Digestive Aids for Dogs

Dog digestive problems may occur at any time and these don’t necessarily point to a disease. There are a few digestive aids any dog owner should know about, to be able to help the dog when needed.

Fibers 

A normal canine diet should include a healthy amount of fibers, which are beneficial for the digestion process. If the dog suffers from digestive problems, giving him some additional fibers can regulate the dog’s metabolism. Fibers are effective in eliminating both constipation and diarrhea.

Foods that are rich in fibers include:

There are also fiber supplements that can be purchased at any pet health store. However, make sure to consult your vet prior to administering these supplements, as they may contain other ingredients that your dog doesn’t require and may cause different complications such as kidney or bladder stones.

Another possible problem with fibers is that if you are trying to cure constipation and you administer a greater amount of fibers than your dog needs, he may develop diarrhea.

The supplementation of fibers should resolve digestive problems within 48 hours. If the digestive problems persist, you need to get veterinary help.

Digestive Enzymes 

The digestive enzymes are normally secreted by the dog’s body during digestion. If the dog has a digestive issue, this may be solved by administering some digestive enzymes. Purchase a few digestive enzyme tablets and consult your vet about the right dosage for your pet. The dosage will depend on your dog’s size, age, breed and type of problem.

Probiotics 

Probiotics are healthy bacteria that exist in the stomach and digestive tract of the dog. Supplementing the probiotics can only help the digestive system, which may have a disrupted micro flora.

You can find probiotics supplements in health stores or you may simply feed yogurt to your pet. The yogurt should contain live bacterial cultures.

Don’t give yogurt to your pet if he is allergic to dairy products, as yogurt will only cause additional digestive problems.

Herbs for Digestion 

Herbs can be used to stimulate digestion in dogs. Slippery elm has an anti-inflammatory effect and will stimulate the digestion. Catnip is also beneficial to reduce diarrhea or constipation.

Also, grass can help digestion in canines as it contains fibers.

Other Supplements 

Dogs can get a few supplements that can relieve diarrhea or reduce constipation. These supplements are recommended as digestive aids:

  • Glucosamines, which can be used if the dog has idiopathic digestive problems or is suspected of having IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
  • L glutamine, which will help digestion and will also protect the stomach from ulcers, which can form if the dog has frequent digestion problems

Homeopathy 

Homeopathic remedies can be used as digestive aids for dogs. Dilutions containing colocynthis, veratrum album, arsenicum album or pulsatilla can help when the dog has stomach pain and cannot digest different types of foods.

 

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