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Canine Gastrointestinal Health Tips for Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs

Your dog’s gastrointestinal health is important, and some dogs are more prone to gastrointestinal distress than others. Your dog’s sensitive stomach might initially seem concerning, but you may just need to make some modifications to your dog’s diet and routine to make a significant, positive impact on them. 

Of course, that might be easier said than done. It can be tricky to figure out where to start, especially if this is your first dog or you have not had a pet with gastrointestinal health issues in the past. Fortunately, there are tips and tricks available to help you figure out how to help your pet with a sensitive stomach! 

Today, we will equip you with all the knowledge you need if you have a dog with a sensitive stomach. Gastrointestinal health is crucial, and as a responsible pet owner, you must know how to take care of your dogs. 

We will begin by sharing how you can tell that your pup has a sensitive stomach, and we will give you some reasons why dogs have sensitive bellies. This guide also includes helpful tips about how to help a dog with gastrointestinal health problems. Kabo might be the right dog food for your pup with a sensitive belly.

How Can I Tell if My Dog Has a Sensitive Stomach?

Unless the rescue center, shop, or breeder you got your pet from informed you that they have a sensitive belly, most pet parents will learn through experience. 

A sensitive stomach usually refers to a dog that has mild intestinal upset. The most common symptoms that your pet is struggling with gastrointestinal problems include the occasional occurrence of vomiting, loose stool, and passing gas. 

It is valuable to keep in mind that these symptoms are not exclusive to gastrointestinal problems, and they could be an indication that your dog has something else going on that requires help from a vet. 

For this reason, you should bring your dog to the vet if you think that they are struggling with a sensitive stomach. The vet will help confirm your thoughts or, if there is another reason for these symptoms to emerge, they could help you discover what is causing them.

Why Does My Dog Have a Sensitive Stomach?

There are several potential culprits for a sensitive stomach, so it can be hard to pin down what exactly causes your dog’s symptoms. Discovering what is causing your pup to have gastrointestinal distress could be helpful for treatment, and this is why your first step should be to figure out what is going on.

You want to confirm that there is no presence of internal parasites. A stool sample could help you figure out if parasites are the reason why your dog is feeling unwell, as many of these symptoms overlap. You may want to get your dog’s stool tested semi-regularly as a preventative measure, especially if you fear your pet has stomach problems. 

A vet will also help ensure that the stomach problem is nothing more serious, such as stomach cancer. It is better to get a clean bill of health and work from there. 

Visiting a vet and getting their opinion could help you save money, time, and energy when figuring out the cause of the problem. Additionally, the sooner you figure out what is causing it, the quicker you can help remedy it. 

Finding the Cause

You can even mention the food you are currently feeding your pet and see if the vet thinks it could be to blame. Once you have successfully determined that your dog’s belly problems are not the result of internal parasites, you can take action and get to the bottom of the issue. 

Sometimes it is simple: some pets are sensitive to certain foods and have more sensitive bellies than others, similar to people. Other times, a sensitive stomach can tip you off to other more critical problems that are going on simultaneously. 

You might consider investigating how your dog’s food could be disagreeing with their belly. Perhaps your dog has a food allergy, or maybe their food is lacking something. Both of these instances could all lead to gastrointestinal problems, but you might also want to consider some of the other things that your pet eats, such as trash or table scraps.

How To Help a Dog With a Sensitive Stomach: Canine Gastrointestinal Health Tips

When your dog has gastrointestinal health problems, it can sometimes make you feel very out of control or helpless. You just want to help your pup, but you are unsure of where to start. Luckily, there is help available. 

If your dog has a sensitive stomach, you should keep these tips in mind. They will not only help you improve your dog’s belly problems, but they could also help you get to the bottom of why the problem is occurring in the first place. 

#1: Consider Adding a Probiotic

The word probiotic refers to positive microbes, including bacteria and yeast that dwell in the gut. There are plenty of them—billions, in fact—in your pet’s gastrointestinal system. They are useful because they help with digestion, ward off potential pathogens from harming your pet, create nutrients and vitamins, and support the immune system. Think of probiotics as a nutritional tool that could prove helpful for your pet. 

When your dog’s beneficial microbes get damaged, the result could be stomach distress. Your pet’s overall health could even experience a decline. A vet might suggest probiotics to help, so get their opinion before administering. You can also look into postbiotics for further information. 

#2: Stay Away From Treats

When your dog has a flare-up with gastrointestinal problems, it is wise to avoid anything unnecessary, such as treats. Keeping it basic could help your pet recover and also help you get to the bottom of what might be causing the problem in the first place if you believe it to be food-created. 

#3: Consider Switching the Food to Something More Balanced

If you fear that your pet’s food might be at least partially to blame for their bellyaches, you should switch to a food that will support them instead of harming their belly. However, you should be sure to transition the foods properly. Otherwise, you could do more harm than good.

You should specifically seek out food that is balanced and complete. In other words, the food gives your pet all of the nutrients that they require for good health. Balanced diets are important because they can help with sensitive stomachs that emerge from nutritional deficiencies. These diets help make sure your pet is getting the right nutrition required for healthy digestion.

Making sure you have the right food for your dog’s life stage will prove beneficial. Remember: taking the time to be mindful about what you are feeding your pet can make a big difference on their stomach.

Why Kabo Might Be the Right Fit for Your Dog With a Sensitive Stomach

If you want to change your pet’s food to see how it could positively impact their gastrointestinal health, you should consider Kabo. Kabo’s mission is helping dogs live healthier, happier, and longer lives. We believe in farm-to-dog, so your pet’s food is always fresh. 

Kabo is a food subscription service that delivers healthy, pre-portioned meals to your doorstep. It has never been so easy to help your dog’s belly! 

Our food is balanced so you can rest assured that you are providing the nutrients that your pet needs to thrive. Kabo prioritizes high-quality ingredients and is adamantly against using fillers, additives, or artificial flavours.

Kabo’s food tailors specifically to your dog. You start by filling out a questionnaire about your pet, and then a meal plan is recommended to you. This plan incorporates your dog’s age, weight, breed, and activity level. You select the recipes, and then your dog’s fresh, custom meals will get sent to your house. Try it and see for yourself—and your pet!

Taking care of a pet with gastrointestinal health problems could be upsetting or overwhelming, but if you take the time to do your research and make decisions with your pet in mind, you will find that there are plenty of ways you can help your pup. 

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February 20, 2024
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5 minutes
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