Everyone has been in a situation where they feel they’re going to be sick. Maybe they ate something that didn’t sit well with their stomach or they saw something that caused their tummy to become upset. That feeling of uneasiness and discomfort in your stomach is called nausea. It is a common ailment that affects many people every day. Did you know that your dog can get nausea, too? That’s right! Believe it or not, your dog might even experience nausea on a daily basis. If your dog’s appetite has recently decreased, your furry friend may be suffering from some level of nausea.
If you have an upset stomach and need relief, you might use an antacid, like the ever-famous Tums. But when it comes to your dog, what do you do to treat a canine’s case of the upset stomach? Since dogs are so different in comparison to humans, it’s best to do your research rather than apply the same remedies you’d use for yourself. You must treat your dog’s nausea in a different manner than you would your own.
Thankfully, there is a natural, healthy solution to dog nausea of any degree. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive, plant-derived compound that can help the endocannabinoid system, it is the perfect remedy for nausea because this internal system is responsible for the alleviating symptoms, like nausea. Since CBD acts on the nauseous feelings.
In the rest of this article, we’ll explain what to look out for when trying to figure out if your dog has nausea. We’ll define nausea and provide advice on how to treat nausea your dog is experiencing. You might not be able to give your dog Pepto Bismol or Tums, but the hope is not lost. Read on to learn more.
- What Do Nausea Symptoms Look Like?
- What is Nausea?
- How to Treat Nausea In Dogs
- The Differences Between CBD for Dogs and THC
- How to Purchase CBD Oil for Dogs with Nausea
What Do Nausea Symptoms Look Like?
It can be hard to understand what is going on with our bodies. If your stomach doesn’t feel well, there could be for a variety of reasons for the discomfort. You might have heartburn, the flu, food poisoning, or just a minor case of passing nausea. No matter the root cause, it’s always good to know what exactly is going on when your stomach doesn’t feel right so you can approach the problem and treat it successfully.
Nausea is essentially the urge to throw up and release the contents of your tummy. Your stomach will feel off and it might make noises that sound strange, but this is just digestion trying to assist in the process. Lightheadedness and increased sweat production are common as your body tries to fight against the cause of your nausea.
Nausea always precedes vomiting. However, it is entirely possible for someone to feel nauseous and not end up needing to puke. Often times, nausea is accompanied by other symptoms as well. These include dizziness, increased body temperature, stomach pain, and a very dry feeling in the mouth. Nausea is often present among those who are sick with a virus or the flu, but it typically passes when the stomach bug does. There may be a more serious cause for concern if you have a change in heart rate, experience confusion, or recognize an extreme lack of energy. It is important to keep track of how long nausea lasts. If your nausea does not pass in due time, this could be a sign of something more serious.
Your dog can also experience nausea. While he or she won’t be able to express their nauseous feelings in words or really show you that he or she is nauseous, you can often tell if your dog feels ill by monitoring the behavior of your dog.
Here are a few key things to keep an eye on if you are concerned that your dog is suffering from severe nausea:
Food Behavior
First of all, are they hungry? If your dog doesn’t have much of an appetite, or his/her appetite is abnormal, it might be a sign that your pup is experiencing regular nausea that prevents your little buddy from wanting to eat. Closely related to that, how does your dog behave after eating food? Does your dog dry-heave or vomit? If so, that is probably related to nausea.
Bathroom Habits
While it is certainly not the most attractive gig, it’s important that you make sure your dog is having regular stool movements. If you notice diarrhea, constipation, or any other kind of disruption of movement in the bowels, then something is wrong. Since the stomach and digestion play large roles in bowel movements, nausea can also inhibit the production and excretion of bowels.
Excessive Saliva
If your dog is constantly drooling or has a sudden obsession with chewing on everything in sight, it might be because he or she feels nauseous. By occupying themselves with chew toys, the act of biting allows dogs’ attention to focus on something other than their upset tummy. Their attention is directed away from the uncomfortable feeling they have in their stomach and to something more enjoyable.
Environment
Imagine the areas your dog spends the most time during the day. What do those areas look like? Are they clean and free of debris? If they aren’t, this may be a sign that your dog is becoming nauseous.
As always, your best bet is to take a trip to the vet and have a professional take a look at your dog’s internal functioning. Nausea can be a passing fluke as a result of eating something unsettling, but it can also be indicative of something far more serious. You have to pay attention to the eating patterns and behavior of dogs in order to really
What is Nausea?
