Bismuth subsalicylate, commonly found in medicine cabinets, is harmless for dogs (but not for cats). It is used to treat stomach distress, vomiting, and diarrhea. But first, a word of caution: you should only give your dog a few doses of Pepto-Bismol because it contains salicylate, which can upset the stomach and result in gastric hemorrhage. Following those few dosages, you should speak with your veterinarian if your dog’s condition has not improved. Find out more about Pepto Bismol for canines.
Imodium
Most dogs and cats can safely take Imodium (loperamide) to treat diarrhea. After 24 hours, if the diarrhea doesn’t get better, call your veterinarian right away since diarrhea can quickly produce dangerously high levels of dehydration.
WARNING: Imodium may have negative side effects in several breeds that are related to collies. Collies, Shelties, Australian Shepherds, and long-haired Whippets should not be given this medication.
Pepcid-AC, Tagamet and Zantac
The OTC drugs Famotidine (Peptid-AC), Cimetidine (Tagamet), and Ranitidine (Zantac) are frequently used to treat or prevent heartburn and symptoms connected to stomach ulcers. They often work well and are secure for pets (and cats). Once or twice a day is sufficient to administer the recommended dosage.
It’s acceptable to use them for irregular dietary transgressions, such as when your dog eats all of your salsa or gets into a bag of chips. If your dog’s gastrointestinal issues persist, consult a veterinarian to rule out other issues.
Dosage:
- Each of these over-the-counter medications has a different tablet dosage, so go to your doctor to find out how much to give your dog.
What remedies do veterinarians prescribe for dogs with stomach upset?
The diagnosis made by your dog’s veterinarian will determine the course of treatment.
Parvovirus. If they have parvovirus, they will need to be hospitalized and kept away from other dogs. Your dog can receive intravenous fluids from the vet to rehydrate them and keep their immune system strong enough to combat the infection. Antibiotics may be prescribed by veterinarians to treat any bacterial infections that develop as a result of the illness.
Inflammation. Veterinarians typically advise short-term fasting and a lot of fluid consumption to keep your dog hydrated for diseases that cause irritated stomach tissue and frequent vomiting.
other circumstances Immediate surgical techniques, such as open surgery or less invasive methods to remove obstructions, are necessary for bloating, cancer, and obstructions.
Rarely, if an ulcer has perforated a portion of the digestive tract, it may be necessary to remove it surgically.
Common practice. To treat a dog’s upset stomach, veterinarians frequently advise a bland diet. Remove the irritating ingredients from food with rice and chicken or a more specialized diet to assist your dog’s digestive system in regaining its equilibrium.
While they work to identify the source of your dog’s stomach issues, veterinarians will treat the symptoms of your dog with medicine. Probiotics are frequently used to treat stomach issues in dogs.
Call your veterinarian if your dog seems to be experiencing stomach issues for advice. Even though they may merely be experiencing stomach pain, it may require prompt veterinary care.
Can dogs be given stomach medicine?
Although Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) is safe to give to the majority of dogs, AKC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein says he rarely advises it because the medication’s salicylates may cause gastrointestinal bleeding and the bismuth may conceal any ensuing bleeding by turning the stool black. If it must be administered, he advises speaking with your veterinarian first and giving no more than one or two doses. Instead, your vet may advise using the Corrective Suspension bismuth subsalicylate medication designed for dogs. Any form of bismuth subsalicylate should not be administered to dogs with bleeding disorders, those who are pregnant or nursing, or those who are receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Rimadyl and Deramaxx. Bismuth subsalicylate is hazardous to cats and should never be given to them.
- Dr. Klein advises giving dogs 1 teaspoon of pepto-bismol for every 10 pounds of body weight. The dog can have it every 6 to 8 hours, but if the diarrhea persists after a few doses, stop giving the medication and contact your veterinarian. Additionally, if you’ve never administered Pepto-Bismol to your dog previously, clarify the dosage with your vet.
- Pepto-Bismol administration for dogs: Give your dog the medication using a plastic syringe that is empty (no needle). He should first open his lips, insert the empty syringe below his tongue, push the plunger, and then hold his snout for a brief moment to make sure he swallows it.
Another over-the-counter drug that can be given to dogs to treat diarrhea is Imodium (loperamide). Consult your veterinarian before giving Imodium to your dog if they have any medical issues or are taking any drugs. Before administering this drug to a cat, seek veterinary advice. Cats may react to it.
