Have you noticed your Poodle having a loose stool or bending down to scratch their rear end often? Have they been throwing up and constantly gone to the bathroom? If so, then you need to pay attention.
If you have a poodle, chances are that they might have a sensitive stomach at some point in their life. The good news is that most of the time, you can pinpoint the cause and come up with something to fix the problem.
However, to pinpoint the cause and come up with a solution, you must first understand what having a sensitive stomach in poodle means.
Poodles with sensitive stomachs experience stomach issues such as vomiting, stomach aches, and diarrhea frequently basis. It can be caused due to a variety of reasons including parasites, food allergies, a sudden change in diet, stress, and anxiety.
Taking care of your poodle that has a sensitive stomach can prove to be quite tricky, especially if you don’t have a proper understanding of this ailment.
To help you out with that, I did some research and gained some crucial insights on this topic which I will be sharing with you.
In this article, I will not only discuss what a sensitive stomach in a poodle is but also what causes it, how to identify the symptoms, and much more.
So keep on reading to learn more!
How Do You Know If Your Poodle Has a Sensitive Stomach?
Understanding the causes and symptoms of a poodle’s sensitive stomach is the first step towards finding a solution for this ailment.
To help your pup feel better and provide him relief from his uncomfortable symptoms, we’ll go through the most common symptoms of poodle sensitive stomach problems.
Sensitive stomach symptoms in poodles include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Reduced Appetite
- Bad Temperament (Grumpy)
- Flatulence (Farting/Passing Gas)
- Excessive Stomach Gurgling Noise
If your poodle shows the above-mentioned signs once every month or more then it is highly likely that your dog has a sensitive stomach.
In addition to the signs mentioned above, sensitive skin has also been noticed quite frequently in dogs with a sensitive stomach.
Such skin problems may include itchy skin, red skin, and hair loss.
Poodles are one of the dog breeds that are more likely to have a sensitive stomach.
So, watch out for these signs and if you notice the symptoms mentioned, make sure to set up an appointment with a vet and have your poodle seen.
Please note that some of the symptoms of sensitive stomachs in poodles are the same as the symptoms of poodle bloating.
Since poodles are one of the breeds that are more likely to bloat, make sure you don’t confuse poodle bloat with symptoms of a sensitive stomach.
What Causes a Poodle to Have a Sensitive Stomach?
Now that you are aware of the symptoms of sensitive stomachs in poodle, let me now tell you about what causes a poodle to have a sensitive stomach in the first place.
When you think about it, a sensitive stomach can be caused by numerous things. Let’s say your poodle has been experiencing some issues with a sensitive stomach. You would want to know all the reasons why your dog is having these issues.
There could be many reasons as to why, so let’s go over them one by one.
Parasites and Worms
Despite their adorable appearance, pooches can an array of parasites. Four common ones include Giardia, whipworms, roundworms, and coccidia
So, the first step when trying to help a poodle with a sensitive stomach should be to get a stool sample checked from a vet for any parasites.
A vet is often able to diagnose your dog’s condition and can start treatment either on-site or by prescribing medication at home.
Not so Fun Fact: 70% of the canine species on this planet are infected with Giardia.
Parasites cause many digestive issues such as diarrhea, vomiting and, even excessive gas in dogs.
A Sudden Change in Diet
If your dog shows signs of a sensitive stomach pay close attention to what you’re feeding them.
A new dog food brand should be introduced over the period of at least one week, if not several weeks.
Most dog foods have portions mentioned as well as the recommended time frame to make the diet switch while minimizing the chances of upsetting your poodle’s stomach.
So, make sure you read the back of the dog food packaging and read the instructions.
Food Allergies
The most common cause of sensitive stomachs in poodles is the wrong type of food. Poodles, like any other dog breed, love to eat, and they will devour anything you put in front of them!
However, If you give your poodle treats or dog food that is not made for them, then they will have problems with their stomachs because these treats are not good for them.
What I mean by “treats or dog food that is not made for them” is that some dogs have a sensitive stomach to artificial preservatives and additives found in commercial dog foods and treats like BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin.
This is why it is important to choose a dog food that is suitable for your poodle with a sensitive stomach.
Stress and Anxiety
If your dog is experiencing stomach upset, there’s a good chance it’s stress-related. Stress and anxiety are common causes for dogs with sensitive stomachs, and knowing how to help them can make a big difference.
Have you ever watched a dog when their owner leaves? They often get very anxious!
Such stress and anxiety caused by their owners leaving them may lead to an upset stomach for your pet.
I have previously written an in-depth article on poodle separation anxiety and what you can do to help poodles with such a condition, if you’re interested in learning more about the topic, I highly recommended you give that article a read as well.
How To Treat a Poodle’s Sensitive Stomach
When it comes to caring for your beloved poodle, there are a lot of different things you have to keep track of. From brushing your poodle’s teeth to keeping an eye on their diet, you are bound to find challenges along the way.
One problem that could arise is when your poodle has a sensitive stomach. This makes taking care of your poodle a bit more challenging.
This is typically caused by feeding them food items that don’t agree with them or by eating too fast. I guess you could say a sensitive stomach is as common for dogs as it is for humans.
For your convenience, I am going to take you through a variety of methods that can be used to treat your poodle’s sensitive stomach. Use this as a guide and see which ways work best for you and your poodle.
Please note these are just general treatments for your dog’s upset tummy and it is important that if your pup continues to have diarrhea or vomiting you should get them checked by your vet.
Stop Feeding Them! (for some time at least)
A lot of people are aghast that I would ever recommend withholding food. I have to concede that stomachs were made to digest, not get full and shut off, but the fact is that sometimes you can send things on the right path by slowing them down.
This means no food for 12-24 hours even before starting your traditional medicines.
Give them Ice-Cubes (or ice chips)
Giving ice cubes to lick will help keep your dog hydrated while they are fasting.
Giving them easy access to water could result in them drinking more than they should which may cause further discomfort.
Start slow and you can gradually increase the amount you give them. Monitor their progress, if they can keep down the ice cubes, you can give them small amounts of water.
Canned Pumpkin to The Rescue!
With such a wide variety of dog sensitive stomach medications available, there are bound to be quite a few things out there that could help a poodle.
Luckily, you can narrow that selection down based on what has been proven to be effective. 100% canned pumpkin is one of those treatments.
Here are two of the very best canned pumpkin available on amazon: Nummy Tum Tum Pure Pumpkin For Pets and Farmers Market Organic Pumpkin.
As with any supplement: start slow, increase gradually, monitor closely for any signs of illness like loose stool/diarrhea, discontinue if necessary.
Over To You
Do you have a poodle with a sensitive stomach? What methods did you try to help your dog?
Let me know in the comments down below!
Wrapping Up
If you have a poodle that has a sensitive stomach, you are not alone. Many poodles get this condition for different reasons. In my experience, these poor pups are some of the most affected breeds by gastric issues and stomach sensitivity.
That is why you need to be extra careful about what you feed them.
If you found this article helpful, let me know in the comments below.
