Indigestion in dogs - causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment

Just like with humans, your dog can suffer from indigestion. This isn't a digestive condition in itself, but rather discomfort or pain in the stomach and a feeling of fullness, even though your pet has barely started eating. Although it's a common problem, each dog experiences indigestion differently, and its manifestations can be occasional or daily. Therefore, it's important to take your dog to the vet and follow their recommendations regarding treatment methods.

In some cases, indigestion can be caused by certain digestive conditions. Below, we've prepared a short guide on what indigestion in dogs means, its causes and symptoms, and how it can be diagnosed, treated, and prevented.

• Indigestion in dogs - what it is and what causes it
• Symptoms of indigestion in dogs
• Digestive conditions and indigestion in dogs
• Indigestion in dogs - diagnosis and treatment
• How to prevent indigestion in dogs

Indigestion in dogs - what it is and what causes it

It's no secret that your four-legged friend is a connoisseur and a gourmand by definition. Many people believe that dogs' digestive systems are more robust and resilient than human ones, which could be completely wrong. Every organism reacts in its own way. Indigestion is not a disease in itself, but rather gastric discomfort caused by unsuitable food, overeating, or feeding your pet the same type of food for too long. Therefore, it's important that your dog's food is varied, balanced, and appropriate for its breed, age, and size. Additionally, indigestion can manifest occasionally or frequently, in which case it could be chronic indigestion or a digestive condition.

Indigestion vs. food sensitivity and allergy

Digestive disorders are common in dogs and can have various causes. Indigestion, however, should not be confused with food sensitivity/intolerance or food allergy.

Food sensitivity/intolerance is also called an adverse reaction and refers to the fact that your pet cannot properly digest a certain type of food, based, for example, on chicken, beef, dairy, or wheat. Such a sensitivity involves exclusively the digestive organs and does not pose a major danger to the dog. Usually, it is resolved by eliminating from its diet those foods that regularly cause vomiting or diarrhea. Food sensitivity varies from dog to dog. For example, it's possible that your dog can tolerate small amounts of these foods, but you'll be able to determine this through experimentation.

Food allergy is an excessive reaction of the immune system to certain food components. Manifestations can be mild or severe and, sometimes, can be life-threatening for the dog. A food allergy does not disappear for life and will manifest whenever the pet is exposed to the trigger substance. As with humans, there are special tests and treatments for controlling these allergies.

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Causes of indigestion in dogs

In general, indigestion in dogs can have three causes:

• gastric hyperacidity - normally, just like in humans, a dog's stomach secretes gastric acid to dissolve food and break it down into nutrients and waste products that the body doesn't need, and also to aid in the entire digestive process; your dog's indigestion can occur when its stomach secretes excessive gastric acid;
• stomach inflammation - gastritis, for example, which is the inflammation of the stomach lining, can lead to abnormal muscle contractions, resulting in vomiting;
• intestinal inflammation - gastroenteritis, for instance, is an inflammation of the lining of the small intestine, which leads to muscle contractions that speed up the digestion process, so fluids no longer have time to be absorbed by the intestine; diarrhea occurs.

Symptoms of indigestion in dogs

The manifestations of indigestion, which can have occasional or frequent episodes, differ from dog to dog and depend on the underlying cause. However, there are certain general symptoms, such as:

• gradual loss of appetite;
• difficulty eating and, later, complete refusal of food, due to discomfort experienced during and after meals;
• weight loss;
• regurgitation of consumed food;
• vomiting, immediately after eating;
• bad breath;
• lack of energy and desire to play (lethargy);
• excessive drooling;
• diarrhea or constipation;
• dehydration;
• choking sensation, whining during meals;
• feeling full, immediately after the dog has started eating, even though it hasn't consumed enough food for its size.

Constipation in dogs is a common problem, but it can be bothersome and even painful for your furry friend. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of constipation in dogs!

When to take your dog to the vet as soon as possible

Monitor your four-legged friend's condition carefully, and if you notice that they are not feeling well or that the manifestations of indigestion are persistent, or even intensifying, do not wait any longer and take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. To help you understand when urgent action is needed, here are some examples:

• the discomfort not only does not disappear but also intensifies;
• vomiting and diarrhea, more than twice a day;
• vomiting and defecation accompanied by bleeding;
• you observe toys or other foreign objects in the dog's vomit or stool;
• state of weakness;
• fainting.

