While cats are known for their dietary finickiness, dogs are known to eat just about anything. Despite the difference in their eating styles, both cats and dogs often develop digestive problems which have unpleasant consequences for both the animal and caretaker.

Diarrhea and vomiting in cats and dogs are some of the more common symptoms of digestive disorders. Peptic ulcers, colitis, enteritis, IBD and IBS, bloating, excessive gas (flatulence), gurgling or rumbling in the stomach, watery stools or constipation are also common symptoms of GI problems in pets.

Natural products containing probiotics, glutamine and other nutrients can help to heal the intestinal lining and prevent some of these symptoms from reoccurring in canines and felines.

Gastriplex from Thorne Research can help heal the intestinal tract when your dog or cat suffers from vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, peptic ulcers, IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and other GI disorders. Gastriplex contains natural ingredients such as probiotics to help restore healthy bacteria and natural herbs to soothe inflammation.

Kelp Help from NaturVet is another great holistic treatment recommended by veterinarians to help maintain normal digestion and proper utilization of vitamins and minerals.

Digestive Support from PetAlive is an herbal formula that soothes and protects the stomach lining and is especially helpful in acute digestive problems like gastritis or when your pet has eaten something which does not agrees with him/her.

Suggested Products for Digestive Support:
Gastriplex

Kelp Help

Digestive Support

Gastrigen (Chinese herbal)

Related Topics :
Constipation
Diarrhea
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Food Allergies
Hairball Relief
Detoxification

The Digestive System

The digestive system is made up of the stomach, liver, pancreas, and intestines. These organs, along with enzymes and the body's own beneficial bacteria, work together to transform food into energy and healthy tissue.

When the gastrointestinal tract is working properly, your pet will have fresh breath, a good appetite, firm stools, less flatulence and plenty of energy.

When the GI tract and digestive organs become compromised, the result can be constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), flatulence and other disorders. (See the links to the right for more information on these symptoms.)

Fortunately, many digestive disorders are temporary and resolve themselves in a day or two. In other cases, where parasites, bacteria, food allergies or other food sensitivities are to blame, your pet may benefit from taking nutraceuticals which contain glutamine, fiber, probiotics or enyzymes to help restore their digestive system to a healthy state. See the Natural Treatments section for more information about how nutraceuticals such as Gastriplex can heal and relieve inflammation of the GI tract.

General Symptoms

There are a wide range of symptoms associated with gastrointestinal disorders. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Weight loss usually the result of vomiting or diarrhea. The weight should easily be regained when the digestive system becomes healthy. If the animal continues to loose weight, your veterinarian should investigate other causes.
• Excessive gas, burping or rumbling in the stomach.
• Change in the stools.
  • Mucus indicates an imbalance in the colon.
  • Black stools indicate bleeding in the upper part of the intestinal tract.
  • Gray stools indicate liver problems.
  • Yellow or orange stools indicate an imbalance.
  • Large volume* of stools indicate improper absorption of nutrients. (*Unless you are feeding your pet a vegetarian diet or one high in fiber, which will normally result in a larger volume of stools.)
• Disinterest in eating.

ALERT: If your animal is experiencing the following symptoms, see your veterinarian immediately:

• Blood in the animal's stool or vomit.
• Excessive panting or shaking are signs of distress and may indicate an obstruction or ingestion of a toxic material.
• Dehydration as a result of severe vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than a few hours.
• Dry heaves.
• Inability to keep water down.

Diagnosis

If your pet shows any of the general signs for more than a few days, a veterinarian should be consulted to rule out other causes such as food allergies, foreign objects or internal disorders resulting from endocrine, pancreas, liver or kidney diseases.

Your veterinarian will test the blood and urine to rule out liver or kidney conditions and may perform a fecal exam to rule out parasites, giardia and bacterial infections.

Maintaining a healthy digestive system

The key to maintaining a healthy digestive tract is to provide your pet with a balanced, high-quality diet. You'll also want to eliminate any environmental causes such as easily accessible garbage containers, compost piles, and toxic substances.

If your dog or cat is prone to digestive problems and you have already experimented with a change in diet, you might ask your vet about whether your companion would benefit from a supplement such as Gastriplex, which contains digestive enyzmes, probiotics and other nutrients to help restore the GI tract to a healthy state.

Natural Treatments

While the causes and symptoms of GI problems are varied, most dogs and cats can benefit from a more healthful diet and the inclusion of nutrients that help repair the intestinal wall, reduce inflammation and restore the proper balance of good bacteria.

