Why August can unsettle a dog's stomach

It is rarely one thing. More often, several small changes arrive at once and make it harder for a dog's digestion to stay settled.

• Different water. Not every dog will care, but some are surprisingly particular about water. A different source can taste or smell unfamiliar, which may make them reluctant to drink. Unfamiliar or untreated water can also present its own risks, so fresh, safe drinking water should always be available.
• A change of food. Boarding kennels may use their own food unless asked otherwise. A sudden switch without a gradual transition is a common trigger for loose stools.
• Boarding stress. Kennels are noisy, unfamiliar, and full of other dogs. Stress can affect digestion, which is why some dogs develop loose stools even when their food has not changed.
• Barbecue season. Sausages, fatty scraps, buttery food, and anything raided from the bin can upset a dog's stomach. Corn cobs, cooked bones, skewers, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, and products containing xylitol can be particularly dangerous and should always be kept out of reach.
• A broken routine. Meals at unusual times, late nights, long journeys, and unfamiliar surroundings can all disturb the rhythm a dog's digestion is used to.

Any one of these changes might pass unnoticed. When several happen during the same August trip, digestive trouble becomes much more likely.

What to pack for your dog

You cannot prevent every upset stomach, but good preparation can reduce avoidable disruption. A few useful things to put in the bag include:

• Their usual food, with enough for the whole trip. Avoid relying on finding the same food at your destination. Measure out enough for the holiday, plus a little extra in case your return is delayed.
• Some water from home. Bringing enough for the journey and first day can help if your dog is reluctant to drink water that tastes unfamiliar. After that, continue providing plenty of fresh, safe drinking water.
• Their normal bowls. A familiar bowl in an unfamiliar place can provide some comfort and help a nervous dog settle into its usual eating routine.
• Familiar treats. A holiday is not the best time to introduce a novelty treat or chew. Stick to products your dog already eats comfortably.
• Poo bags, and plenty of them. Realistic packing for a realistic summer holiday.
• Details for a local vet. Save the contact information for a veterinary practice near your destination before you travel, particularly if your dog is very young, older, or has an existing health condition.

If your dog is boarding, provide the kennel with its usual food and clear written feeding instructions. Ask staff not to offer extra treats or scraps, and make sure they know about any allergies, medication, or previous digestive problems.

Supporting the gut through the disruption

Packing familiar food helps control what goes in. But holidays also bring changes you cannot always avoid, including travel, boarding, unfamiliar surroundings, and a less predictable routine.

Stress and sudden changes can affect digestion and stool quality. Prebiotics feed beneficial bacteria already living in the gut, while probiotics introduce specific live microorganisms. Depending on the formulation and the individual dog, they may help support normal digestion and healthy stools during periods of change.

Consistency matters. Rather than introducing something new after an upset begins, consider making gut support part of your dog's usual routine before the holiday and continuing it while travelling and settling back in at home.

A daily pre and probiotic cannot remove every possible cause of diarrhoea, but it can give the digestive system some everyday support when routines become less predictable.

What about the gut-skin connection?

The gut and skin are both influenced by the immune system and the communities of microorganisms living in and on the body. Researchers are continuing to explore this relationship, often described as the gut-skin connection.

However, it is not as simple as treating one to fix the other. A pre and probiotic is not a treatment for allergies or seasonal itching, and a dog with persistent, severe, or worsening skin symptoms should be assessed by a vet.

Supporting normal digestion can still be a useful part of a dog's wider wellbeing routine, particularly during summer when digestive disruption and seasonal skin sensitivities may occur at the same time.

A settled gut will not solve every summer itch, but it gives your dog one less source of disruption while everything else is changing.

The bottom line

August holidays can bring several common digestive triggers at once: unfamiliar food, rich scraps, stress, travel, and disrupted mealtimes.

Pack your dog's usual food, keep treats familiar, provide fresh drinking water, and give the kennel clear instructions. A daily pre and probiotic can also form part of that preparation, supporting normal digestion before, during, and after the trip.

It will not prevent every upset stomach, but alongside a consistent routine and sensible feeding, it can help you give your dog's gut some additional support through a less predictable summer.