No one likes it when their dog has vomiting and diarrhea – that means a sad dog and a sad owner too. Fortunately, most of the time these symptoms aren’t serious and they’ll pass in a day or two. Today we’re taking a look at some of the things you can do to take care of your sick dog until they’re feeling more like themselves again.
Diet Changes
If your dog is suffering an upset stomach then you can support them by providing some different meals to normal. Your dog needs food that’s still nourishing, but is easier for them to digest.
A popular option is boiled chicken breast with white rice. This contains a good mixture of protein and carbohydrate to both nourish your dog and make them feel full, but is easier for them to hold down and digest. It’s important to make sure the chicken is fully cooked through – slice it open to check or you risk subjecting your already sick dog to food poisoning!
It’s important not to starve a sick dog. As long as they want to eat, you should keep feeding them – perhaps switching to a schedule of small but more frequent meals – as it can be dangerous to allow a dog to go hungry. Their digestive systems are working constantly and if they don’t have food to digest, this can cause some more serious health issues!
If your dog loses their appetite, this could be an indicator of a more serious health condition and it’s worth contacting your vet.
Staying Hydrated
If your dog is suffering diarrhea and vomiting then dehydration could soon become an issue for them. Both vomiting and diarrhea leach fluid from your dog’s reserves as well as making it harder for them to keep more water down. Even if the vomiting itself isn’t caused by anything serious, if your dog is affected for a day or two, then they could be at serious risk of dehydration.
The best thing you can do to take care of them is make sure there’s plenty of fresh water available for them, so they don’t have to travel too far or work too hard to get a drink.
Keeping Them Happy
While your dog is sick, you shouldn’t skip the usual fun and games you do with your dog – scale back the intensity, but a walk and some playing provides vital mental stimulation, physical exercise and socialisation. Even if it’s just a walk around the block on the lead, staying close to home, it’s good for your dog to take it out – unless it’s in distress or pain or potentially infectious to avoid the risk of spreading a disease to other dogs, in which case you need to get in touch with the vet without delay!
