Remedies for a Dog's Sour Stomach

A dog having a sour stomach is not uncommon, but it should not be an everyday or weekly occurrence. Some signs that your dog has a sour stomach are nausea, diarrhea, bloated stomach, lack of appetite and eating grass. Also its breath may have an unusual sour smell. Causes of sour stomachs include overeating, change of food, eating house plants and eating chocolate.

  1. Grass

    • Allow your dog to eat grass when it has a sour stomach, and this is also an easy way for you to diagnose whether or not it has a sour stomach. Usually when your dog has a sour stomach it will eat grass, and shortly after it will likely throw up. It is believed the texture of the grass helps the dog throw up. According to PetMD's website, grass is not dangerous for your dog to ingest.

    Fluids

    • Make sure your dog has plenty of fluids to drink when it has an upset stomach. Also giving your dog ice can help to settle its stomach more than water. Diarrhea and throwing up puts your dog at a greater risk of dehydration. Allowing your dog to take in fluids will help to prevent and treat dehydration.

    Other Remedies

    • Putting cooking soda or bicarbonate of soda in a small bowl of water or milk, and giving it to your dog may help settle its sour stomach. Put 1 teaspoon of the cooking soda or bicarbonate of soda in the water or milk, for a 50-pound dog. If your dog weighs more or less than 50 pounds then adjust the amount of soda. Make sure the soda has dissolved in the water or milk before giving it to your dog. Pepto-Bismol is also safe for dogs. Give your dog the equivalent dosage you would give a human, based on weight, or ask for your vet's advice. Another possible remedy is adding Gatorade or unflavored Pedialyte to its water.

    Cause of Sour Stomach

    • Try to figure out the cause of the sour stomach. Although all dogs get a sour stomach at one time or another, frequent sour stomachs may be due to something your dog is eating. Certain dog foods can cause a sour stomach in some dogs. Also chocolate is poisonous to dogs and should be kept away from them at all times. Keeping a journal for your dog may help narrow the possible causes of the sour stomach. Every day write down the food your dog had and anything else it may have eaten. Also document in the journal every time your dog has a sour stomach and how long it lasts.

    Consult your Veterinarian

    • If your dog frequently has a sour stomach, or its sour stomach lasts more than two to three days, take it to your veterinarian. Before going to the vet consider possible causes and symptoms so you can give the vet those details. Your vet will then try to determine the cause of the sour stomach and possible treatments.