is oatmeal good for dogs upset stomach

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

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Five Foods to Feed Dogs With Upset Stomachs

Feeding a sick dog, especially one dealing with a decreased appetite, upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting, can be stressful. To deal with some symptoms, you may want to ask your vet about an over-the-counter stomach and diarrhea treatment. But a bland diet can help address some of these symptoms while also giving your dog the nutrition they need to recover.

The following recipes are intended for use for dogs with symptoms of mild stomach upset, including gas, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. As these symptoms are occasionally signs of a more serious problem, always check with your vet before taking treatment into your own hands. Only use these recipes once you have ruled out other health risks and discussed your dietary plan with your veterinarian. Also, remember that dogs with existing health conditions like diabetes, cancer, and allergies, as well as senior dogs, might need additional nutrition to stay healthy.

Chicken and Rice

Chicken and rice are prime ingredients in many dog foods, and these mild foods sit well on upset canine stomachs. Plus, this bland meal is easy to prepare. All you need are boneless, skinless chicken breasts, along with some rice. Cooked white rice is lower in nutritional value than brown rice, but its blandness makes it more suitable for upset stomachs.

Oils, butter, and added seasoningscan irritate your dogs stomach and make the problem worse, so stick with plain boiled chicken and rice and save the extra stuff for your own meal. Make sure the chicken is cooked thoroughly and cut or shred it into small, bite-sized pieces for your dog, since enthusiastic canines might choke on this unexpected treat. You can also purchase pre-packaged chicken and rice meals for dogs.

Shredded Chicken

Shredded chicken is easy on upset stomachs and acts as a huge eating incentive for dogs with decreased appetites. Plain, unseasoned, boiled, shredded chicken is easy to digest and is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fats, and amino acids, making it a great snack for dogs feeling under the weather. Cooked chicken keeps in the fridge for three to four days, or you can freeze it for two to six months.

Pumpkin

Feeding your dog unseasoned pumpkin can have digestive health benefits. Its high in fiber, which helps regulate the canine digestive systems. Cooked, peeled, unsalted, and unseasoned pumpkin contains vitamin E, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, potassium, copper, and manganese, giving your dog a nutritional boost along with a little digestive help.

Adding pumpkin to your dogs meal usually helps regulate mild constipation. Veterinarians recommend one to four tablespoons of pumpkin, depending on your dogs size. Canned pumpkin is a convenient alternative to preparing pumpkin yourself, as long as it is unseasoned. Feeding your dog a can of pumpkin pie filling might end up sending you back to the vet, as the spices and sugars could irritate your dogs stomach and cause further complications. You can also buy pumpkin supplements designed for dogs to add to your pets food.

Bone Broth

Bone broth is a very mild, liquid meal that sits easily in upset canine stomachs. It is also a nutritious and delicious way to add moisture and flavor to dry food and encourage dogs with reduced appetites to eat. To make a bone broth for dogs, fill a crock-pot with beef marrow bones or bones with plenty of joints, like turkey and chicken legs. Cover the bones with two to three inches of water, cover, and cook on low for 20 to 24 hours.

Let the broth cool in the fridge to let the fat form a hardened layer at the top. Scoop it off and store the jelly-like broth in the refrigerator. If you want to use the broth to add moisture to dry food, microwave the broth just long enough for it to go from a semi-solid jelly to a liquid, but not long enough to get hot, as hot broth can burn your dogs mouth. Freeze the broth in small containers like an ice cube tray for later use.

While bone broth is full of healthy bone marrow, cooked bones themselves can be dangerous for dogs. Make sure you remove all of the bones from your broth before serving. Straining the broth will ensure no small bones escaped your notice.

Baby Food

Veterinary emergency hospitals often use certain types of baby food to feed the dogs in their care. Baby food is very easy to swallow and digest and is a great way to give oral medications. Considerfeeding Stage II meat-based baby foods like chicken, lamb, and turkey, as long as the baby food does not contain ingredients or additives that might be toxic to dogs, like any garlic powder or onion powder.

