Dog Stomach Pain Symptoms｜Causes of Abdominal Pain in Dogs & Emergency Care

Dog stomach pain is one of the health issues owners worry about most. Since dogs cannot verbally express discomfort, owners need to observe behavioural and physical changes to make a judgement. When a dog shows symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, arched back, or reluctance to move, it may be a warning sign of gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, or even life-threatening gastric torsion. This article provides a detailed explanation of dog gastrointestinal discomfort causes, symptom identification, and emergency care to help you protect your beloved dog's health in time.

Dog Stomach Pain Symptoms: 8 Warning Signs

Dogs cannot directly tell you their stomach hurts, but the following behaviours and physical changes are common signs of dog stomach pain:

1. Arched Back Posture (Prayer Position)

This is the most typical symptom of dog abdominal pain! The dog will lower its front legs while keeping its rear end raised, similar to a stretching motion but with a pained expression and no tail wagging. This posture relieves abdominal pressure and is a classic pain signal for gastroenteritis and pancreatitis.

2. Pressing Belly to the Ground

Dogs will press their belly flat against cool surfaces (such as tiles or marble), trying to soothe abdominal discomfort through cooling.

3. Vomiting

Dog gastrointestinal discomfort is often accompanied by vomiting:

• Vomiting white foam (excess stomach acid)
• Vomiting yellow/green liquid (bile)
• Vomiting undigested food
• Vomiting coffee-coloured material (digestive tract bleeding) ⚠️ Emergency

4. Diarrhoea

Soft stools, watery stools, and bloody stools are common accompanying symptoms of dog stomach pain. Seek immediate veterinary care if bloody stools appear.

5. Abdominal Distension or Tightness

Dog bloating with a hard abdomen when touched and the dog resisting contact may be a warning sign of intestinal obstruction or gastric torsion – an emergency situation.

6. Decreased Appetite or Refusal to Eat

Reluctance to eat due to abdominal pain, showing no interest even in favourite foods.

7. Restlessness

The dog cannot rest quietly due to pain, constantly changing positions, pacing back and forth, frequently getting up and lying down.

8. Other Symptoms

• Lethargy, reluctance to move
• Gurgling sounds from the abdomen (abnormal intestinal motility)
• Drooling (nausea)
• Rapid breathing, panting
• Reluctance to have abdomen touched

Complete Guide to Causes of Dog Stomach Pain

There are many causes of dog abdominal pain. Below are the common causes:

1. Acute Gastroenteritis (Most Common)

Gastroenteritis is the most common cause of dog gastrointestinal discomfort, usually caused by the following factors:

• Dietary Indiscretion: Eating food that is too oily, too salty, hard to digest, or spoiled
• Sudden Food Change: Switching food brands or transitioning from kibble to fresh food too quickly
• Irregular Feeding Schedule: Fasting too long or binge eating
• Eating Human Food: Chocolate, onions, grapes, and other foods toxic to dogs

2. Foreign Body Obstruction

Dogs ingesting toys, bones, socks, rubber bands, and other indigestible foreign objects that may get stuck in the intestines and cause obstruction:

• Repeated vomiting, inability to eat
• Dog bloating, abdominal pain
• Constipation or complete inability to defecate
• May require surgery to remove the foreign object

3. Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a serious abdominal disease, commonly occurring after eating high-fat foods:

• Frequent vomiting (yellow bile or foam)
• Severe dog abdominal pain, obvious prayer position
• Complete refusal to eat
• Possible fever, dehydration

4. Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) ⚠️ Emergency

Gastric torsion is a life-threatening emergency, commonly seen in large breeds and deep-chested dogs:

• Sudden extreme abdominal distension
• Dry heaving but unable to vomit anything
• Extreme restlessness, drooling
• Pale gums, signs of shock
• Without immediate surgery, it can be fatal within hours!

5. Parasitic Infection

Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and whipworms can cause:

• Dog gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhoea
• Vomiting (may vomit up worms)
• Weight loss, dull coat
• Puppies are more susceptible to infection

6. Viral Infections

Canine parvovirus, canine distemper, coronavirus, and others can cause severe gastroenteritis:

• Severe vomiting, bloody stools
• High fever, dehydration
• Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are high-risk

7. Other Diseases

• Peritonitis: Abdominal cavity infection and inflammation
• Liver/Kidney Disease: With concurrent gastrointestinal symptoms
• Intussusception: Intestinal telescoping
• Tumours: Gastrointestinal tumours

When Is Emergency Veterinary Care Needed?

