This Blog has been written and provided by An Post Insurance. #ad
All facts in this blog were provided by experts in The Vet Connection who look after the An Post Insurance 24 hour pet helpline.
Our furry friends are part of the family, so we hate to see them in distress.
Tummy troubles are one of the most common reasons why owners contact a vet. The clinical signs of a gastric upset are vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and energy. These symptoms can be present for a variety of reasons, including:
- A sudden change in diet
- Eating something that does not agree with them
- Eating mouldy food
- Ingestion of a foreign body that could be causing a blockage
- A virus
- A bacterial infection
- Accidentally eating something toxic or poisonous
- Intestinal parasites
- Trauma to the abdomen
- Pancreatitis
- Reaction to medication
Some symptoms can be managed at home but if your pet is very young, very old or has any of the above symptoms along with a swollen abdomen or seems very lethargic, then a visit to the vet will be needed.
The general advice for adult cats and dogs with diarrhoea is to feed small amounts of bland food such as boiled chicken breast or white fish with rice or pasta. Little and often keeps the intestines moving and should help the faeces firm up quicker.
For vomiting pets, try withholding food for 24 hours from their last meal, then reintroduce food as you would for diarrhoea, i.e., bland food little and often. If your pet seems to be improving, then think about slowly weaning them back onto their own food after two or three days. In all cases make sure your pet has access to fresh water.
The most common toxins for pets are:
- Chocolate
- Grapes/raisins
- Onions/garlic
- Xylitol (found in sugar free gum and sweets)
- Ibuprofen for dogs and paracetamol for cats
- Daffodils, crocus and bluebells (bulbs, leaves and flowers)
- Lilies for cats
If you think your pet may have eaten something poisonous and they develop a tummy upset, then time is of the essence! Call your vet immediately.
An Post Insurance Pet Insurance includes a 24-hour helpline, 365 days a year which is operated by The Vet Connection and gives policyholders access to their national network of Royal College of veterinary surgeons. Policyholders can call one of their Registered Veterinary Nurses on 076 888 7804 for advice at any time.
Looking for insurance for other members of your family? An Post Insurance also provide competitive car insurance quotes, and home insurance quotes! Find out more.
An Post Insurance Pet Insurance is arranged and administered by Blue Insurance Limited and underwritten by H.W. Kaufman Group Europe BV, trading as Cranbrook, on behalf of the insurer, Sava Insurance Company.
One Direct (Ireland) Limited, trading as An Post Insurance is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. One Direct (Ireland) Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of An Post
All the information on this blog is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. While An Post Insurance makes every effort to ensure that the information appearing on this blog is accurate and complete, it does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability or accuracy of this information, whether express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. Any action you take upon the information you find on this blog is strictly at your own risk. An Post Insurance will not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential losses and/or damages in connection with the use of, or action taken in reliance on information contained in our blog.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of An Post Insurance. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites and if you click on links to these websites you will be subject to the terms and conditions of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Debz Louise is a plus-size blogger based in Yorkshire. Behind many nationwide campaigns such as #WeaAreTheThey & winner of Best Blogger at the UK Plus Size Awards, she talkas about life as a plus-size 40-something woman in South Yorkshire.
Leave a Reply