Tummy Troubles

Apr 14, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Apr 9

Things to consider: If your dog is having tummy troubles, whether that’s loose stools, vomiting, or gurgling, windy tums, here are some things you will need to look at to find the root cause. Seventy percent of our dog's immunity lies within the gut, so keeping the microbiota strong and healthy is imperative if you want a healthy dog. There are many things that can affect the microbiota, including poor diet, food intolerances, vaccinations, chemical treatments, and environmental toxins. Here is a more in-depth look at what you can do to help.

FOOD.

It’s extremely important to feed dogs a fresh species appropriate diet. It is impossible for your dogs microbiota to be fully functional and healthy when feeding ultra processed, high carbohydrate foods that are laden with toxins. If your dog is suffering any tummy troubles we need to consider food intolerances also, so an elimination diet will be needed. Feeding single protein foods, no chicken, beef or tripe initially and cut out veg to start with, also look at novel proteins. Remember that changing food alone in many cases isn’t enough, you must heal the gut too. We have a blog on how to do an elimination diet properly.

TOXINS AROUND THE HOME AND GARDEN

It’s very important to remove as many toxins as possible from your dogs life. Remove all chemical floor cleaners, plug-ins, scented candles, sprays and fabric softeners and use natural products around the home. All chemicals are very damaging to the gut; use a steam mop instead or use ingenious probiotic cleaning range Evaa. Don’t use any chemical treatments on your lawn, gardens or patios; all of the above have a detrimental effect on the microbiota, which in turn can lead to leaky gut, sensitives and allergies.

CHEMICAL FLEA AND WORM TREATMENTS

Not only are these unnecessary but they are extremely dangerous to our dogs as in some cases they can cause neurological issues like ataxia, seizures and even death! Flea and worm treatments are powerful toxic pesticides, they can damaging the microbiota and the one cell epithelial layer that regulates stomach acid is also damaged, once damaged this then allows bad bacteria and yeasts to flourish. Once you have leaky gut and the microbiota is out of kilter we end up with acid reflux, loose stools, vomiting and IBS symptoms.

VACCINATIONS

The world small animal association guidelines (WSAVA) clearly states that vaccinations should not be given needlessly, they also state that core vaccinations (parvovirus, hepatitis, distemper) can last up to the life time of the pet from just their puppy vaccinations. Giving boosters if your dog already has immunity is not only pointless but extremely detrimental to your dogs health; it is impossible to “boost” the immunity of an already immune dog. All that will happen is the dogs antibodies will block the vaccination from working BUT you are still putting all the unnecessary and potentially dangerous adjuvants into your dogs body and over stimulating the immune system.

ALWAYS TITRE TEST before giving a booster.

WATER

It’s really important to give bottled water ideally OxyPet, if not use a good filtered water to remove chlorine and any other toxins from tap water as these damage the microbiota. We recommend the Zero Water jugs or Berkey water systems or water2 system for filters.

WORKING ON THE GUT

The integrity of the gut is key! You need to help to heal, sooth and replenish the gut. Depending what the issue is with the gut a good place to start is with a quality soil based probiotic, and a demulcent like slippery elm or marshmallow root powder.