Flea treatments come in many forms. There are collars, sprays, dips, shampoos, oral, and topical treatments. Unfortunately, as with any medication, flea treatments can carry side effects. A common one is an upset stomach which will often be accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea. If your dog is showing signs of an upset stomach, such as refusing to eat, being lethargic, vomiting, or diarrhea, it is important to treat him immediately.
Things You'll Need
- Ice
- Bowl
- Gatorade
- Rice
- Chicken
- Banana baby food
- Pot
- Dog food
Instructions
Consult your veterinarian. She will likely have recommendations that are specific to your dog. Before you try any at-home treatments, make sure your veterinarian approves of the method.
Keep your dog hydrated. Straight water can make your dog's stomach even more upset, especially if he drinks it too fast. Instead of water in the bowl, give him ice chips or cubes. As they start to melt replace them with new ones. If your dog is vomiting or experiencing extreme diarrhea, you can give him one to two cups of Gatorade or unflavored Pedialyte per day, depending on his size.
Remove food sources. If your dog is vomiting or experiencing extreme diarrhea, you do not want her to make it worse, since food can aggravate her upset stomach. Your dog should fast for 24 hours. During this time, make sure you not only remove her food bowl, but also avoid giving treats and rawhides which can further upset her stomach.
Introduce bland foods. After this 24-hour fasting period, reintroduce bland foods. Rice, boiled chicken, and banana baby food are good options. To prepare the chicken, place it in a pot of water and boil it until it is cooked. Make sure you do not add any salt to the food. Also, the chicken should be boneless and skinless. Give your dog three or four small portions per day for two days. The size of the portions will depend on the size of the dog.
Introduce a normal diet. Just as you would slowly introduce him to a new brand of dog food over a few days, you want to do the same after he has been on a bland diet. Start by adding some regular dog food into the bland diet at every feeding. Gradually increase the amount of dog food and decrease the amount of the other food, until he is back to his regular diet.