Helping pets with digestive issues
Just like us humans, our pets also need a healthy, balanced diet to maintain their gut health. An upset tummy once in a while is quite normal but what do you do when it actually happens? We reach for age-old solutions like khichdi but you can’t do the same for your pet. Giving your pet all kinds of scraps and bits and pieces off the table is a bad nutrition choice as this can accumulate over time and lead to digestive problems. Here’s how you can help your pet when it is suffering from a digestive problem:
Look for early signs: The most common signs of digestive issues in pet dogs and cats are vomiting and diarrhea. You may also notice your dog eating grass to bring out vomit and soothe its stomach. In cats, you may notice hairballs, or vomit with excessive hair and if this happens more than once a month, there may be a problem.
Take it to the vet: If you now know that the pet has some GI issue, do not try to diagnose it on your own. Instead, limit the food intake and take your pet to the vet immediately. Giving OTC medicines that are usually meant for humans may be dangerous.
Chocolate toxicity: Sugar in all forms, and especially chocolate is toxic for dogs. Keep it well out of reach of your pet dog, even if it jumps at the taste of it. It can cause symptoms like vomiting, restlessness, diarrhea, excessive urination, a racing heart, and other severe things.
Taking care at home: If the problem is not too severe, you can take care of your pet at home by making it fast for 24 hours and encouraging a lot of water intake during that time. Post this time, serve them bland food like plain cooked chicken.
Preventive measures: To prevent any kind of digestive issue at all, make sure your pet is updated on all vaccines and that you take it to the vet for regular checkups. Most of the time, the diet is responsible for such issues. Make sure to give your pet a healthy balanced diet with all necessary nutrition. You can also give them pet supplements (check them out on our website) for additional immunity.