Guide to Helping Your Dog’s Upset Stomach
To help a dog with an upset stomach, give their gut a rest from rich food, keep fresh water available, and offer small, bland meals such as plain boiled skinless chicken with white rice or a spoonful of plain pumpkin. Most mild cases improve within a day. Call your vet if your dog keeps vomiting, can't keep water down, has blood in vomit or stool, a swollen belly, or seems weak or in pain.
Just like humans, dogs aren't always going to be perfectly healthy. They have to deal with upset stomachs from time to time, just like we do. Mild stomach problems can usually be handled at home with some simple care. However, more serious symptoms need a trip to the vet to diagnose and treat your dog's upset stomach.
This guide covers the signs and causes of stomach upset, what to feed a dog with an upset stomach, how to keep them hydrated, and when to go to the vet.
A quick note on food: for your dog, the goal is high protein with fewer calories, and a reduced-fat recipe makes that easy.
KEEP IT LEAN WITH BULLY MAX 25/11 REDUCED FAT FOOD
Chicken-free lamb recipe with 25% protein, 45% less fat, and 415 calories per cup for dogs that need a lighter bowl.
Common Causes of an Upset Stomach
It's normal for dogs to have mild digestive problems every so often. The top reason is that dogs are curious animals who often eat something they shouldn't while playing or exploring. When they ingest something that's bad for them, retching and diarrhea are often quick to follow. Other common causes of an upset stomach include:
- Bacterial infections or imbalance
- Sudden changes in diet
- Too many treats, table scraps or fatty foods
- Eating too fast or too much
- Chronic health conditions
- Food allergy or sensitivity
- Medication
- Parasites
- Spoiled food or garbage
- Stress
Sometimes you can figure out what's causing your dog's digestive issues, while other times it's a bit of a mystery. Learning to recognize the signs helps you decide whether home care is enough or it's time to see a veterinarian.
How to Narrow Down the Cause
Your dog can't tell you what's wrong, so a little detective work helps. Ask yourself these questions, and share the answers with your vet:
- Did your dog eat something it shouldn't have? Grass, sticks, bones, toys, bugs, garbage or a rich table scrap are common culprits. Watch your dog more closely for a few days.
- Did your dog drink something it shouldn't have? Toilet water, pool water, puddles and drinks left within reach can all upset a stomach. Offer only clean, fresh water.
- Has your dog recently taken antibiotics or other medication? Antibiotics can be essential, but they can also disrupt the normal gut bacteria for a while. Tell your vet about any medication your dog is on.
- Could it be a food sensitivity? Some dogs don't do well on a particular protein or ingredient. If upsets keep coming back, ask your vet about an elimination diet.
- Could your dog be sick? Infections, parasites and other illnesses can start with stomach signs. If you suspect illness, see your vet for a diagnosis.
Signs of a Dog's Upset Stomach
Experienced dog owners may already know how to recognize their dog's gastrointestinal issues; however, new pet owners may not realize what their dog's symptoms mean. The following behaviors may indicate that something is wrong within your dog's digestive tract:
- Acting uncomfortable or pacing
- Seeming withdrawn or depressed
- Diarrhea
- Distended stomach/bloating
- Drinking less water or no water
- Eating grass
- Eating less or loss of appetite
- Extensive drooling
- Frequent stretching or a "prayer" position (front down, rear up)
- Gulping or swallowing repeatedly
- Gurgling stomach noises
- Licking the floor, their lips, the air, or objects
- Passing gas (see our guide to dog food for gassy dogs)
- Unusual fatigue
- Vomiting
Signs of stomach pain in dogs include a hunched back or "prayer" stretch, a tense or swollen belly, restlessness or trouble lying down, whining, and not wanting their belly touched. Belly pain is a reason to call your vet.
Sick dogs can have one or more of these signs, and the intensity varies depending on age and the cause of the upset. Let's get into how to tell which type of care is best for your pet's situation.
