Dog Indigestion: Causes, Home Care, and When to See the Vet

Common Causes of Canine Indigestion (Dyspepsia)

• Dietary indiscretion (garbage, table scraps, sudden food change)
• Eating too fast (aerophagia)
• Large meals
• Fatty, spicy, or rich foods
• Excessive water with meals
• Exercise right after eating
• Stress/anxiety
• Medications (NSAIDs, antibiotics, steroids)
• Underlying: food allergy, IBD, pancreatitis, parasites, obstruction

Signs of Indigestion

• Nausea (lip licking, drooling, gulping)
• Vomiting (food, bile, foam)
• Diarrhea or soft stool
• Gas, burping, abdominal gurgling (borborygmi)
• Decreased appetite, lethargy
• Restlessness, pacing, "praying position" (forelegs down, rear up)

Home Care for Mild, Acute Cases (<24 hrs, otherwise bright)

1. Withhold food 12–24 hrs (water OK).
2. Bland diet: Boiled chicken (no skin/seasoning) + white rice 1:2 ratio, small frequent meals 2–3 days.
3. Probiotics: Canine-specific (FortiFlora, Proviable).
4. Slow feeder bowl if eating too fast.

When to See the Vet Immediately

• Vomiting >24 hrs or projectile
• Blood in vomit or stool (hematemesis, melena, hematochezia)
• Abdominal distension, unproductive retching (GDV/bloat – EMERGENCY)
• Lethargy, collapse, pale gums
• Known toxin ingestion
• Puppy, senior, or dog with chronic disease

Veterinary Workup

Physical exam, fecal test, blood work (CBC, chemistry, pancreatic lipase), X-rays/ultrasound, possibly endoscopy/biopsy.

Don’t give human meds (Pepto, Tums) without vet approval. Some are toxic to dogs.