Alright, so we covered how nausea symptoms feel and how they can manifest. As a recap, nausea is defined by Merriam-Webster as “stomach distress with a distaste for food and an urge to vomit.” Nausea itself is not a condition nor is it a disease. Instead, nausea serves as a symptom and an indicator of another larger condition. This is why it is important to learn the root cause of nausea rather than trying to solely address the discomfort being caused. If you only treat the symptom and not the cause, then the symptom will reappear and the problem will perpetually reoccur.
There are hundreds of different reasons for feeling nauseous, ranging from minor things like eating uncooked and raw foods, to more serious concerns, such as cancer and ulcers.
Here are some common causes of nausea in dogs:
Type of Food
It is possible that the type of food your dog is eating is not sitting well in their stomach. Some dogs are more sensitive than others, so your pup may not be able to tolerate the food in their bowl, thereby causing them nausea. It is highly recommended to switch to a diet that suits your dog’s needs.
Presence of Constipation
If you are keeping an eye on how often your dog needs to poo, you probably will notice if they stop. When a dog becomes constipated, the poor canine is unable to pass its bowel movements which can cause a backup over time. This will subsequently cause nausea as it starts to affect a dog’s tummy.
Viruses
Dogs can also catch stomach bugs and feel nauseous as a result. Often times the effects of viruses are short-lived and they will pass on their own. Occasionally, antibiotics may be required if symptoms persist for too long.
Lung, Liver, and/or Kidney Disease
Nausea is associated with diseases of many major organs. The lung, livers, pancreas, and kidneys of your doggy can be inflamed and infected. If this occurs, your dog will be nauseous. It is a sign that something is off and it’s the body’s way of crying out for help, in a way.
Cancer
Nausea that leads to cancer is rare, though it does happen from time to time. While this is a scary thought, it is better to catch cancerous symptoms early and treat the disease as soon as possible. Nausea associated with cancer will usually coincide with other symptoms. If you think there is something really wrong with your pet, please take your beloved buddy to the veterinarian immediately. Your pet may be suffering, but there are ways to ease their symptoms.
Bowel Issues
Nausea is closely correlated to the stomach and bowels. If a dog has issues with persistent nausea, it may be an indication of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD. While this is not fatal, it is vital that you seek professional treatment for IBD.
Since nausea is a symptom of so many different problems, it can be hard to definitively say when nausea is something to be concerned about, rather than something minor. Careful attention must be given to dogs that have nausea just to make sure it does not become something seriously detrimental over time. Generally speaking, the longer-lasting the nausea is, the more likely it is something serious. If you are wondering what to give dogs for nausea, we’ve got your back!
Another key thing to keep in mind is whether your dog is actually throwing up or not.
How to Treat Nausea In Dogs
Traditional Methods
You may be wondering what you can give your dog when it comes to resolving nausea. Finding a solution for canine nausea is not as straightforward for your dog as you may think. One of the best ways to treat nausea in dogs is through preventative care. This includes keeping up with their hygiene, maintaining a healthy diet for them, and making sure they are getting adequate exercise.
Be careful about what you are feeding your dog and ensure that the food is healthy. Food that is super fatty and lacks beneficial nutrients may upset the stomach of your dog, especially if the pup’s tummy is ultra-sensitive. Base-level stomach problems caused by food can be avoided by feeding your dog a healthier and nutritious diet. Doing so can, in turn, help reduce nausea because you’ll be cutting out the root cause.
You also want to be sure that the area where your dog typically eats is kept clean. If food is left out, it will go bad over time, but your dog might eat it anyway, which will result in your dog getting sick. Make sure your doggy eats at a steady pace so they don’t eat dry food too quickly and upset their stomach. This can result in a rare but possible situation called bloat, which can be fatal if not treated immediately.
Stressful situations can also prompt nausea in a dog. If your dog doesn’t like going to the dog park or spending long periods of time outside, then your canine can become nauseous when placed in that situation. It’s imperative that you take special care to reduce any stressful or anxiety-inducing events, unless they are absolutely necessary, like going to the vet, for instance. Humans can have stomach pains before something stressful, and your best four-legged friend can, too.
