Author: Rick Scholtes
Rick is co-owner of the wholesale Veganpets and the webshop Vega Vriend. Together with Lisette Kreischer he wrote the book Dog.Eat.Plant, which was released in December 2020. It is the scientifically based guide to safely switch your dog to a plant-based diet.

Table of contents

What are the symptoms of intestinal problems in dogs?

What Causes Gut Problems in Dogs?

What to do about intestinal problems in dogs?

Bowel problems in dogs can be very annoying. In this blog you can read about intestinal complaints in dogs. We also explain how you can support your dog in this.

What are the symptoms of intestinal problems?

Intestinal complaints in dogs can have various causes. For example, food intolerance, food allergy, infections, parasites, stress or a change in diet. It is important to keep an eye out for the symptoms of intestinal problems in dogs. Long-term intestinal problems can lead to weight loss, dehydration and other health problems.

What Causes Gut Problems in Dogs?

Intestinal complaints in dogs can have various causes. Examples of this are:

• Food intolerance
• Food allergy
• Infections
• parasites
• Stress
• Change in diet

It is important to keep an eye out for the symptoms of intestinal problems in dogs. Long-term intestinal problems can lead to weight loss, dehydration and other health problems.

What to do about intestinal problems in dogs?

For any dog ​​with intestinal complaints, it is wise to go to a vet. The vet can run tests to determine the cause of the intestinal problems and create a treatment plan. For example, a treatment plan might include medications, dietary changes, or probiotics.  

It is important to ensure that a dog with intestinal problems drinks enough water. This is to prevent dehydration. In addition, food that can irritate the dog's intestines should be avoided, for example, high-fat food. If your dog has intestinal problems, there are several products that can help improve digestion.

Probiotics

There are many bacteria in the intestines. Intestinal problems arise as a result of an imbalance in the intestinal flora between good and harmful bacteria. Probiotics can help restore that balance.

A probiotic is a supplement that contains living microorganisms. These microorganisms occur naturally in the digestive tract and help improve digestion. They can also help reduce harmful bacteria and support healthy digestion and immunity.

Prebiotics

In addition to probiotics, there are also prebiotics. These are non-digestible dietary fibers that act as food for the good bacteria. Prebiotics stimulate the growth and activity of these good bacteria, supporting a healthy intestinal flora.

There is an important difference between prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics serve as food for the good bacteria that naturally occur in the intestines. Probiotics are actually living micro-organisms that are added to the intestinal flora. The combination of prebiotics and probiotics optimally supports the health of the intestinal flora. 

Always introduce prebiotic foods in small amounts. Prebiotic fibers are highly fermentable by intestinal bacteria. Introducing it too quickly can cause gas, cramping and other unpleasant side effects in the intestines.

Enzymes

Finally, there are enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that speed up certain reactions in the body, such as digestion. They may also help reduce inflammation and improve digestion.

Enzymes specially adapted to the dog's digestive system are incorporated in the product Enzyme Miracle. This product is ideal for dogs (as well as cats) of all ages. Enzyme Miracle contains digestive enzymes and has several benefits:

• Improves nutrient absorption
• Aids digestion
• Helps build up toxins
• Reduces inflammation