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Digestive disorders in your dog

Prevent stomach aches with food that promotes a healthy digestive track

Your dog may have a robust digestive system, but they’re still susceptible to digestive disorders, especially during puppyhood. Prevent or treat them with guidance from your Globalvet team and save both you and your precious pooch from stomach pain and other unpleasant symptoms.

Read on for advice on keeping your dog’s digestive system working as it should.

Read on for advice on keeping your dog’s digestive system working as it should.

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Understanding and protecting your dog’s digestive system

Did you know that gastrointestinal (GI) issues are one of the main reasons dog owners bring their fur babies in to see us? That’s right! Your dog may have a strong stomach, but they can still develop digestive problems due to infection, diet, or lifestyle, among other factors.

How can you tell if your dog’s digestive system is off? Signs include:

  • Smelly flatulence
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal pain, i.e., stomach aches
  • Vomiting
  • Refusing to eat (crazy but true!)

These symptoms could point to any number of potential problems. Talk to your vet at the first sign of digestive disorderin your dog so they can determine the cause, offer advice, and recommend treatment.

Gastrointestinal issues usually undermine your dog’s ability to digest food and absorb nutrients. But what causes them? Various factors may be at play, including:

  • A sudden change in diet
  • Stress
  • Food allergies and intolerances
  • Infection

If your dog’s condition is severe, it may make them:

  • Lose weight
  • Become dehydrated
  • Become weak

Your dog’s digestive system changes as they age

Have a puppy? You should know they’re particularly prone to stomach aches and diarrhea. That’s because their digestive systems aren’t fully developed yet and their digestive and immune functions aren’t as efficient as a mature dog’s. This is what’s known as immunodeficiency.

Your adult dog’s digestive system is stronger than a puppy’s, but they can still get stomach aches. Certain larger breeds—German shepherds, Great Danes, and English setters, for instance—are even predisposed to GI issues.

How can you improve your dog’s digestive health? By giving them food containing nutrients that promote gut health. But if you make any changes to their diet, work up to it slowly to avoid throwing their sensitive system off balance and causing more problems. For strategies on switching their food gradually, read our post (in French), Comment passer d’une nourriture à une autre sans aucun souci.

Be sure to follow your vet’s recommended vaccination and anti-parasite treatment schedule for your puppy. It will protect them against diseases and other health issues that can cause digestive disorders.

As your dog ages, they may lose their ability to properly digest their food. They may also have difficulty chewing as their teeth become more sensitive. Not chewing their food properly or wolfing dinner down can cause vomiting and discomfort. Chronic illness also slows the digestive system.

No matter their age, if your dog develops a stomach condition, your vet can determine the cause and recommend a tailored treatment plan and special food to support your dog’s digestive health.

FEEDING YOUR DOG A SPECIALIZED DIET FOR GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES : BENEFITS AND TIPS

Promote the absorption of essential nutrients

High quality specialized veterinary foods contain proteins that are easier for your dog to digest and less likely to cause stomach upset.

When your dog has a digestive disorder, it can also be harder for them to digest and absorb nutrients from their diet, so it becomes especially important to make sure their GI tract is processing things as it should.

Every nutrient in your dog’s food plays a role in supporting the digestive track. The digestion process involves multiple stages and organs that digest and absorb nutrients every step of the way.

One of the main organs involved in this process is the small intestine, which has a vast surface area and different types of cells for efficient nutrient absorption. The digestion and absorption of proteins that starts in the stomach ends in the small intestine, which is also where your dog’s body absorbs:

  • Fats
  • Vitamins
  • Carbohydrates
  • Minerals

Improve the quality of your dog’s stool

Fibre is an important part of your dog’s diet, but only in the right quantities. Incorporate fibre into Fido’s food to regulate bowel movements in the large intestine and improve poop production. This is especially useful if your dog has a digestive disorder or poor-quality stool.

Constipation

There are certain changes you can make to your dog’s diet to curb constipation. Feeding them a diet with a proper balance of soluble and insoluble fibre, for instance, can improve stool quality and overall digestive health. Things for you both to feel good about!

Diarrhea

Food formulated for GI disorders reduces pressure on the digestive system to digest and absorb nutrients and thereby helps improve the quantity and quality of your dog’s stools.

Prevent doggy’s upset stomach and vomiting

Feed your dog a specialized diet for gastrointestinal conditions to:

  • Minimize stomach irritation
  • Promote gastric emptying
  • Prevent acid reflux

How does it minimize stomach irritation? Proteins, or amino acids, stimulate the secretion of a hormone, gastrin, which acidifies your dog’s gastric pH. Limiting their protein intake helps control stomach acidity and heal lesions.

Fat-rich solids and liquids are slower to leave your dog’s stomach than similar foods that are lower in fat. Fats stimulate the release of cholecystokinin, a hormone that slows gastric emptying.

Soluble fibre turns into a gel-like substance and should be avoided for dogs with gastric emptying and motility (organ movement) problems.  Why? Because they increase the viscosity of liquids and solids taken into the body and slow the digestion process.

Getting these problems under control will help prevent stomach aches and vomiting in your dog.

Help reduce your dog’s discomfort

If your dog’s food is too rich in highly fermentable fibre it can interfere with their digestion and cause an over-production of gas, which can in turn cause GI discomfort.

Talk to your veterinary team about it. They can recommend a specialty food that contains the right amount of fibre to minimize gas and stomach upset. Once your dog is on a diet designed to promote a healthy digestive system, they’ll be feeling better in no time.

Find specialized sensitive system formulas for your dog in our stores

Every Globalvet clinic store carries multiple specialty foods to help you manage your dog’s digestive disorder. Find the formula recommended by your veterinary team that’s right for your four-legged friend.

Need advice on pet food?

Contact your local clinic or visit our online store.

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