Poor Gut Health in Dogs and How to Help!

A healthy, functioning digestive system is essential for your dog to properly absorb nutrients from their food. These nutrients are then used to fuel your dog’s energy for daily life, in growth and repair and for all bodily functions. Gastrointestinal disease can affect any part of your dog’s digestive tract, resulting in symptoms such as bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss.

Many dogs suffer from chronic digestive complaints. Veterinary advice should always be sought if you are concerned about your dog, but there are some changes you can make at home to optimise dog gut heath.

Signs of poor gut health in dogs

If your dog has always had a bit of a funny tum, you spend your evenings listening to a dog stomach gurgling and wondering if that’s normal, or your internet history is full of searches such as ‘dog stomach making noises’, then read on for the top signs of poor gut health in dogs!

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea, sometimes with blood or mucus

• Constipation

• Excessive flatulence

• Poor appetite

• Weight loss

• Abdominal pain – your dog may have a hunched posture, or react when you touch their belly or pick them up

• Dog stomach is bloated or distended

• Inability to settle or get comfortable

• Borborygmi – this is the vet term for that unhappy dog stomach rumbling noise!

When is a vet visit needed?

It can be difficult with gastrointestinal symptoms to known when just to feed a bland diet and give it some time, and when you need to take your pooch in for more professional help.

Is a dog stomach gurgling at night cause for concern?

How about a bloated belly, a few bouts of sick or a bit of diarrhoea?

It is often better to be on the safe side and call your vet if you are at all concerned about your pet. They may be able to reassure you and give advice over the phone if they feel your pup doesn’t require immediate attention.

However, here are some scenarios that warrant an appointment.

• Young puppies, older dogs or those with other health concerns that develop gastrointestinal symptoms or appear unwell in themselves.

• Vomiting or diarrhoea that is severe (multiple episodes in under 12 hours), or that contains blood.

• A dog stomach upset that also makes them feel very lethargic or feverish.

• If you think your dog is painful.

• If you see your dog stomach distended and they are retching but not producing vomit.

What causes digestive problems in dogs?

Causes of digestive disease are both varied and many! Milder problems include eating unsuitable food, infections, and mild food intolerances.
More serious concerns are genuine food allergies, pancreatic disease, toxins, inflammatory conditions, blockages or cancers.

The term ‘gut health’ usually refers to your dog’s microbiome. This is the term used to describe the thousands of organisms which live within a dog’s intestines – bacteria, viruses, fungi and other small organisms.

The microbiome is hugely important, and if it becomes out of balance can cause ongoing digestive problems, as well as potentially impacting your dog’s immune system, behaviour and more! There are many things that can cause changes to the proportions of different organisms living in your dog’s gut, including stress, chronic health issues, antibiotics and obesity.

In conclusion

Many dogs suffer from variety of digestive problems causing a range of symptoms from a bloated, rumbling tummy to vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss. Often, veterinary intervention is needed, but there are some changes to be made at home. Ensuring your dog eats a suitable diet, not too quickly, and with a supplement to settle the microbiome if needed, are all changes you can make at home to optimise your dog’s gut health.