Pit bull owners know that these dogs like to chew things up. Pit bulls are curious animals, and if your dog eats something it shouldn't have such as spoiled food, chocolate or a toxic plant, it can get an upset stomach. A pit bull with an upset stomach may not show that it's in pain, but gastric disturbances in dogs are usually accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and changes in appetite. You can treat a sick pit bull much as you would a person with an upset stomach---by giving bland foods and medicine and preventing dehydration.
Things You'll Need
- Water bowl
- Water
- Well-cooked rice
- Well-cooked chicken breast
- Stomach, diarrhea medications
Instructions
Try to figure out what your dog has eaten. Common indoor plants such as poinsettias and philodendron are toxic to dogs, as are garden plants like foxglove, oleander and rhododendron. Spoiled food or chocolate can cause gastric upset, or the dog may have swallowed a bit of plastic, a coin or a battery.
Watch your pit bull for signs of increasing illness, and call your vet immediately if the stomach pain is accompanied by seizures, trouble breathing, excessive drooling, muscle weakness or fatigue. Take your dog to the vet if the vomiting continues for more than two days. Any of these symptoms could indicate a serious problem such as poisoning or intestinal blockage.
Stop feeding your pit bull until it hasn't vomited for more than 24 hours. Keep the water bowl full to prevent dehydration, but don't cause further stomach upset with more food.
Offer the pit bull a small amount of well-cooked rice when it seems to be feeling better. If the dog doesn't get sick, you can give a little more rice every few hours. Watch the dog for signs of continuing stomach pain, such as hunching, looking at or licking its belly frequently, and general malaise.
Give the dog some well-cooked chicken breast if it has kept the rice down for 12 hours. Continue to monitor the dog to make sure it's drinking enough water, and don't feed it anything fatty or rich for at least three more days.
Talk to your vet about giving a pit bull over-the-counter stomach and diarrhea medications for people. In most cases, it's OK to give these medications to ease a dog's distress, but discuss the dosage with your vet. These medications may not be appropriate for young pit bulls or dogs with other stomach problems.