Whether it's a dog that's scoffed something questionable on a walk or a cat that's suddenly gone off its food, digestive problems are something most pet owners will face at some point.
While many tummy upsets pass quickly with the right care, others can signal a much more serious condition, making it important to know when it's safe to monitor symptoms at home and when it's time to pick up the phone to your vet.
Veterinary surgeons Dr Olivia Crowe and Dr Alex Hewett from Cheltenham's Regency Vets answer the questions they're most frequently asked by pet owners at their Leckhampton practice – sharing expert advice on everything from common causes of digestive problems to the simple, everyday habits that can help prevent them, as part of SoGlos's Ask the Gloucestershire vets series.
Upset tummies are one of the most common reasons pet owners contact their vet. Why do so many pets experience digestive problems?
Digestive problems are something we see every day at Regency Vets, which isn't surprising when you consider that around one in 12 dogs will experience a case of acute diarrhoea every year.There are some variations in risk depending on age. Younger dogs are more prone to tummy upsets because they're more likely to scavenge while out on walks, leading to dietary indiscretion – in other words, eating things they shouldn't – or coming into contact with toxins.
We also occasionally see waves of tummy upsets where we suspect an infectious cause is being passed between dogs when they interact while out and about.
Some dogs have genuine food allergies, which can cause skin problems, digestive problems, or both, while others simply have sensitive digestive systems and can't tolerate sudden changes in diet or particularly rich treats.
Feeding pets fatty human food can also trigger digestive issues, so we often see an increase in cases around holidays such as Christmas and Easter, when we're all more likely to indulge in extra treats and want to share them with our pets.
Of course, not every upset stomach is straightforward. Some patients have a much more serious underlying condition, such as an intestinal obstruction caused by swallowing something they shouldn't, chronic inflammatory enteropathy – a long-term inflammatory condition affecting the intestines – pancreatitis or, sadly, cancer.
Many upset stomachs will settle on their own, but what symptoms should owners never ignore – and when is it time to seek veterinary advice?
If your pet is vomiting and can't even keep water down, we'd always advise contacting your vet straight away. They may have swallowed something that's obstructing their digestive tract or be unwell enough to need supportive treatment.
Other red flags include vomiting that continues for several days, severe lethargy, blood in the vomit, or passing large amounts of bloody diarrhoea.
One thing that's worth knowing is that, unlike in people, a small amount of fresh, bright red blood in a dog or cat's stool isn't always an emergency. This can happen when the large bowel is inflamed. However, if you're ever unsure or your pet seems generally unwell, it's always best to seek veterinary advice.
What practical steps can owners take at home if their pet develops an upset tummy, and are there any common mistakes they should avoid?
The digestive tract needs energy from food to heal itself, so feeding small amounts of a bland diet is now considered the best way to support recovery. We'd recommend a veterinary gastrointestinal diet, or simple foods such as cooked chicken or white fish with rice, potato, or pasta until symptoms have resolved.
Home-cooked diets are difficult to make completely nutritionally balanced, so we wouldn't recommend feeding them for an extended period.
Once your pet is back to normal, it's important to gradually transition them back onto their usual food over several days. This gives the digestive tract time to recover fully before asking it to digest a normal diet again.
One of the most common mistakes we see at Regency Vets is owners switching straight back to their pet's regular food as soon as they seem better, only to find they're back to square one with another upset stomach.
Every pet is different. How do you work with owners to identify the underlying cause of recurring digestive issues and create a treatment or management plan that suits their pet?
We can learn a huge amount from the history owners give us. It helps us piece together the puzzle and narrow down where we think the problem is likely to be, whether that's the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, liver, or another part of the digestive system.From there, we can recommend the most appropriate next steps, which often include blood tests, dietary trials, and diagnostic imaging such as ultrasound scans.
Some cases are relatively straightforward and can be resolved simply by changing a pet's diet. Others require more extensive investigations and, in some cases, biopsies of the intestines to reach a definitive diagnosis.
The good news is that many digestive conditions respond well to carefully managed treatment or dietary changes. While reaching a definitive diagnosis is always preferable, we can often improve a pet's symptoms without needing to perform every available test, helping owners manage costs while still achieving a good outcome.
What is the one piece of advice you would give Gloucestershire pet owners to help keep their pets' digestive systems healthy all year round?
Don't let them drink from stagnant water – and don't let them have the last bit of your dirty kebab!It might sound tongue in cheek, but avoiding contaminated water, resisting the temptation to feed rich human food, and keeping your pet's diet as consistent as possible can prevent many of the digestive problems we see throughout the year.
For more information or advice about your pets' digestive health, visit regencyvets.com.
