Stomach troubles are among the most common problems dogs experience. This article reviews the different types of stomach distress, signs to watch for, important factors to consider, and general supportive care concepts often discussed in veterinary medicine.
Types of Stomach Issues
Inappetence: A reduced appetite, where a dog still eat. This may look like eating less, only eating high-value food, or needing encouragement to eat.
Anorexia: A complete refusal to eat. Veterinarians commonly use this term when a dog misses a full day’s worth of meals.
Vomiting: The active emptying of the stomach, often with posturing, retching, and abdominal effort.
Regurgitation: A passive process where stomach or esophageal contents come back up without retching.
Being able to describe what you’re seeing helps your veterinarian narrow down possible causes more efficiently.
Other signs of stomach upset may include excessive drooling, prolonged “bowing” posture, or restlessness.
Why Dogs Get Stomach Upset
There are many possible causes of stomach upset, but they are often grouped into three broad categories:
Structural: such as foreign body, gastrointestinal twist, or mass
Metabolic: including kidney, liver or other systemic diseases
Infectious: such as parvovirus, parasites, or other infectious agents
If your dog has pre-existing conditions (especially diabetes), changes in appetite or vomiting are more concerning. Ask your veterinarian what “red flags” to watch for in your individual dog.
Questions to Ask Yourself
If your dog is showing signs of stomach distress, these questions can help you organize your observations to share with your vet team:
Do I know or suspect a cause?
Ate too fast?
Got into something they shouldn’t?
Was it toxic? (see: Human Food Toxic to Dogs)
Could it cause a blockage (ingest something large, sharp, string-like)?
When did symptoms start?
How often are they happening?
Has my dog been around other dogs or out in nature recently?
Home Supportive Care
