pet parent.

• Control diet: Finally, with some GI problems caused by high-fat diets and other nutritional imbalances, by monitoring and recording what your dog consumes, you can prevent them from developing any of the problems mentioned and further. By keeping a close eye on them when out for a walk and doing what you can to keep them away from foreign objects, you are doing what you can as a pet parent to ensure their continued safety and good health.

We hope you found this piece insightful, interesting to read and made you feel a little more prepared for what you and your dog might encounter in the future. While there is no guarantee that your dog can experience these problems, it can also be turned upside down; your dog may very well go through life without experiencing any of the ailments listed. It’s hard to say.

However, we hope that whatever you encounter together in the future will give us a better understanding of what to do and with the confidence that what you choose will make a difference for your beloved four-legged friend.