While none of these recipes should be used as a replacement for proper medical care, feeding a bland diet can alleviate some of your dogs intestinal discomfort while also providing them with foods theyll love. These recipes for dog digestive health also make delicious treats for when your dog starts feeling better, so consider saving some for later to reward your canine patient.

What to Give a Dog with Upset Stomach: 10 Remedies

What to give a dog with upset stomach?

All dogs will experience stomach upset issues at some point.

In most cases, that is not a cause for concern, and this issue will go away in a day or two.

There are also ways to alleviate the symptoms for a dog with an upset stomach to make them feel comfortable.

Note that if your dog is frequently showing signs of stomach upset, especially if they are accompanied by vomiting and/or diarrhea, they may have a food allergy, are sensitive to specific foods or ingredients, or there might be a medical problem that needs to be addressed with a veterinarian.

But you can handle a dog with an upset stomach on occasion with a minor dietary adjustment and some home remedies.

Dog with Upset Stomach Symptoms

Common tell-tale signs of a dog with upset stomach are:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Eating Grass or licking the floor
Nipping at their sides
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Passing very smelly gas
Gurgling noises from the stomach

Each of these symptoms by themselves doesnt necessarily indicate an upset stomach in a dog.

But if your pet has two or more of these symptoms, or it lasts longer than a few days, they're likely dealing with tummy issues.

How to Treat a Dog with Upset Stomach

1. Fasting

Intermittent fasting is completely safe for dogs as long as it's for a short period of time, so put your pet on a food time-out.

A 2014 study with 20 dogs treated for cancer found that fasting helped with vomiting and diarrhea and did not pose any dangers.

Therapeutic fasting is not the same as starving your dog, and it's necessary when a dog is going through bouts of diarrhea and/or vomiting caused by tummy problems.

A 24-hour fast for a dog with an upset stomach will give its digestive system time to recover. While the dog is fasting, ensure access to cool fresh water.

The more water a dog drinks, the faster this stomach upset will subside.

2. Bland Meals

Bland foods will be best for a dog with an upset stomach.

The most common homemade bland diet for adult dogs is simply mixing 75% of plain boiled white rice with 25% of boiled lean chicken breast without skin/bones (you can also use lean ground beef).

Keep a dog with an upset stomach on a bland diet for a few days to prevent further issues.

The symptoms should resolve, and stool should return to normal in about 5 days, but sometimes the bland diet regimen may take up to 10 days.

Use the below feeding amounts for a homemade diet recipe:

Dogs weighing:

<5 pounds: cup of food.

5 15 pounds: cup of food.

16 30 pounds: 1 1 cups of food.

31 50 pounds: 1 2 cups of food.

51 75 pounds: 2 3 cups of food.

76 99 pounds: 3 4 cups of food.

>100 pounds: 4 5 cups of food.

Bland homemade diet feeding instructions: For dogs with an upset stomach, it's best to feed them smaller amounts more frequently.

So take the above total amount and break it down into 3 6 meals per day (i.e., for a dog of approx. 51 75 lbs weight, cook 3 cups of food and separate it into six 1/2 cups to feed six times during the day).

Note: This bland homemade diet should be fed to your dog strictly without anything else added (no other treats, supplements, table scraps, foods, or bones) for 4-5 days.

To transition your dog back to a normal diet:

When you reach days 4 to 6 on a bland diet and the symptoms have resolved, start reintroducing your pet's regular diet by gradually mixing it with the bland diet.

Keep reducing bland diet ingredients and increasing amounts of regular food for approximately 5 7 days.

Note: When reintroducing a dog back to the normal diet, keep up with the feeding frequency (i.e., 3 6 feed times a day) until you're finished with the transition.

Also, still keep all dog treats, table scraps, etc., away from your pet for at least another week.

If homemade dog food cooking is not an option, you can also choose a commercial bland diet.

Pick either a sensitive stomach brandor among the below best bland dog food brands designed for upset stomach:

3. Feed Some Yogurt as a Source of Probiotics

Certain foods are good for a dog with an upset stomach.

Yogurt contains natural probiotics, the helpful live bacteria (albeit a minimal amount) that will relieve an upset stomach and help get rid of gas and diarrhea.

Scientists confirm that a helping of yogurt can positively affect the digestive system in humans, mice, and our pets, dogs, and cats in particular.

