Tame the tummy

Common causes

Pet’s having an upset tummy is a common occurrence. There are many different reasons why your pet may experience tummy troubles, ranging from eating something slightly different to their normal diet, ingesting something they really shouldn’t have, through to serious health changes and systemic disease. Due to their weaker immune systems, young animals and senior pets are more susceptible, however pets of any age can develop tummy troubles. An upset tummy can last from a few days to a few weeks, can appear suddenly or as grumbling changes you may only notice as symptoms come and go. Getting your pet into the vet to determine why your pet has an upset tummy is important and will allow your pet to get better faster.

Here are some common reasons that can cause tummy upsets in pets:

• Dietary indiscretion: One of the most common causes of an upset tummy is eating something they shouldn’t, such as spoiled food, rubbish, table scraps, leftovers, or non-food items like toys. Dogs are more often affected as they are scavengers, whereas cats are usually a bit fussier.
• Ingesting harmful items: Eating something toxic or poisonous such as plants or certain human foods can irritate your pet’s gut and may affect other organs in the body too, like the liver or kidneys. Sometimes foreign objects can cause an obstruction in the gut, so keeping a watchful eye on your pet, especially in new surroundings is key to making sure they don’t eat something they shouldn’t.
• Dietary changes: Sudden changes in diet or new foods or treats can lead to an upset tummy. Their gut needs time to adjust, so we recommend mixing the original food with the new food, adjusting the mix about 25% every couple of days.
• Infections: Viral (like parvovirus), bacterial (like campylobacter), or parasitic (like worms or giardia) infections. While these can cause major digestive system problems, many of them are preventable or minimised if vaccinations and deworming are kept up to date.
• Stress: New environments, moving into a new home, new pets or people joining the family, changes in routine, or even loud noises and other anxieties can lead to a tummy upset.
• Underlying conditions: Issues such as food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis or other systemic diseases, such as liver or kidney disease can cause ongoing tummy troubles. If your pet has frequent vomiting or diarrhoea, it may indicate other health problems and you should contact your vet for further investigation.
• Bloat: When the stomach twists in pets it is a life-threatening condition that needs urgent veterinary attention. Deep-chested dog breeds are more prone to this happening. 
• Other potential causes include:
• Reaction to medication
• Eating too fast or overeating
• Ulcers in the stomach or intestines
• Heatstroke
• Trauma to the abdomen
• Cancer

Symptoms of Upset Stomach in pets

While some of the symptoms of an upset tummy are fairly obvious, such as vomiting and diarrhoea, others can be vague. A grumbling tummy could mean many different things; from they ate too much through to a more serious, potentially fatal condition. Many of these symptoms can be associated with a lot of other health problems too, so getting your pet checked out by a veterinarian is important for prompt and appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Common signs of a tummy upset in pets can include:

• Vomiting
• Retching (heaving without bringing anything up) or gagging
• Diarrhoea – soft, loose or watery stools
• Increased frequency of bowel movements
• Straining to defecate or constipation
• Nausea which often shows as drooling or excessive salivation
• Lip smacking, or excessively licking their lips or other surfaces
• Excess gas – passing gas more often
• Eating less than usual or not at all
• Lethargy or low energy
• Abdominal pain – they may stretch out their front legs with back legs standing, or yelp/growl/hiss when you pick them up or touch them
• More tummy noises - rumbling or gurgling more than normal
• Dehydration
• Elevated body temperature (fever)
• Restlessness
• Shivering or trembling
• Weight loss
• Blood or mucus in the stool. If there is a significant amount you should contact your vet immediately.

When to see a vet

If your pet seems well within themselves and is still eating, most mild cases of a tummy upset will settle within a couple of days and can be managed at home. Symptoms can show up suddenly or intermittently and can indicate a more serious underlying or potentially fatal condition. If you are at all concerned about your pet, a visit to your veterinarian is recommended.

Contact a veterinarian immediately if your pet experiences any of the following: 

• Frequent or ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea (lasting more than 24 hours).
• Blood in the stool or vomit, or if it’s black and tarry.
• Lethargic, unusually tired or weak.
• Signs of extreme pain – yowling, snapping or biting, guarding their tummy.
• Enlarged or bloated abdomen.
• Retching without bringing anything up.
• If you suspect they have eaten a toxic substance or foreign object.
• Signs of dehydration - sunken eyes, dry gums, or skin that stays raised when pinched.
• Refusing to eat and/or drink.
• If they’re very young or very old – they can go downhill very quickly.
• If they have another underlying health concern.
• Have been losing weight recently.

How can your vet help?

Medical history

As with any veterinary appointment, your vet will ask you a series of questions to gather a complete medical history about your pet. It is important that you answer these questions as thoroughly and honestly as possible as this helps us to figure out what may be causing the symptoms and determine the best approach and treatment.

