What To Do When Your Dog Has An Upset Stomach

Even though dogs can eat foods that would make most humans disastrously ill, they tend to develop digestive problems from time to time.  Vomiting, diarrhea, and loose stools are common for dogs.  In fact, even something as simple as a slight change to their dog food can invoke gastrointestinal distress.  Unless you suspect that your dog’s upset stomach is a symptom of poisoning or a severe illness, it is not necessary to take your dog to see a veterinarian when symptoms first arise.  Instead, there are a number of remedies that you can try at home when your dog has an upset stomach, which will be discussed here.

Fasting
The first course of action a pet owner should take when his or her dog has an upset stomach is to enforce a period of fasting.  Do not feed your dog for 8 – 12 hours (6 hours for a puppy), including water or treats.  Oftentimes, even small amounts of water can lead to further stomach upset, which is why it should be limited.  A short fast will allow time for a dog’s intestines to calm down and “reset” themselves, and should be followed by the bland diet.

Bland Diet
Many veterinarians recommend a bland diet when a dog has an upset stomach.  For dogs that are not sensitive to grains, white long-grained rice serves as the base for this diet.  In other instances, white potatoes or pumpkin can be used.  The bland diet consists of easily digestible foods that will provide enough nutrients for a sick pet.  To prepare the bland diet, mix 3 parts rice to 1 part boiled chicken, ground hamburger, or low-fat cottage cheese.  After a period of fasting, dogs should be fed the bland diet for 2 – 4 days before returning to regular food.  The following amounts should be fed, twice daily, to dogs of the following body weights:

• 5 lbs and under: 1 teaspoon
• 5 – 15 lbs: 1 tablespoon
• 15 – 25 lbs: ½ cup
• 25 – 40 lbs: 2/3 cup
• 40 – 60 lbs: ¾ cup
• 60 – 90 lbs: 1 cup
• 90+ lbs: 1 ½ cups

Pumpkin
Pet owners should keep canned pumpkin on hand (always double check you have 100% pumpkin, not canned pumpkin pie filing, which contains sugar) because it is a miracle food that cures both constipation and diarrhea in dogs.  For mild cases of upset stomach, mix 1 – 2 tablespoons of the puree (depending on the size of your dog) in with this or her kibble.  For more severe cases, pumpkin can serve as the base for the bland diet.

Rice Water
When dogs experience prolonged vomiting or diarrhea they lose important hydration and nutrients.  One way to replace those vitamins and minerals is by replacing your dog’s normal water with rice water, which is the water left behind after rice has been cooked.  Be watchful of how much water your dog consumes, however, as dogs occasionally gorge themselves on liquids when their stomachs are upset in order to induce vomiting.

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Anna Weber

As a life-long dog owner and animal lover I have dedicated my adult life to rescuing and fostering dogs, particularly seniors and behaviorally at-risk animals.I believe that nearly every animal can be rehabilitated with love, kindness, training, and proper exercise.

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