Maintaining cell wall integrity (not allowing food particles to pass through) and having the proper balance of beneficial bacteria will help to get your pet back on tract to having a properly working digestive system.

Probiotics are the great equalizers.

Probiotics are useful to help repopulate the gut with healthy bacteria. These "good" bacteria are essential to proper digestion and help convert food into nutrients. They also compete with harmful bacteria for intestinal wall space and nutrients which allow them to grow and reproduce, thereby controlling the amount of bad bacteria found in the intestinal tract.

Bacteria gets out of balance when an animal experiences frequent bouts of diarrhea, regularly eats a poor-quality diet and/or has been taking antibiotics for long periods.

Probiotics are a safe and effective way to restore the healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract. When taken regularly, they reinforce the beneficial bacterial colonies in the intestines and help to keep the harmful bacteria in check.

Additional support may be needed to reduce inflammation of the intestinal lining or to aid with digestion.

Gastriplex contains the following vitamins, herbs or other nutrients that provide beneficial support to the digestive system:

• Lactobacillus sporogenes - A probiotic that has been shown to help treat diarhea caused by bacterial overgrowth.
• L-Glutamine - An amino acid which fuels intestinal cells and helps maintain mucosal cell integrity.
• Slippery Elm - An emollient that provides soothing protection for the mucus membranes of the intestinal tract.
• Saccharomyces boulardi - a beneficial yeast that decreases intestinal permeability.
• N-acetyglucosamine - Helps heal the inflamed bowel lining by supporting glycoprotein synthesis.
• Psyllium - An herb that provides soluble fiber (for constipation).
• Boswellia - Helps to reduce bowel inflammation.
• DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) - supports the healing process in the intestinal lining by increasing blood flow and reducing muscle spasms.

To aid in the healing of the digestive tract, we suggest the following product containing beneficial nutrients:

Gastriplex provides comprehensive support to the gastrointestinal tract. It contains a safe and effective probiotic to help restore beneficial bacteria. It also contains Slippery Elm and other nutrients which provide soothing protection for the mucus membranes of the intestinal tract. Gastriplex will provide overall support of the GI tract for dogs and cats who suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, colitis, IBD, constipation and other digestive disorders common to dogs and cats.

To purchase or read more about Gastriplex...

To maintain a healthy digestive tract and provide essential vitamins and trace minerals, we suggest Kelp Help by NaturVet

Kelp Help

Over 65 essential trace minerals, vitamins and amino acids, many of which are missing from your pet’s diet. Formulated with only the highest quality Norwegian Kelp, which is one of the richest sources of trace minerals in the world. Kelp Help contains several trace minerals and vitamins which help promote healthy digestion and vitamin utilization in dogs and cats.

To purchase or read more about Kelp Help...

To improve digestive functioning and relieve symptoms of many common digestive problems, we suggest Digestive Support by PetAlive:

Digestive Support

Digestive Support was formulated to soothe gastric mucus membranes and inflammation and relieve the symptoms of gastritis, esophagitis, IBS, colitis, enteritis, bloating and other chronic digestive disorders.

To purchase or read more about Digestive Support...

Gastrigen

Gastrigen is a Chinese Herbal formula designed for chronic vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption and inflammatory bowel disease. Other symptoms include poor appetite, belching or abdominal gurgling. In TCVM (Tradtional Chinese Veterinary Medicine), these signs are due to spleen qi deficiency with stagnation of damp and food. Gastrigen can also be used as a digestive tonic.

To purchase or read more about Gastrigen...

Suggested product for constipation:

Natural Moves by PetAlive

Natural Moves for pets contains a blend of herbal remedies, dietary fiber and homeopathic ingredients to treat chronic and acute constipation in pets and to help maintain healthy bowel and digestive functioning in dogs and cats. Psyllium husk is an excellent source of dietary fiber and helps to promote regular bowel movements.

To purchase or read more about Natural Moves...

Medibulk

Medibulk is an excellent source of soluble fiber, which has a bulking action on the stool and promotes normal bowel health.

To purchase or read more about Medibulk...

If your pet has a digestive disorder you'd like to learn more about, send us an email and will try to include it in future updates to this website. See our Contact Us page.

Fasting, detoxification and diet are some of the first steps to take for many digestive disorders. For more information about treating specific conditions, see these webpages: Constipation, Diarrhea, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.