My Aching Belly: Recognizing Tummy Trouble in Pets

A bad stomach ache can trump just about anything your body can throw your way. We know that pets can experience pain and digestive issues, just like people can, but they may not always be able to tell us when things hurt.

It is important for pet owners to be adept at recognizing tummy trouble in pets, and Schertz Animal Hospital is ready to help make you an expert at identifying gastrointestinal issues, from minor to serious.

Recognizing Tummy Trouble in Pets

If your pet is vomiting or having diarrhea, there is trouble in paradise. Recognizing tummy trouble in pets isn’t always quite so obvious, though. Other signs that there may be digestive issues brewing can include:

• Decreased or absent appetite
• Increased or decreased thirst
• Lethargy
• Restlessness
• Flatulence
• Straining to defecate
• Dry heaving
• Drooling
• Hunched back
• Noisy digestion
• Bad breath
• Aversion to touching the abdomen
• A bloated appearance

If your pet is exhibiting one or more of these symptoms, please call us right away. A prompt examination can help us to differentiate minor tummy trouble from serious or life-threatening ailments.

When to Worry

When in doubt, it is always best to err on the side of caution. Recognizing pet tummy trouble is only half the battle. When it comes to treating an ailing pet properly, understanding the cause of the issue is essential.

Pancreatitis in pets, foreign body obstructions, bloat, gastroenteritis, and parasites can all appear similarly, but require very different treatments. Without examining a pet and performing diagnostic testing, it can be impossible to treat successfully.

It is important to act quickly if your pet is vomiting, with or without diarrhea, for more than a few hours, is acting lethargic, not eating, is retching, or appears bloated. If your pet’s symptoms are minor and you choose to take a wait and see approach, remember:

• Pets can become dehydrated quickly, especially if they are very small or elderly. Do not wait if your pet can’t keep fluids down or is having bouts of diarrhea.
• If your pet ingests a foreign body or toxin, time is crucial when it comes to successful treatment.
• Many over the counter medications can cause more harm than good. Never administer anything to your pet without medical guidance.
• If things aren’t getting better within a few hours, call us. Electrolyte disturbances, dehydration, pain, and sepsis can put your pet at an unnecessary risk.

Sometimes waiting is perfectly fine, but it is important to be vigilant for indications that things may be worsening. Seek care appropriately.

Recognizing tummy trouble in pets and acting quickly are important to keeping our four-legged family members happy and healthy. If you think your pet may be ill, don’t hesitate to let us know. Helping pets is what we do!