Emergency: go to a vet now if your dog
- Has a swollen, hard belly and is retching without bringing anything up (possible bloat, especially in large, deep-chested dogs)
- Vomits repeatedly or can't keep water down
- Has blood in vomit or stool, or black, tarry stool
- May have eaten a toxin, medication, bone, toy or other object
- Is weak, collapsing, very lethargic or has pale gums
- Is a young puppy, a senior, or has a chronic health condition and is vomiting or has diarrhea
When to Try Home Remedies
If your adult dog is showing mild signs of an upset stomach but is alert and acting mostly normal, you can try caring for them at home and watch closely. Many vets suggest pausing rich foods, treats and chews and giving the stomach a short rest before offering small, bland meals. Ask your vet before withholding food, and never fast puppies, toy breeds, or dogs with diabetes or other health conditions.
What to Feed a Dog With an Upset Stomach
A bland diet is easy on a sensitive stomach. Good options include:
- Boiled chicken and white rice. Use plain, boneless, skinless chicken breast (or lean turkey) and plain cooked white rice, with no oil, butter or seasoning. Rice should make up most of the bowl, with the meat as the smaller part.
- Plain pumpkin. 100% canned pumpkin, not pie filling, adds soluble fiber that can help both loose stool and mild constipation. Start with a small spoonful.
- Plain cooked sweet potato, mashed with nothing added.
Feed the bland diet as three or four small meals a day instead of one or two big ones. Once stools and appetite are normal for a day or so, mix the regular food back in over several days. Skip dairy while your dog recovers, since many dogs don't digest it well.
A bland diet is meant for a few days, not as a long-term diet. If your dog still isn't right after two or three days of bland meals, call your vet.
Soothing Natural Foods
Pumpkin is one of the most useful foods to keep in the cupboard for stomach upsets. Be sure to buy plain, pureed pumpkin with no additives. Its fiber can help firm loose stool and keep things moving. Pureed sweet potato is a good option as well; if you buy it as baby food, check that it contains only sweet potato with no onion, garlic or other seasonings.
Alternative Hydration Methods
When your dog is having trouble keeping down water, try different ways to keep them hydrated. If they've just vomited, wait a little while, then offer a few ice chips or small sips of water. Once they keep those down, offer small amounts of water more often. If their body doesn't reject it, keep offering more water over time until they're back to their usual drinking habits.
Dehydration is dangerous for dogs, especially in smaller breeds and puppies. To encourage drinking, you can add a little low-sodium, onion- and garlic-free broth to their water. Ask your vet before using an electrolyte drink, so they can tell you whether it suits your dog and how much to offer.
A few simple checks can tell you whether your dog is dehydrated. Gently lift the skin over the shoulders and let go. It should snap right back into place. Check the gums too: a hydrated dog has moist, slippery gums, not dry and sticky ones. Thick, pasty saliva and sunken eyes are other warning signs.
When to Go to the Vet
Call your vet if your pet is showing signs of dehydration. Your dog may need fluids and expert care to aid in their recovery. You should also contact a vet if your pet's mild symptoms don't improve within 24 hours. Other signs that your pet needs professional or emergency medical care include:
- Constipation or straining with nothing coming out
- Weight loss
- Signs of increased discomfort or pain
- Increase of vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Blood in vomit or stools
- Foreign objects in vomit and/or poop
- Collapse
- Weakness
- No energy
- No appetite after 24 hours
- Dehydration
Certain foods, plants, and household products are toxic for dogs. If you know your dog ingested something they shouldn't have, reach out to your vet, local emergency animal hospital, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. They will help you determine if it's life-threatening and requires emergency medical care.
Don't give your dog human stomach medicines, or any over-the-counter product for vomiting or diarrhea, unless your vet tells you to. Some contain ingredients that aren't safe for dogs, and the right medicine and amount depend on the cause and your dog. Only your vet should recommend medication for an upset stomach.