The following situations are emergency warning signs requiring immediate veterinary attention:

Seek Immediate Care (Emergency)

• Rapidly distending abdomen that is hard (suspected gastric torsion)
• Dry heaving, trying to vomit but nothing comes out
• Vomit or faeces contains large amounts of fresh blood
• Vomit is coffee-coloured (digestive tract bleeding)
• Complete inability to defecate for more than 24 hours
• Severe pain, yelping, unable to stand
• Pale gums, weakness, shock
• Suspected ingestion of foreign objects or toxins

See a Vet Soon (Within 12–24 Hours)

• Vomiting more than 3 times within 24 hours
• Diarrhoea persisting for more than 24 hours
• Refusal to eat for more than 24 hours
• Signs of dehydration (skin loses elasticity)
• Fever (temperature above 39.5°C)
• Puppies or senior dogs showing symptoms

Home Care for Dog Stomach Pain

Mild dog gastrointestinal discomfort can be observed first with the following measures:

Temporary Fasting

• Adult dogs can fast for 12–24 hours to rest the digestive system
• Puppies (under 8 weeks) should not fast for more than 4–6 hours
• Provide small amounts of water during this period to prevent dehydration

Resuming Feeding

• After fasting, start with small, frequent meals (4–6 meals per day)
• Choose easily digestible foods: plain boiled chicken breast + white rice (1:2 ratio)
• Gradually return to normal diet over 2–3 days
• Avoid greasy, high-fat foods

Careful Observation

• Record vomiting/diarrhoea frequency, colour, and contents
• Observe changes in energy and appetite
• Take photos or videos to provide during veterinary consultation

When to Stop Observing and Seek Immediate Care

• Symptoms continue to worsen
• Bloody stools or bloody vomit appears
• Dog is extremely weak or in pain
• Vomiting continues even after fasting

Prevention Methods for Dog Stomach Pain

Prevention is better than cure. The following measures can help reduce dog gastrointestinal discomfort:

Dietary Management

• Feed at regular times and portions; avoid binge eating
• When changing food, use a 7–10 day transition period to gradually switch
• Avoid feeding human food, greasy and seasoned foods
• Choose quality dog food and check expiry dates

Environmental Safety

• Keep small objects, toy parts, rubber bands, and strings out of reach
• Store cleaning agents, medications, and toxic plants safely
• Watch that your dog doesn't pick up items from the ground when outdoors

Regular Health Maintenance

• Deworm every 3 months
• Keep vaccinations up to date
• Regular health check-ups

Dog Stomach Pain FAQs

Petcore Veterinary Clinic Dog Gastrointestinal Services

Petcore Veterinary Clinic provides comprehensive dog stomach pain and dog gastrointestinal discomfort diagnosis and treatment services:

• Physical Examination: Abdominal palpation, pain assessment
• Blood Tests: Pancreatic markers, liver and kidney function
• X-ray Examination: Foreign body, intestinal obstruction, gastric torsion diagnosis
• Ultrasound Scan: Abdominal organ assessment
• Fluid Therapy: Correcting dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
• Medication Prescriptions: Anti-emetic, anti-diarrhoeal, pain relief medications
• Surgical Treatment: Foreign body removal, gastric torsion correction
• Dietary Advice: Gastrointestinal prescription diet recommendations

Contact Us

• Yuen Long Clinic: G/F, 30A Fuk Tak Street, Yuen Long, N.T. | Phone: 2394-7300
• Sai Kung Clinic: Shop 2, 66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, N.T. | Phone: 2394-4228
• WhatsApp: 9889-5518
• Website: www.petcore-vet.com

If your dog shows dog stomach pain, dog bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea, or other dog gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms, please bring your dog for examination as soon as possible. Rapid abdominal distension in large breeds is especially an emergency, and timely treatment can save lives. The professional team at Petcore Veterinary Clinic is always ready to provide quality medical care for your beloved dog.