 

Important points to consider:

• Has your pet had a recent change in food? New treats? Table food or scraps?
• Could they have had access to poisons, medications, plants, cleaners, pest control baits, drugs etc?
• Are there items missing in your house? Have you found parts of objects?
• Did you visit any new environments with your pet where they could have picked up something without you noticing? Have there been any bait drops in your area?

 

Physical examination

Your vet will do a physical examination of your pet to help pinpoint where the problem is and if there are any other factors that could be contributing to the symptoms.

• It is helpful if you can bring a fresh sample of the stool or vomit so we can run some tests on them if needed.
• If you think your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t have or that is potentially toxic, bring the packaging with you so we can check the ingredients to determine the most effective treatment.

 

Diagnostic tests

To get a proper diagnosis your veterinarian will most likely have to run some tests to see what is going on internally. As these signs can be caused by many different things, we won’t always find a reason why they are sick, especially in pets that only have mild symptoms for a few days. Your vet will discuss with you if further testing is recommended.

 

Some of the tests that may be suggested include:

• Blood test – complete blood count and biochemistry as a baseline. Depending on the results of these tests, additional ones may be done to check for specific conditions and diseases such as pancreatitis or parvovirus.
• Faecal screening on a poo sample – checking for bacteria or parasites
• Urine test
• Xray
• Ultrasound
• For unwell pets where the cause of the symptoms still cannot be determined then more advanced tests may be required, such as endoscopy, exploratory surgery and biopsies.

 

Treatment options

The most appropriate treatment for your pet will depend on how long your pet has been unwell, how unwell they are and the possible cause of the illness. Sometimes you can manage your pet at home or will be given some medications to take home. Other times your pet may need intensive care and be cared for by our team in our veterinary hospital.

 

Treatment could involve:

• Intravenous (IV) fluids for rehydration
• Anti-nausea medication
• Medication to make them vomit if they’ve eaten something they shouldn’t have
• Activated charcoal if they’ve had something poisonous
• Antacids to help settle the stomach
• Probiotics and fibre supplementation to encourage and ‘reset’ the good bugs
• If bacteria are involved, they may need a course of antibiotics
• Pain medication – oral or injected
• Deworming or anti-parasite treatments
• A special diet that supports gut health and healing
• Placement of a feeding tube if your pet is not eating on their own
• Surgery if they have a gut blockage
• Blood or plasma transfusions

How you can help your pet at home

If your pet has vomited once or has mild diarrhoea (without blood), but is otherwise eating and drinking, are active and playful and generally happy in themselves, then there are a few things you can do to help them recover at home. If they worsen or develop other symptoms, contact your vet for an appointment.

At home, try:

• Feed a bland meal – boiled chicken (no skin, no bones, no salt or seasonings) and cooked white rice are a good option for a couple of days as they are easy to digest and still provide some nutrition to keep the gut moving. Alternatively, your vet may recommend a commercial, nutritionally balanced, gut-friendly diet that would suit your pet and can be fed for longer.
• Small meals often – 5-6 smaller meals during the day, several hours apart can be better than two bigger meals. If they vomit after each meal, or do not want to eat at all, contact your vet.
• Hydration – access to fresh, clean drinking water is essential to replace any fluid they are losing through their sickness. Keep an eye on how much they are drinking – too much, too little or vomiting after drinking = call the vet.
• Reduce stress and allow rest – Providing a calm, quiet environment to reduce stress and encourage rest is important for recovery. If they seem unusually tired, lethargic or uncomfortable, contact your vet.
• Easy access to toilet stops – making sure their litter tray is kept clean or taking them outside to toilet regularly helps prevent accidents.
• If your pet eats their food quickly, consider getting a slow feeder bowl.
• Probiotics – can help restore the gut flora balance. Your veterinary clinic can recommend the best one for your pet.
• Transition back to normal food – if your pet’s tummy troubles seem to be settling within the first couple of days, gradually reintroducing their normal food to the bland food by around 25% each day will allow the gut to get used to the changes without sending them backwards. If they are not getting any better, contact your vet.

How to prevent your pet from getting an upset tummy

Basic hygiene, good food handling and keeping a close eye on what they consume will help minimise your pet from a bout of tummy upset.

• Feed the correct portion of their regular, complete and nutritionally balanced pet food – no gorging!
• Avoid table scraps, especially high-fat or toxic foods.
• When changing your pet’s diet, transition it over 7-10 days, introducing the new diet to the original one by around 25% of the meal every couple of days.
• Be aware of what is in your environment or places you visit and make sure your pet is not eating anything they shouldn’t. Prevent scavenging opportunities as much as possible – cover rubbish and compost bins, be vigilant when out and about.
• Stay up-to-date with vaccinations, deworming and parasite control.