These six foods can soothe your pet’s tummy troubles
Original article on The Leader News
By: Dear Tabby
Dear Tabby,
Our dog gets the occasional upset stomach, which often results in vomiting and diarrhea. The vet has checked it out and can’t seem to find a problem. We’ve resorted to treating the symptoms at home and were wondering if there are foods that we should keep on hand that might help him in times of intestinal distress?
Dear Tummy Troubles,
There’s nothing worse than having a pet who isn’t feeling well. Adding to the misery of watching your pet in pain is the clean-up that ensues from these moments of intestinal distress. The good news is that there are several foods that you can keep on hand to help nurse your pooch through those times. These foods add needed vitamins, nutrients, healing powers, and also might entice your sick pup to eat. Best of all: no emergency trip to the grocery store needed. Most items can be stored in your pantry or refrigerator for extended periods of time.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is high in fiber and packed full of vitamins (just make sure you buy pure pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie filling, which is chock-full of sugar). Pumpkin can help get your dog’s digestive system back on track in a jiffy and many dogs love the taste of it. In fact, you can add a little pumpkin to your dog’s food any time that you feel like he needs some extra fiber and vitamins in his diet.
Shredded chicken
Unseasoned chicken is easy for dogs to digest and often stimulates their appetite. Chicken is loaded with essential vitamins, nutrients, and fats that can help get your dog over the “hump” of an upset tummy. Make sure to remove all bones and sharp pieces of cartilage prior to feeding.
Rice
Unseasoned, cooked rice can be added to dog food or served independently to a dog who needs encouragement to eat. It is a food item that is easily digested.
Chicken or bone broth
Mild in flavor and rich in hydrating nutrition, you can use chicken or bone broth in your dog’s food to stimulate his appetite. This easily-digested addition helps to quiet an upset tummy and provides moisture and flavor to a bland dog food.
Plain, unsweetened yogurt
A tablespoon of plain, unsweetened yogurt can help replenish helpful bacteria that is often depleted when a dog has stomach problems. Yogurt can also encourage a dog to eat.
Oatmeal
Unsweetened oatmeal provides fiber and is easily digested for dogs who have upset stomachs. Make sure to cook the oatmeal in water (as opposed to milk) to circumvent any problems with dairy.
When introducing new foods to your dog, be sure to offer in small amounts first. Also, be sure that what you’re feeding your dog doesn’t contain garlic or onion — both toxic to dogs. And, lastly, if symptoms don’t resolve in 24 hours, seek help from your veterinarian.