When feeding it, ensure that its plain yogurt, the kind used for cooking, and not flavored or sweetened yogurt.

4. Use Broth During Fasting

Bone broth is a trendy food choice for those who are fasting, and it's perfect for pets who are going through therapeutic fasting after and during bouts of diarrhea or vomiting caused by stomach upset.

When your pet is hungry for more than just water but isnt up to solid food yet, either chicken broth or beef broth is a good compromise.

You can cook it yourself or buy pre-made broth.

When buying, read the label carefully and make sure there are no spices like onion or garlic.

It cannot be easy to find completely plain broth that will be safe for dogs, but some do exist. There are also broths made specifically for dogs, and our three favorites are:

5. Include Sweet Potato or Pumpkin

Finally, two great bland foods for a dog with an upset stomach are fresh, raw sweet potato and pumpkin (not the store-bought, canned varieties).

Give the dog a fresh pumpkin or cook up a couple of sweet potatoes.

Remove the skin and mash up the insides, then give your dog a few tablespoons to help get rid of diarrhea, gas and soothe their upset stomach.

Sweet potatoes and pumpkin are often part of a bland diet guide for any dog with an upset stomach because of their low-calorie content and nutrition, their fiber content, and that they're easy on a dog's digestive system.

How to Prevent Stomach Upset in Dogs

1. Change Your Dogs Water More Frequently

Water that sits around in your dog's water bowl can get stale and even start growing bacteria from your dogs saliva.

Studies show that some pet bowls also make our dogs sick, and it's better to use a stainless steel bowl than plastic ones.

Also, ensure your dog always has fresh cold water to drink. Note that not all tap water is safe for dogs.

While it may not necessarily cause stomach issues, hard tap water can have health consequences like urinary health issues, according to a 2016 study.

If you have access only to hard water at home, you'll need to switch to bottled water or distilled water kept in the fridge so its always cool.

Distilled water is very inexpensive and is much better for dogs than hard water from the tap.

2. Dont Change Your Dogs Food Suddenly

Completely switching a pet's diet all of a sudden can be the reason for a dog with an upset stomach.

Any diet changes should happen gradually because a dog's stomach needs time to adjust to new ingredients.

Also, food variety is rarely necessary for dogs as long as they get a well-balanced meal. More than variety, dogs need consistency when it comes to their diet.

If you are going to change your dogs food, do it slowly over the course of 6-10 days.

Add a handful of new food to a dogs regular food and slowly increase the amount of new food mixed with the old food until your dog is comfortable eating only the new food.

3. Dont Feed Your Dog Human Food

Certain human foods are healthy for dogs to consume.

But most foods from your table could be the reason a dog's stomach is upset.

Their digestive system isn't designed the same way as ours is and may not process those foods properly.

Some other foods may even be downright deadly.

4. Give Your Dog Probiotics

Studies show that probiotics can benefit a dog's digestive system.

But if you have a dog with an upset stomach, you'll need to first deal with this problem until it goes away completely and starts giving probiotics only after to prevent future stomach problems.

Probiotics for dogs are a great way to keep their digestive system healthy and prevent diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach upset.

You can use probiotic supplements, adding them once or twice a day, or choose foods with probiotics in them (e.g., yogurt).

5. Avoid too Many Dog Treats

Too many rich and high-calorie treats are the most common reason a dog develops an upset stomach. No more than 10% of their daily caloric needs should come from treats.

While some healthy treatsare less likely to upset a dog's stomach, keep the amount to a minimum and only use them as a training reward.

Remember that you can also use your dog's regular dry kibble as treats, which will normally be lower in calories and healthier for the dog.

When to Take Your Dog to the Vet for a Stomach Ache

You don't necessarily need to see your vet immediately if your dog likes to eat grass or shows other mild symptoms of an upset tummy.

However, if your dog shows any of the following symptoms, it may be an emergency. If you notice the following, take your dog to the vet immediately.

Continuous vomiting
Continuous diarrhea
Retching, but nothing comes up
Blood in his stool
Foreign objects in the vomit or stool
Distended stomach
Fever
Lethargy
Dehydration
Nervous pacing
Uncontrollable drooling
Weight loss

You should also take your dog to the vet for his upset stomach if the symptoms last more than two or three days.

