GI Symptoms in Dogs and Cats: The Complete Guide

Digestive symptoms are among the most common reasons pet owners reach out for help, and also some of the hardest to self-diagnose, since the same symptom can mean anything from "nothing to worry about" to "needs surgery tonight." This page organizes the full set of GI symptom guides by category so you can find the specific situation you're dealing with.

General framework first: if you're not sure where to start, this breaks down when GI symptoms cross the line into an emergency across vomiting, diarrhea, and appetite loss together.

Vomiting Why is my dog vomiting · Why is my cat vomiting · Puppy vomiting · Kitten vomiting · Senior dog vomiting · Senior cat vomiting · Vomiting blood · Vomiting yellow bile · Vomiting right after eating · Vomiting foam

Diarrhea Dog diarrhea · Cat diarrhea · Puppy diarrhea · Kitten diarrhea · Senior dog diarrhea · Diarrhea with blood · Diarrhea and lethargy · Chronic or recurring diarrhea · Diarrhea after a food change · Diarrhea while traveling or boarding

Appetite loss Why won't my dog eat · Why won't my cat eat · Puppy not eating · Kitten not eating · Senior dog not eating · Senior cat not eating · Not eating but drinking · Not eating and hiding (cats) · Not eating after vaccination · Hasn't eaten in two days

Bloat, abdominal pain & constipation Bloat: emergency signs · Distended abdomen · Straining to poop, nothing comes out · Constipation in dogs · Constipation in cats · Signs of abdominal pain · Hard, tense stomach · Unproductive retching · Excessive gas · Stomach gurgling noises

General & combination guides Vomiting and diarrhea together · Dehydration signs · When is it an emergency · Safe vs. unsafe home remedies · The bland diet · Do probiotics help · GI upset after boarding · Could it be parasites · Food allergies and GI symptoms

If a toxin might be the cause of your pet's symptoms rather than a routine digestive issue, here's the complete toxic substances guide covering foods, plants, household chemicals, and medications. And if cost is part of what's making you hesitate to check in about an ongoing issue, here's the actual math on catching things early.