Sensitive Stomach/digestive Issues

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and diseases affect a pet's stomach and intestines, resulting in pain and other problems. Any disorder that reduces the digestion or absorption of food, or alters its passage through the digestive tract, can be called a digestive disorder. Healthy digestion is essential for your dog to be able to use the nutrients from his food to build and repair tissues and obtain energy. GI disorders can lead to dehydration, acid-base and electrolyte imbalances and malnutrition so it is important to recognize the signs and consult with your veterinarian.

The most common signs of digestive disorders are soft stools or diarrhea. If your pet has digestive issues, you may also notice some or all of the following signs.

• Vomiting
• Regurgitation
• Flatulence
• Weakness
• Diarrhea/Constipation

Digestive disorders are quite common and most clear up within a few days. But some pets need long-term management because they have regular or permanent digestive problems.

Your pet’s food can have a significant impact on his GI tract health. A number of different nutritional approaches could be recommended depending on the specific diagnosis and the signs/symptoms. The main goal is to alleviate your dog’s symptoms of vomiting and/or diarrhea. Veterinarians recommend feeding dogs with this condition a food that is highly digestible to help prevent irritation to his sensitive stomach and intestines. Also, high-soluble and insoluble fiber foods combined with moderate fat levels help support your dog’s intestine to function properly. It is also important to monitor your dog’s hydration during the recovery phase to help correct any fluid deficiencies.

Because several of these gastrointestinal conditions may be ongoing, long-term nutritional management of the disorder may be required.