- Imodium Dosage For Dogs: According to Dr. Klein, a dog can take one 2-milligram pill for every 40 pounds of body weight, two to three times each day. To confirm the dosage, please call your veterinarian. Give this drug to patients for no longer than two days. If the symptoms continue, get veterinarian help.
- Imodium administration for dogs: The GreeniesTM brand of pill pockets or food-wrapped tablets should be given to your dog (like cheese). Use just enough food to cover the pill’s taste in order to avoid further upsetting your dog’s stomach.
Many veterinarians advise Pepcid (famotidine) if your pet has problems with stomach acid buildup, gastric ulcers, or other stomach- or GI-related concerns. Although the FDA has not approved this medicine for use in animals, it is common for veterinarians to suggest its usage in some dogs and cats. If your pet is pregnant, nursing, or has a medical problem, talk to your veterinarian before giving it to them.
- Pepcid Dosage for Dogs: According to Dr. Klein, the dosage for both dogs and cats is one 10-milligram tablet for a 20-pound dog every 12- to 24-hours. Giving this medication an hour before meals is recommended. For confirmation that the dosage is correct for your pet, consult a veterinarian. Make sure to choose Pepcid Original Strength if you decide to buy Pepcid (10 milligram tablets). Pepcid Maximum Strength and Pepcid Complete both include more active components and medication per pill, respectively.
- How to Give Pepcid to Dogs: Giving Pepcid with meals can reduce the medication’s effectiveness. Instead, softly touch your dog’s throat or blow into his nose to encourage swallowing while tilting his head back, placing the pill on the back of his tongue, holding his mouth shut for a brief period of time. Ask your veterinarian for guidance if you have never given medicines to your dog without a treat.
Rice and pumpkin are two meals that can aid dogs with gastrointestinal problems. Find out more about that here.
According to Dr. Klein, he has also recommended probiotics like Pro-Viable or Fortiflora to treat diarrhea. “Results are noticed within 24 hours, he explains, if diarrhea is not severe. Ask your veterinarian where you can buy comparable products.
Emergency First Aid for Dogs
A sudden injury or illness cannot always be prevented, even by the most diligent pet owner. Receiving emergency medical care for your pet could mean the difference between life and death. To find out more about what to do in an emergency, download this e-book.
Can dogs take Pepto-Bismol or Tums?
It goes without saying that you should call your veterinarian immediately if your dog experiences severe diarrhoea, vomiting, or stomach pain and not even think of giving them Tums or antacids.
Veterinarians frequently advise fasting until your dog’s digestive tract clears up, though, for minor stomach ailments. They might also advise transitioning to a more easily digestible diet or reintroducing food in smaller portions.
When veterinarians do recommend taking medicine to treat minor digestive issues, they typically prescribe drugs other than Tums. They might suggest substituting Pepto or Imodium. Once again, consult your veterinarian before giving your dog any meds, not even over-the-counter ones.
Certain nutrients might enhance digestion and harden your dog’s feces. Pumpkin puree is one of the top safe remedies recommended by dog parents for treating moderate digestive issues since it works really well.
If your dog frequently has digestive problems, you may need to change their diet, or it may be a sign of a more serious health problem. Discuss any symptoms with your veterinarian.
What do you feed your dog to help with digestive issues? Have you ever given Tums to your dog? Tell us in the comments section below!
How can I treat my dog’s vomiting?
Short-term pet vomiting may just require 24 hours of feeding an easily digestible diet, like chicken broth. Your pets need medical care and IV fluids if the vomiting is severe. Your pet may require a highly nutritious food, fatty acids, and probiotics to restore health if vomiting is chronic.
Many vomiting pets benefit from dietary changes. For the majority of pets, it is preferable to cease feeding them for 12 to 24 hours and limit their diet to water, ice cubes, and broth. As your pet gets well, feed it infrequently in little amounts of low-fat, low-protein foods that are also simple to digest. Feed mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, boiling white rice, or baby food, for instance. Offer homemade chicken soup that is unseasoned and without salt. Offer a single protein meal along with the carbohydrate as the vomiting gets better, such as boiling chicken or low-fat cottage cheese with mashed potatoes.
Even when wet, regular dried dog and cat chow is difficult for vomiting dogs to consume. Once the vomiting stops, feeding pets a high-quality, natural pet food often results in better health.
More treatment options for vomiting dogs and cats
If your pet consumes water, ice cubes, or diluted soup, rehydrating them at home is simple. A human hydration product, like Gatorade, is appropriate for short-term rehydration, but human products are not recommended for long-term use.
