If you’re a first-time dog parent, you may experience some interesting times with your pooch. There will be moments when they may have a lot of flatulence, loose stools, a lack of desire to eat, and vomit. While your first reaction may be to rush to the vet, it’s important to understand and learn some things about your dog and their digestive health. Take a look:
Think before rushing to the vet
While you’re probably wondering if you should rush to your vet for dog diarrhea treatment when your pet experiences loose stools, take a minute to think. Have you recently changed your pet’s diet without transitioning to mixed foods?
Perhaps you fed them a wet food diet, and that didn’t sit well with their stomach. Maybe they ate something that they shouldn’t have on a walk. When it comes to diarrhea, a little bit is okay, but too much and you may want to call your vet. Also, watch for signs of lethargy and a lack of desire to eat.
Talk to your vet about a good diet
Something that could be causing your dog some issues with their digestive health is the kind of food that you feed them. If you notice that they’re having gas after mealtimes or if allergies are showing up on their skin, this could be a sign that they may have some type of intolerance or allergy to the food that you’re giving them.
If you want to help your dog’s digestive health and beyond, talk to your vet about the kinds of food that could be better for your pooch. They may not be able to eat chicken, but salmon-based foods could make them thrive.
Don’t just change up their food
After talking to your vet about food or realizing that you want to improve their diet, you may rush to buy new foods. However, be too quick to change food, and your dog could have diarrhea all over your home or yard. Most dogs’ stomachs don’t take well to a sudden switch-up with their diet, so instead of just changing from one brand to the next, buy the new food before you’re finished with their last food.
Start adding the new food to their old food and mixing it up. After a couple of days, you can start feeding them the new food itself.
Avoid feeding right before exercise
There is something that can happen with dogs that pet parents need to avoid. Bloating can be dangerous for your dog, and it can be something that happens if you feed them too close to vigorous exercise. Although there are other causes for bloating, this is something important to remember. Not only that, but they could vomit as well from it, so make sure to walk them before feeding.
Feed them the right amount
If you want to have a healthy dog, it’s important to understand what the right amount is for them. You may be underfeeding or overfeeding them if you find that they’re losing or gaining weight. An obese dog can end up with more serious problems, as cute as they may be, so it’s wise to not only look into how much you’re feeding them but also how much you’re giving them.
Their level of exercise is also something to take into account. Some dogs, and typically younger dogs, have a faster metabolism, while some breeds may more easily gain weight if not fed the proper food.
In Conclusion
If you want your pet to stay healthy, it’s wise to pay attention to their feeding. From the foods that you give them to the times that you feed them, there are ways to make sure you protect their stomachs and keep them as healthy and happy as possible. Pets’ stomachs tend to tell us when something is off, so make sure you’re paying attention to their digestive health.