Digestive conditions and indigestion in dogs

Just like in humans, in dogs, indigestion or dyspepsia can be a symptom of several digestive conditions, the most important of which are:

• gastroduodenal ulcer (which, in dogs, can occur due to the administration of medication without veterinary recommendation or supervision, or following recurrent and inadequately treated gastritis);
• neoplasms (benign tumors, with malignant potential or malignant);
• gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophagitis (uncontrolled flow of intestinal fluids or gastric acid into the esophagus);
• gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining; it is one of the most common digestive conditions in dogs);
• ulcerative colitis or inflammatory bowel disease (similar to Crohn's disease in humans).

Indigestion is basically of two types:

• organic - if it occurs due to other gastrointestinal conditions, such as those listed above;
• functional - if it is not caused by a digestive condition.

While the situation regarding organic indigestion is quite clear, in the case of functional indigestion, the exact mechanism is unknown, but studies conducted so far have shown a connection between it and gastric inflammation, gastric acidity, or visceral hypersensitivity.

Indigestion in dogs - diagnosis and treatment

If indigestion occurs occasionally, it is not necessarily a problem, especially if you notice it happens when the dog has eaten too much and too greedily. In this situation, you know how to prevent it by reducing its portions and teaching it not to rush its food. However, if it is chronic indigestion, then special attention is needed. Regardless of its frequency, indigestion should not be ignored, because it can be a sign of a digestive condition. Therefore, it is very important to take your pet to the veterinarian to identify what is causing the indigestion and to know the most appropriate treatment method for your dog.

Diagnosing indigestion in dogs

After a physical examination and depending on the intensity and frequency of symptoms, the dog's age, and the existence of digestive conditions in the pet's medical history, the specialist veterinarian may opt for several diagnostic methods:

• blood tests;
• special tests for detecting allergies or food intolerance;
• X-rays;
• ultrasounds;
• endoscopies;
• biopsies;
• fecal examination;
• vomit examination;
• abdominal exploration with a video camera.

How indigestion in dogs can be treated

Most of the time, indigestion in dogs can be treated very easily, because it is often the result of overeating, or the fact that the pet ate quickly and greedily. Depending on the symptoms and the dog's medical history, the veterinarian may recommend certain special pills for puppy indigestion or supplements that can help improve the functioning of the digestive system.

At the same time, vomiting or diarrhea can lead to dehydration in dogs. Therefore, check the elasticity of the skin and gums. Gently lift the skin on the back or between the shoulder blades, as if pinching it. If the skin quickly returns to its original shape, everything is fine. Otherwise, you need to rehydrate your dog. The recommendation is not to give it water, because it will tend to drink it very quickly, which will lead to an aggravation of gastric discomfort. Give it ice cubes to lick. If after four hours the dog does not vomit and no longer has diarrhea, you can give it water in small quantities. Do the same if you notice that its gums are dry instead of moist.

Then, after any episode of indigestion, try not to feed your dog for 12 hours, even 24. After this interval, give it light food (boiled chicken, without skin and bones, very lean meat, rice) and in small portions. After 2-3 days of light diet, the diet should return to normal. If the dog loses a lot of weight and the symptoms do not disappear, it is advisable to take it to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Is your dog recovering after an episode of indigestion? Talk to your vet and choose the right diet food. Veterinary diets are indicated during the convalescence period for a quick recovery.

How to prevent indigestion in dogs

"Prevention is better than cure" is a wise saying, also valid for indigestion in dogs, meaning it's better to prevent it than to treat it. Therefore, here are the preventive measures you can take to ensure your furry friend has the best possible digestion:

• balanced diet - a diet rich in low-acid foods can contribute to easier digestion; the more efficient this process is, the less gastric acid will reach the intestine, which will reduce the risk of indigestion;
• human diet foods - besides special dog food, there are certain human diet foods that can help prevent or alleviate indigestion, such as white vegetables, boiled chicken (without skin), boiled sweet potatoes (without peel), broccoli, pumpkin, rice;
• meal frequency - try not to put all the food in the bowl at once, but divide it into several smaller portions that you give throughout the day; a small amount of food means less gastric acid and, implicitly, a lower risk of indigestion.

Indigestion is one of the common problems in dogs, just like various gastrointestinal disorders in general. It can be managed effectively if you follow your veterinarian's recommendations and patiently observe your furry friend's reactions to certain foods, so you know which foods to avoid and what is the optimal amount to give at each meal.

Photo source: Shutterstock

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