Tips for Treating Your Dog's Stomach Virus

Dogs will eat just about anything and seemingly their stomach is hardier than ours, but just like humans, dogs can also get a stomach virus. A dog that has eaten something foreign or a non-food item (e.g. toys) will often suffer from stomach upset. Even if your dog eats the same food each day at home, he can somehow manage to sneak in something from the park during his evening walk. It's not uncommon for dogs to eat grass, plants, and bones. If your dog is on a special diet and eats something he's not used to, that too, can cause an upset stomach for your pooch. The best treatment is prevention but if you're a dog owner, you know that is easier said than done when it comes to your dog's appetite.

Tip #1 - If your dog has diarrhea or is vomiting, give him Gatorade instead of water. This will replenish his fluids and provide electrolytes. Dehydration will occur if your dog continues to vomit and have diarrhea so be sure to give him Gatorade around the clock just like you would his water. You can use any flavor.

Tip #2 - Cook white rice to help settle your dog's stomach. Make enough white rice for the entire week and freeze half of it. Feed your dog only rice during the first couple of days. It will help coat his stomach, make him feel full, and bind him. Put the rice in a bowl full of Gatorade to get him to drink if he does not like to drink Gatorade on its own.

Tip #3 - Once your dog's symptoms cease, add lean ground beef, chicken, or turkey to your dog's diet. Instead of frying or grilling the meat, boil it like you would spaghetti. Drain the meat thoroughly (using a slotted spoon or colander) to remove the fat, and then pat dry. Give your dog up to a half a cup (depending on his size) of ground meat mixed with a small amount of rice as a meal replacement.

Try feeding him the ground meat and rice for a couple of days and if he seems to have stabilized (e.g. no diarrhea or vomit), go back to his normal feeding schedule but do so slowly. So if he's used to having one cup of kibble per day, try a half a cup of kibble and half meat/rice mixture. If all goes well, he should be able to resume his regular feeding schedule within a couple of days.

Tip #4 - If your dog's symptoms do not improve within a few days or you notice blood in his stool or vomit, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately. If left untreated, a stomach virus can turn into pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your best friend, so get a professional to examine your dog. The vet will take a stool sample to look for blood and worms, and will prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection. In some cases an X-ray will be necessary.

*Source: The Heights Veterinary Clinic, and personal experience.

*To read more of Bobbi Leder's articles on Associated Content, click here.