Treating your Dog for Gastroenteritis

Soothing the Upset Tummy: Gastroenteritis in Dogs
Stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea are not unusual problems for dogs—especially since some of them seem to have no sense of taste with regard to what they might eat. Some dogs seem to have a penchant for raiding garbage cans; whereas others enjoy taking part of an occasional sock or two.


Gastroenteritis is a technical name for an inflammation of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract—its stomach and intestines. It’s a broad term that can have numerous causes—some more serious than others. An occasional vomit or diarrhea episode lasting a day isn’t often something to worry about. But there are occasions when gastroenteritis can be so serious that the consequences could be fatal.

Some types of gastroenteritis can be controlled by changing a dog’s diet or by ensuring that you limit exposure to things that have caused him gastroenteritis problems in the past, such as very fatty people food.

Causes of Gastroenteritis

Certain items that dogs may choose to eat can cause serious gastroenteritis problems. They include chicken bones, which can cause splintering and, thus, punctures in the stomach or intestines; poisons like anti-freeze or even flea treatments; poisonous plants; chocolate or even onions.  Numerous other causes can create gastroenteritis signs like infections, allergies (such as a food allergy) or parasites.

Signs of Gastroenteritis

Signs to look for in gastroenteritis include vomiting, diarrhea, refusal of food, gas, bloating, disorientation, whining, and other unusual behaviors. If your dog is vomiting for longer than one day, call the veterinarian. If he has chronic, intermittent and self-limiting vomiting or diarrhea episodes of just a few hours at a time, you may wish to have the veterinarian perform a routine physical check to see if the cause is parasites or another condition. For chronic, intermittent conditions, observe and document when the dog had the problem (such as right after eating his regular food) and see if there is a common theme. He or she may direct you to feed your dog a bland diet for a few days to rest the gastrointestinal tract.

Treatment for Gastroenteritis

Dogs with severe gastroenteritis lasting longer than 24 hours will need veterinary attention and may require medical treatment as well as fluid replacement. Treatment and prevention of further episodes will depend on the cause of the problem.