What to Know About Digestive Health for Dogs

Why it matters

When your dog’s digestive system is working as it should, their body can digest nutrients effectively and absorb the vitamins they need to stay healthy.

Their digestive health can also affect many other aspects of their health. For example, a dog’s gut microbiome — the balance of microorganisms in their gut — also helps protect them against diseases by strengthening their immune system.

Digestive health issues that can affect dogs

A wide range of digestive health issues can affect dogs.

Food intolerances or allergies

Sometimes, dogs may not be able to tolerate certain foods or ingredients like additives. For example, dogs often develop lactose intolerance.

While an intolerance is a reaction that doesn’t involve the immune system, an allergy is when the immune system reacts to one or more proteins. Dogs may be allergic to things like chicken, beef, or wheat.

Symptoms of a food intolerance or allergy can include vomiting, diarrhea, and reduced appetite. Allergies can also cause recurring ear infections, skin disease, and itching affecting many body parts, including the paws, stomach, groin, and face.

To identify a food allergy, vets typically recommend an elimination diet. During the diet, a dog is fed a strict diet containing a protein that their immune system is unlikely to recognize as an allergen. The recommended diet must be fed exclusively for several weeks, with no other treats, flavored medications, or other foods. If symptoms improve and then return when the dog’s original diet is reintroduced, this confirms a food allergy.

Infections

Many infections, which can be caused by bacteria like Salmonella and viruses like parvovirus, can affect a dog’s digestive tract. These may cause symptoms like diarrhea, fever, lethargy, and blood in the vomit or stool.

Your vet will recommend the appropriate treatment based on the cause. A treatment plan may include supportive care, fluids, antinausea medication, deworming, or antibiotics when necessary.

Intestinal parasites

Dogs can be susceptible to intestinal parasites like hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. These parasites may lead to symptoms such as weight loss or an inability to gain weight, loose stools, and a dull or coarse coat.

Your vet can treat intestinal parasites with medications like dewormers. Your dog should also be on regular preventive medication.

Intussusception

Intussusception is when one part of a dog’s intestine slides into another, which can create a life-threatening blockage.

Symptoms may include abdominal pain or swelling, vomiting, and reduced appetite. Dogs with suspected intusussception need immediate veterinary evaluation and often require surgery.

Some intussusceptions are temporary, but it’s uncommon for them to resolve on their own. Many can be long-lasting or even permanent.

Surgery for intussusceptions is often curative.

Bloat

Bloat is when food or gas buildup stretches a dog’s stomach. In severe cases, bloat can lead to gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), which means the stomach flips and fills with gas, cutting off blood supply to a large part of the body.

Bloat and GDV are more common in large breeds with deep chests. Symptoms can include retching, sudden abdominal swelling, sudden anxiety or pacing, restlessness, weakness, and pale gums. Any dog with these symptoms should be seen by an emergency vet immediately.

Stabilization typically includes treatment for shock and stomach decompression, and confirmed GDV requires surgery.

Other conditions

Dogs may also develop a number of other digestive conditions, like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), liver or pancreas inflammation, and cancers. Attending regular checkups with your vet is the best way to catch any issues early, and be sure to tell your vet about any unusual symptoms you’ve noticed.

How to protect your dog’s digestive health

The following are some tips for maintaining your dog’s digestive health:

• Keep them on a consistent feeding schedule: This helps your dog develop a routine and can help prevent overeating and related digestive symptoms.
• Introduce new foods slowly: If you need to start your dog on a new type of food, the American Kennel Club recommends adding it to their routine gradually and monitoring for any stool changes.
• Be careful about feeding them human food: Though human foods like pumpkin can provide helpful fiber, your dog’s diet shouldn’t be based around human food. Some foods, like grapes and onions, are actually toxic to dogs and may cause severe complications. Talk with your vet before giving your dog any human food.
• Make sure they have access to fresh water: Fresh, clean water helps dogs stay hydrated and supports proper body function.
• Make sure they get plenty of physical activity: Regular exercise helps keep food moving through a dog’s digestive system and promotes overall health.
• Don’t forget about emotional or behavioral symptoms: Not all symptoms caused by digestive issues will be stomach-related. Digestive issues may also cause symptoms like anxiety, irritability, or self-isolating, so make a note of any and all symptoms.

When to get help

Your vet should evaluate any unusual symptoms, whether they’re digestive symptoms or any other type of symptom.

Certain symptoms need immediate medical attention, including:

• abdominal swelling
• pale gums
• difficulty breathing
• acute, repeated vomiting
• severe diarrhea
• black or tarry stool
• inability to keep water down
• collapsing

Take your dog to an emergency vet right away if you notice these symptoms.

Takeaway

Dogs may experience a wide range of digestive issues, but you can help protect them by feeding them food approved by your vet, keeping them on a regular feeding schedule, and watching for any unusual symptoms.

Also, make sure you’re keeping a regular checkup schedule with your vet.