Stomach aches in dogs are quite common and can develop due to many causes that vary from eating all kinds of things to something that may be serious. If the cause is eating indiscriminately, the condition can be treated in a matter of hours or days. However, some stomach aches can be due to more serious conditions that can be life threatening.
Symptoms of Stomach Aches in Dogs
- Excessive salivation
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Pain in the chest and abdomen
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Fever
Causes of Canine Stomach Aches
Stomach aches can be caused by various causes such as constipation, indigestion, ulcers, food poisoning, inflammation of the gall bladder, kidney stones, liver disease, pancreatitis, urinary tract infections and gas. Ulcers in particular, are the result of damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach. Ulcers can be caused by medicines such as pain killers or due to bacterial infections, liver or kidney disease, heart problems or blood pressure problems. A dog with pancreatitis or inflamed pancreas can also suffer from severe pain in the stomach.
Additional Causes of Stomach Aches
Poisons can also cause acute stomach aches and an emetic can help empty the stomach and rid the body of the poison. In addition, colic and the ingestion of foreign bodies such as stones, balls and bones can give rise to a stomach ache. Colic can be relieved with a solution of bicarbonate of soda while foreign bodies should only be removed by the vet. An injury to the abdomen can also result in bruising and pain.
Diagnosing Stomach Aches
A physical examination, medical history and tests to measure the cholesterol level, the white blood cell level and lipase level in the blood will help the vet diagnose the cause of the stomach pain. The vet will also want to know the food consumed by your pet in the last few days to rule out bacterial infections.
Treatment for Stomach Aches
You should give your pet yogurt with his food as the bacteria present in the yogurt can help to properly digest food that’s consumed and clear up problems in the digestive tract. You should observe your pet’s feeding habits and ensure that he doesn’t eat his food rapidly. Pepto Bismol can help alleviate the pain. Apart from this, pain killers such as Benadryl can provide temporary relief. You can also keep your pet hungry for a day while ensuring that he has plenty of fresh water to drink, in order to clear out his system.
However, if there is no improvement after a couple of days, it’s best to conduct a vet check to ensure that the pain isn’t due to any serious condition.
Overfeeding, ingestion of carrion or foreign bodies and certain serious illnesses can cause stomach aches in dogs. If you are observant, you will be able to immediately detect signs of discomfort displayed by your pet and take the necessary steps to ensure that he continues to enjoy optimum health.