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Feeding a sick dog, especially one dealing with a decreased appetite, upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting, can be stressful. While it’s important to consult your veterinarian when your dog is experiencing an upset stomach, a bland diet can help address some of these symptoms while giving your dog the nutrition they need to recover.
In This Article
Understanding Why Your Dog Has an Upset Stomach
Just like humans, dogs can occasionally experience an upset stomach. 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’ve ruled out other health risks and discussed your dietary plan with your veterinarian.
Also, remember that senior dogs and dogs with existing conditions like diabetes, cancer, or allergies might need additional nutritional support to stay healthy.
Best Foods for Dogs With Upset Stomachs
When your dog is dealing with a mild upset stomach, easily digestible and bland foods can help soothe their tummy troubles. These foods are generally well tolerated by dogs with sensitive stomachs, plus they provide key nutrients and can help regulate appetite and constipation.
Boiled 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 seasonings can irritate your dog’s stomach and make the problem worse. 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. You can also purchase pre-packaged chicken and rice meals for dogs.
Shredded Chicken
Shredded chicken is easy on upset stomachs and acts as an 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 choice for dogs feeling under the weather. Cooked chicken keeps in the fridge for 3–4 days, or you can freeze it for 2–6 months.
Plain Pumpkin
Feeding your dog unseasoned pumpkin can have digestive health benefits. It’s high in fiber, which helps regulate their digestive system. Cooked, peeled, unsalted, and unseasoned pumpkin contains ingredients like vitamin E, iron, and potassium, giving your dog a nutritional boost and a little digestive help.
Adding pumpkin to your dog’s meal usually helps regulate mild constipation. Veterinarians recommend one to four tablespoons of pumpkin, depending on your dog’s size. Canned pumpkin is a convenient alternative to preparing pumpkin yourself, as long as it’s 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 dog’s stomach and cause further complications. You can also buy pumpkin supplements designed for dogs to add to your pet’s food.
Bone Broth
Bone broth is a very mild, liquid meal that sits easily in upset canine stomachs. It’s also a 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 slow cooker 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. Don’t let it get too hot, so you don’t burn your dog’s 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 escape your notice.
Meat-Based Baby Food
Veterinary emergency hospitals often use certain types of baby food to feed the dogs in their care. Since baby food is very easy to swallow and digest, it’s a great way to give oral medications. Consider feeding Stage II meat-based baby foods like chicken, lamb, and turkey, as long as they don’t contain ingredients or additives that might be toxic to dogs, like garlic or onion powder.
Foods to Avoid
While some human foods can help soothe your dog’s upset stomach, others can make things worse or even be dangerous. Avoid feeding your dog these foods, especially if they’re experiencing digestive issues:
- Foods cooked with garlic, oils, or seasonings
- Milk or dairy products, which can lead to vomiting or diarrhea in lactose intolerant dogs
- Processed meats like ham, bacon, or pepperoni, since these rich and fatty foods often have a high salt content
Remember: none of these foods are a replacement for proper medical care. However, feeding a bland diet can alleviate some of your dog’s intestinal discomfort, while also providing them with foods they’ll love. When in doubt, always consult your dog’s veterinarian before making any changes to their diet.