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My dog has a stomach ache and is restless. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | unneutered | 2 years and 8 months old

My dog 2 yrs old Labrador is having stomach ache And is behaving restlessly what should I do to relieve his pain so that he can sleep comfortably

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on November 23rd, 2016

I'm sorry that Jasper is uncomfortable! I'm concerned because you say that he has stomach pain and is acting restless - these can be symptoms of a life-threatening condition called bloat, or GDV (gastric dilatation and volvulus). This is a problem that can affect large breed dogs, in which the stomach becomes overly full of air and/or food and twists on itself. Symptoms normally include acting painful, restlessness, panting, unproductive attempts to vomit, and sometimes a large or bloated-looking abdomen. If this sounds like what Jasper is doing, I would recommend getting him to a vet immediately as this is a medical emergency - bloat requires emergency surgery, and is fatal within hours without treatment.

If this isn't possible or you opt not go to the vet, you can try offering him some plain boiled chicken and rice or chicken-flavored baby food to help settle his stomach. There are no over-the-counter human medications that are recommended for use in dogs for this problem, so unfortunately there is nothing you can give him apart from small amounts of a bland diet to see if this helps.
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