You might try your best to prevent nausea for your dog but it can still occur. When nausea arises, it may be time to try to seek additional help when it comes to curbing your dog’s discomfort. Many owners take their dog to the vet and get prescribed medications for nausea. While these medications are effective, they are not always the easiest to swallow or the safest in the long-run. So what are some natural, non-manufactured remedies that you can give your dog for nausea?
All of the following can be used as a natural dog nausea remedy:
Ice
When your dog is feeling nauseous, it’s actually a good idea to take away the water bowl because slurping too much water can cause them to feel even more nauseous. However, if your dog has surpassed nausea and has begun to throw up, then your dog will need to stay hydrated.
Pumpkin
It might sound silly, but pumpkin is actually great at helping with nausea. A small scoop of pure pumpkin mixed in with a dog’s bland food can go a long way. Pumpkin is totally safe for your dog as long as there aren’t any spices in it! (Unless you’re adding ginger!)
Rice
Some vets will recommend some immediate diet changes to help with nausea. You can remove food for a while to see if symptoms improve. You can also switch their diet to plain rice and very lean meats like chicken to see if their diet is causing nausea.
Ginger
Humans drink ginger ale for nausea mostly because the drink is fairly bland and the ginger is a resolve for ailments of many kinds. The use of ginger is also applicable to dogs when they are experiencing nausea. Sprinkling ginger on top of the pumpkin is the perfect combination for a dog with an upset tummy.
Some or none of these methods will work for your dog. You can also try hemp-based CBD oil to help cure your dog’s nausea!
CBD
CBD serves as an excellent dog nausea treatment method. For some background, CBD is a cannabinoid that communicates with receptors of the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for multiple functions in the body, appetite is one of them. CBD can not only help to encourage a dog to have an appetite, but it can also help to reduce any nausea associated with eating. CBD can also provide other health benefits to your dog while helping quell nausea. Some of the other functions the endocannabinoid system controls include mood and pain. If your dog has chronic conditions and is in pain because of it, CBD can absolutely help reduce the pain and greatly increase their quality of life.
CBD is very safe and effective, considering the natural nature of the substance. Even better, CBD comes in many different forms so that you have options when it comes to how you distribute CBD to your pup.
The Differences Between CBD for Dogs and THC
CBD and THC are fairly similar in the sense that they are both derived from plants, but there is one major difference of which you need to be aware of. THC is bad for dogs whereas CBD is good for dogs. Both THC and CBD are cannabinoids that can be found in the cannabis plant. CBD can also be found in pure form in a hemp plant. THC is psychoactive, meaning it creates distinct alterations in the physical and mental functioning of humans as well as animals. In most people, THC-containing substances create an elevated, happier mood in the person taking it as well as causes them to feel physically uplifted. There are side effects to the high though, including drowsiness, hunger, irritated eyes, and even paranoid thoughts.
THC is often used to treat issues related to insomnia, reduce stress, and minimize anxiety, although if too much is taken, it can have the reverse effect and induce these symptoms instead. THC cannot be processed well in dogs because they have more cannabinoid receptors, meaning they are much more affected by the psychoactive. However, even though THC is beneficial to most people, it actually makes everything worse for dogs.
Now you’re probably thinking if only there were something like THC for dogs. Well, guess what! There is! CBD provides just about the same levels and types of relief as THC but without the body high and change in mental processing. CBD is the way to go for dogs with nausea.
How to Purchase CBD Oil for Dogs with Nausea
Fortunately, you can turn to the internet to source quality CBD oil for use with your pet. Innovet specializes in creating delicious, effective, THC-free pure CBD oil to give your dog the boost it needs. We offer CBD in many different forms, including pill capsules, traditional CBD oil, or even scrumptious hemp-based botanical supplement chews. Take a look at our entire inventory today! Let us know if you have additional questions about how to best cure nausea for dogs.If you’ve been wondering about why your dog might not be eating, it could definitely be nausea related! Consider trying safe, healthy, natural CBD oil as a remedy for nausea without any uncomfortable side effects! It can calm your dog’s nausea and help promote their appetite so they can get back to living a good dog’s life.
Sources:
NauseaCBD and Epilepsy
CBD in Anxiety and Sleep
Cannabidiol Users: A Cross-Sectional Study
CBD Improves Brain and Liver Function
Regulation of Nausea and Vomiting By Cannabinoids
CBD May Support Treating Inflammation and Reducing Pain