Most of the time, a dog's upset stomach should clear up within 48 hours, so longer than this may indicate a more serious issue.

Potential Causes of Your Dog's Upset Stomach

Part of dealing with your dog's stomach being upset is figuring out what caused the issue.

The most common reason for upset stomach in dogs is because of something your dog ate or how he ate it.

If your dog eats too quickly and immediately goes outside to play, you may find yourself dealing with an upset stomach in dogs.

Or, if your dog eats something bad for him, this can also cause an upset stomach.

Your dog's stomach may also get upset if he is constipated or has gas.

It can also be due to parasites or bacteria.

Yet another possibility is that your dog has food sensitivities.

If your pup's stomach gets upset regularly, then dog owners may want to ask their vet about possible conditions causing the problem.

Bloating, gastrointestinal infections, obstructions, inflammation, ulcers, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, digestive system cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, motion sickness, or malabsorption can all cause.

Other potential causes include liver failure, kidney issues, parvovirus, or uterine infections.

Your dog may also have a viral or bacterial infection or have ingested poison.

You don't always need to figure out the cause of your dog's upset tummy.

That is especially true if it goes away on its own or with one of the remedies mentioned above.

However, if it continues or happens frequently, you should visit the vet.

He will ask about your dog's symptoms other than the upset stomach.

He will also likely ask about your dog's diet.

Depending on the symptoms, your dog may also undergo some tests.

Dog With Upset Stomach: FAQs

Whether your dog only occasionally has an upset stomach or seems to have one frequently, you may still have some questions.

Your vet can answer them for you, but you don't want to waste his time if it's unimportant.

The following FAQs should get you closer to understanding upset stomachs in dogs.

What Do You Give a Dog with an Upset Stomach?

You can give your dog bland foods instead of his normal dog food. Good options include chicken, rice, pumpkin, baby food, and bone broth.

How Long Does It Take for a Dog to Get Over an Upset Stomach?

Your dog's stomach issues should disappear within 48 hours or so, possibly within 24 hours.

If you still notice the symptoms after a few days, you should make an appointment with the vet.

What Causes Upset Stomach in Dogs?

There are dozens of potential causes of your dog's upset stomach.

The most common reasons are the same ones humans would have an upset stomach.

These include eating something he should not have eaten or eating too fast right before playing or exercising.

Stomach issues may also be due to parasites, viral or bacterial infections, or a range of other conditions.

Your dog may get an upset stomach if there are issues with his kidneys, liver, stomach, digestive system, or other organs.

A dog's upset stomach can also be from diabetes, cancer, or a range of other conditions.

As you can tell, some of the causes of a dog's upset stomach are minor and nothing to worry about. Others are much more serious.

That is why dog owners should always take their pups to the vet for upset stomachs that last more than a few days.

What to Give a Dog for Upset Stomach and Vomiting?

Dog owners frequently wonder if they can give their pup human medicine for an upset stomach.

Most dogs can safely have bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol).

However, it is best to consult your vet before giving your dog any human medication.

Your local emergency veterinary hospital can also offer suggestions.

They may also give you a prescription after examining your dog.

What Can I Give My Senior Dog for Upset Stomach?

A great option for dogs with stomach aches is canned pumpkin.

This is good for your canine's digestion.

You can also try giving him a tablespoon of unsweetened yogurt.

Other options include plain brown rice or boiled and shredded chicken.

When Should I Take My Dog to the Vet for an Upset Stomach?

Take your dog to the local emergency veterinary hospital if you notice blood in his vomit or diarrhea.

You should also take him if he vomits at least three times within eight hours.

Dog With Upset Stomach: Before You Go

If you have a dog with upset stomach, there are some remedies that you may try at home to help relieve his symptoms, ease indigestion, and speed his recovery.

It's critical to take into account the potential triggers of stomach upset in dogs and be mindful of the clinical symptoms they show.

By taking the appropriate step, you can help them feel normal again.

Dogs may recover from an upset stomach naturally, but if it persists after 48 hours, consult with your vet.