When to Use Probiotics and Prebiotics
Probiotics and prebiotics for dogs work together to support healthy digestion. Prebiotics are types of fiber that feed the good bacteria in a dog's gut, and probiotics are the beneficial bacteria themselves. Together they help support a healthy balance in the gut, which can be thrown off by illness, stress, antibiotics or a sudden diet change.
Probiotics can be a helpful addition to your dog's routine, especially while they recover from an upset stomach. Choose products made for dogs, and ask your vet which one suits your dog.
Once your dog is feeling like themselves again, a daily chew with gut support is an easy way to add digestive support to their routine.
ADD DAILY GUT SUPPORT
Easy bacon-flavored soft chews with gut, joint, immune, skin, coat, heart, and brain support in one daily chew.
How to Prevent Your Dog's Upset Stomach
- Feed one consistent, complete food and avoid frequent brand or flavor changes.
- Switch foods slowly over about seven days when you do change.
- Measure meals. Overfeeding is a common cause of loose stool. Our dog food calculator can help.
- Limit treats and table scraps, especially fatty foods.
- Slow down fast eaters with a slow-feeder bowl or by splitting meals.
- Keep trash, toxic foods and small toys out of reach.
- Stay on schedule with deworming and vaccines.
For more on daily habits, read how much to feed your dog and our tips on how to firm up your dog's stool.
Support Your Dog's Digestion With Bully Max
Dealing with a dog's upset stomach can be difficult, especially if you don't know what's causing their symptoms. Simple home care, like a bland diet and careful hydration, can help your pup recover from a mild stomach issue. More serious problems need timely help from a veterinarian.
Once your dog is back to normal, a consistent, high-quality diet is the best way to keep their stomach settled. Bully Max's 30/20 High Protein Dog Food is a meat-based formula made in the USA, and every batch is triple tested for safety. Transition slowly and measure portions, since it's calorie-dense.
If your dog does better without chicken, the lamb recipe is a chicken-free option with 45% less fat for dogs that need a lighter bowl. For a full label checklist, see our guide to the best dog food for sensitive stomach issues.
TRY BULLY MAX 25/11 REDUCED FAT DOG FOOD
Chicken-free lamb recipe with 25% protein, 45% less fat, and 415 calories per cup for dogs that need a lighter bowl.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I give my dog for an upset stomach?
For a mild upset in an adult dog, small bland meals of plain boiled skinless chicken and white rice, a spoonful of plain pumpkin, and plenty of fresh water are the usual first steps. Don't give human medicines unless your vet says to.
What are the signs of stomach pain in a dog?
Common signs are a hunched posture or "prayer" stretch, a tense or bloated belly, restlessness, whining, drooling, and not wanting the belly touched. Call your vet, and go straight to an emergency vet if the belly is swollen and your dog is retching without bringing anything up.
What medicine can I give my dog for an upset stomach?
Only give medicine your vet recommends. Some human stomach products are unsafe for dogs, and vomiting or diarrhea can have causes that need a proper diagnosis.
How long does a dog's upset stomach last?
Mild cases often improve within 24 hours. If vomiting or diarrhea lasts longer, gets worse, or your dog seems weak or in pain, call your vet.
Why is my dog's stomach gurgling?
Gurgling is gas and fluid moving through the intestines. It's common when a dog is hungry or after a rich meal. Gurgling with vomiting, diarrhea, pain or a refusal to eat is a reason to call your vet.
Is it OK if my dog eats grass when their stomach is upset?
Many dogs eat grass now and then, and it isn't always a sign of illness. Make sure the grass isn't treated with chemicals, and call your vet if grass eating comes with repeated vomiting or other symptoms.
3 comments
Best food for our pet Smokey who has a sensitive stomach ? What’s better beef or chicken or salmon ?
What can I use for my 16 week old American bully for diarrhea
Thank you for sharing! Very helpful. My 13 year Blue heeler/bDexter been really fighting some stomach problems before. baby. Cooking some white rice and chicken now.