Fluids will need to be administered intravenously or subcutaneously if your pet won’t drink. Dry, sticky gums, eyes that appear sunken, and skin that remains tented when pinched are all indications that your pet is dehydrated.
The brain, heart, and muscles are kept in good working order by tiny ions of hydrogen, chloride, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These ions are known as electrolytes when they are in solution and prepared for use. Electrolytes are lost via vomiting in pets. Because pets do not eat a typical diet, they also lose electrolytes. Some electrolytes, like potassium, can’t be stored by the body and must be consumed regularly. The heart stops beating if it lacks potassium.
Vomiting pets face extra issues in addition to the two obvious health hazards of dehydration and electrolyte loss. Because there is no weight to encourage stool movement, the intestines do not function. These animals struggle to pass their stiff, tiny feces after being constipated.
By working on the brain, the prescription drugs metoclopramide and chlorpromazine reduce vomiting.
Your veterinarian may prescribe Ranitidine, Cimetadine (Rx), or Omeprazole if your pet is vomiting due to ulcers (Rx). Your veterinarian could advise sucralfate to cover your pet’s stomach so the ulcers can heal.
Your veterinarian may recommend Metoclopramide if your pet is vomiting as a result of the intestines not contracting and nothing moving through the GI tract (Rx). Pets with vomiting brought on by gastric reflux disease, kidney disease, and infections like parvo can benefit from the usage of methoclopramide. If your pet has a bleeding ulcer, bloat, or an obstruction preventing the function of the stomach and intestines, methoclopramide should not be administered.
Probiotics are dietary supplements that provide beneficial bacteria for the colonization of the intestines. Your pet is protected by probiotics from cancer, diarrhea, infections, and inflammation. Digestive Enzymes Plus by NaturVet Lactobacillus acidophilus and other gut-friendly microorganisms are found in probiotics, a powdered supplement. Fast Balance-G.I. is an additional source of highly concentrated probiotics. Most canines and felines like the taste of Fast Balance-G.I.
Due of their worm infestation, dogs can vomit. Panacur C, which is available over-the-counter and effective against whipworms, roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and esophageal worms, can be administered to dogs. Panacur C is safe for cats to use, although the FDA has not approved it for cat use. Drontal (Rx) can be administered for cats who are wormed.
If a bacterial illness is the source of the vomiting in the pet, antibiotics are required. Pets require supportive care and immune stimulants if vomiting is brought on by a virus like parvo or distemper. Dimethylglycine-based liquid immune stimulant Vetri-DMG is produced by Vetri-Science.
Gruel (food made of cereal, oats, or wheat) and raised pet dishes help pets that regurgitate because they prevent the food from having to climb uphill to the stomach. These animals also require peaceful repose after meals.
For pets who are vomiting or regurgitating, aspiration pneumonia is an issue. When some food is not completely expelled from the mouth and some is unintentionally inhaled (aspirated) into the lungs, aspiration pneumonia results. Food is not sterile, thus a severe pneumonia develops right away. One of the reasons vomiting and regurgitation are such major health dangers is because aspiration pneumonia kills vomiting pets. Veterinarians recommend antibiotics like Clavamox (Rx) and Baytril for aspiration pneumonia (Rx).
By giving your dog Be Well for Dogs, an organic, freshly ground flax and molasses supplement with the sugar removed, you may prevent constipation. Because Be Well also includes oyster, salmon, and organic sprouted barley, the majority of pets find it to be delectable. Be Well offers potassium, other electrolytes, fiber (to avoid constipation), 1000 mg of Omega 3 fatty acids for dogs and 250 mg for cats. Omega 3 fatty acids reduce inflammation to ensure that the intestines and stomach work as they should.
Can pets consume Tums?
Avoid giving your dog anything that contains the sugar substitute xylitol since, according to Dr. Bris, some Tums include it.
Additionally, xylitol-free Tums should be avoided, advises Dr. Bris, because they may conflict with other drugs your dog is on and result in dangerously high calcium levels in the blood (which is particularly detrimental for canines that have kidney problems). Additionally, while this may seem counterintuitive, he adds that Tums can give your dog diarrhea and an upset stomach.
He adds that while occasionally giving healthy dogs xylitol-free Tums is unlikely to cause harm, it won’t have the same effects as in people.
Since calcium carbonate neutralizes stomach acid, Tums function in humans. Dr. Bris clarifies that because dogs digest food considerably more quickly than humans do, any neutralizing effects would last just a short time.
Given the risks and side effects, it doesn’t seem worth giving your dog Tums for this temporary, unreliable comfort.
