Whippet Stomach Problems: What To Do

If you’ve noticed that your whippet seems to be having stomach problems, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

Whippets, like many other breeds, are known to suffer from stomach problems. Whippet owners often notice that their whippets have a sensitive stomach.

Whippets will often eat out of the food bowl much more quickly if they know that there are only one or two pieces of kibble left in the bottom.

If you take your whippet to the vet for this kind of problem, the first thing they’ll ask you is how much your dog eats and whether or not he/she throws up liquid shortly after eating.

After finding out what happens when your dog eats, the vet will probably want to do an x-ray on your dog’s abdomen to check that everything is in order.

In this post, we’re going to go through everything you need to know about whippet stomach problems, so stick around to learn everything there is to know.

Let’s get to it…

Table of Contents

Are Whippets Prone To Stomach Problems?

Ok, first thing is first. Don’t panic if you suspect your whippet has stomach problems. This is quite common in whippets and not something serious to worry about at this stage.

Your whippet’s stomach may twist, and the only thing you need to do is get it untwisted. Whippets will often eat grass and throw up shortly after eating to try and resolve this.

Whippets that vomit white foam, however, or any other color apart from green (from grass) or yellow (urine), should see a vet as soon as possible.

Be very thorough when looking for the cause of your whippets stomach problems. They may present themselves in many different forms, so it’s important to be 100% sure what you’re dealing with.

How To Identify Stomach Problems In Your Whippet

When trying to figure out if your whippet is simply being fussy with its food, or in fact, there is something else going on, it’s important to look at the bigger picture.

Whippets are often known for being picky eaters and it can be very difficult sometimes to get them to actually eat their food, but this should only last a day or two at most before they return to eating as normal.

If your whippet has suddenly changed its appetite, however, then it might be a case of stomach problems.

Whippets often won’t eat on the first day or two of having stomach problems, which can be a major cause for concern and something you need to take seriously.

Whippets will only refuse food if they’re in a lot of pain and discomfort and therefore it is important that if your whippet hasn’t eaten anything to ensure that you take it to the vet.

Whippets often won’t eat when suffering from stomach problems, but they will drink water, so even if your whippet has completely lost his or her appetite this doesn’t mean that he or she is suffering.

It simply means that your dog is ill and you need to act swiftly to get them back on the right track.

Types Of Whippet Stomach Problems

There are quite a few stomach problems that your whippet may encounter during the course of its lifetime, but I’ve listed the most common below;

Gastric Dilation And Vulvus Syndrome

The first type of stomach problem your whippet may encounter is GDV, or Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus Syndrome.

Whippets are often known as “gulpers” because they eat quickly. When your pet eats quickly they may be more likely to swallow too much air whilst eating, which causes their stomach to bloat with gas, causing GDV.

This problem is not something that is easy to deal with and is the number 1 killer of Whippets in the USA.

If your whippet has GDV you will see a swollen belly and they may be unable to move or breathe properly. The best thing you can do is take them to a vet immediately.

Bloating

Whippet bloating is when the stomach fills with too much gas and becomes a large round shape.

Whippets can’t burp, so in this state, the only thing you can do is take them to a veterinary office to have it fixed surgically or medically ASAP.

Whippet bloating may be caused when they eat too quickly when they are fed too much at one time or they have exercised or had play time right after they eat.

Whippet bloat may also be caused by your pet being overfed with treats by well-meaning owners who didn’t know Whippet bloating was a thing.

Large chested dogs such as our beloved sighthounds are prone to bloat sadly. When your dog’s stomach fills up with gas it can cause difficulty for your dog to breathe, meaning they’ll need to see a veterinarian immediately.

Digestive System Disorders

Digestive system disorders can be very serious problems in Whippets. Stomach problems are most often caused by your pet eating something they shouldn’t or your pet trying to eat something too big for them, like a piece of furniture!

Digestive disorders can be as simple as constipation or diarrhea. Other whippet stomach problems may be Colitis, Megacolon, Pancreatitis.

Whippets can also suffer from foreign body ingestion and Whippet dew poisoning.

Gastritis

Gastritis is another condition that you may come across in your whippet. This stomach problem is defined as inflammation of the lining of the stomach.

The most common sign of Gastritis is if your pet suddenly begins to vomit, seemingly out of nowhere. Other clinical signs may include dehydration, decreased appetite, or lethargy.

If you suspect your whippet may have gastritis then you will need to take them to the vets for a blood test to be diagnosed.

Gastritis can be caused by Whippet eating bones or eating foods that are too rich for them.

Parasites Or Worms

Parasites and worms can cause whippets stomach problems, but the stomach bugs are rarely fatal.

However, your Whippet’s digestive system will be very upset by worms and parasites, so it’s important to deal with them as soon as possible.

If you suspect your whippet has worms or parasites, then you must take them to a vet as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.

How To Prevent Whippet Stomach Problems

Whippet stomach problems are unfortunately very common. The following tips will help you prevent stomach problems in your whippet:

Whippets should not be fed table scraps or any type of human food. Table scraps and human food can create stomach problems for your whippet.

If your pooch eats anything other than commercial dog food, try to transition them back to it slowly (if they will eat commercial dog foods) or completely.

Whippets, like many other breeds, should not drink too much water before or after eating their meals.

Keep the water bowl out of reach during meals; Whippets have been known to drown themselves sometimes because of this.

Whippets should always have access to water, they still need to drink! Whippets will often become excited when drinking water and then inhale the water into their lungs.

This is especially dangerous in whippets that already have stomach problems. If this happens, your whippet may experience difficulty breathing, gagging sounds, coughing, vomiting, or collapse.

Only allow them to drink after they’ve calmed down.

Preventing stomach problems in your whippet is tricky, especially if you live in a multi-pet home and other pets bring different types of food into the house.

The best thing you can do is ensure they are eating dog food that is good for them, high in protein, and rich in vitamins and minerals, and they stay away from foods that could cause them issues.

Don’t give them too many doggy treats or human foods, this can be a recipe for disaster if a regular occurrence and really do more harm than good.

When To See A Vet

Whippet stomach problems are nothing to be taken lightly. Whippets are a breed that is often susceptible to stomach issues, and among health problems, whippet stomach problems rank quite high.

Whippets with poor digestive systems can have diarrhea quite frequently, which leads to dehydration in the dog’s system if it does not get the appropriate treatment.

Whippets with stomach problems could also have chronic indigestion, which will stop them from eating and could cause vomiting if the digestive system is not fixed in time.

If you suspect your pet has any serious health problems other than constipation, it’s time to see a vet. Although these problems can be quite common it’s recommended to speak with a vet to give you peace of mind.

Other Considerations

Sadly there is not a huge amount you can do about stomach problems in your whippet apart from feeding them a nutritious diet and ensuring they stay away from harmful pesticides that may be on land near where you walk your pet.

You may also want to consider feeding your pet supplements to keep their immune system and digestive system running smoothly.

Try to do the best you can to keep your pet out of harm’s way when it comes to bad food and ensure they don’t eat anything such as furniture, stones, wood, or other items that could cause them harm.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, you should now have a good grasp of whippet stomach problems, their causes, and how to fix them.

Whippet stomach problems are no laughing matter but you should be able to deal with them without too much trouble now.

Stay safe and keep your Whippet healthy! If you liked this article or know someone that may find it useful please share.

Whippets can be the best dogs in the world so don’t let anything happen to yours!