Gastrointestinal Upset
As the weather warms and the snow melts, your dogs may be finding all kinds of interesting delicacies to munch on in your backyards. If your dogs are anything like our furry friends at Mackenzie’s Animal Sanctuary, these delicacies may upset their stomachs. Causes of gastrointestinal upset range from dietary indiscretion to major issues such as foreign body obstructions (such as ingested socks or toys stuck in the gastrointestinal tract).
Some causes of gastrointestinal upset can become a life-threatening emergency. Please use the following guidelines to help determine when veterinary intervention is more urgently indicated:
- Large amounts of blood in the stool
- 2+ episodes of vomiting in a 24 hour period
- Severe lethargy
- History of ingestion of inanimate objects (the sooner this is caught, the easier it is to treat!)
Even if not an emergency, your local veterinarian is equipped with medications to help your dogs’ recovery from gastrointestinal upset. Therefore, it is always recommended to consult your veterinarian if your pet is experiencing stomach issues to help their vomiting and/or diarrhea as quickly as possible.
