How to Soothe a Dog’s Upset Stomach – 5 Ways?

It is quite common for dogs to have an upset stomach. Having said that, it’s best to visit your vet if the condition is too severe or persistent. This is because diarrhea (or constipation) can be a symptom of several underlying issues (allergies, diabetes, etc.). Once the vet has verified that there is nothing serious, you can avoid human medications and use following home treatments.

Homemade Dog Food for Upset Stomach

Chicken and Rice for Dog Upset Stomach

The combination of chicken and rice is probably the most recommended bland diet for a dog’s upset stomach. This is one of the reasons why a lot of commercial dog foods include these ingredients in their recipes.

Both chicken and rice have a soothing effect on your dog’s tummy and they are easy to digest. You can get detailed information about the chicken and rice meal by clicking here.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain white rice
• 1 cup plain skinless/boneless chicken
• Water

Note: The mentioned quantities are for an average dog size (about 20 lbs.) and can be adjusted.

Instructions:

1. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan.
2. Chop the chicken into chunks or strips.
3. Add rice and chopped chicken to the boiling water.
4. Simmer on low flame until done.
5. Let cool and feed to your dog.

Thank you to House That Barks for this recipe.

Pumpkin Puree for Dogs Upset Stomach

Pumpkin is an ideal ingredient to treat the upset stomach of your canine friend. It contains a handful of vitamins (A, C, B6, and E) and minerals (folate, magnesium, manganese, etc.). It is important to ensure that the pumpkin you are using is unseasoned and unsalted. The recipe of tummy-taming pumpkin puree is explained below.

Ingredient:

A pumpkin

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350° degrees F.
2. Cut your jack-o-lantern into large wedges. Place the wedges skin side up on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake for approximately 90 minutes, or until the pumpkin wedges are fork-tender.
3. When the pumpkin is cool enough to handle, scoop the flesh out of the skin into a bowl, then mash it or whirl it in a food processor. If the purée is a bit watery, cook in a saucepan over medium heat until some of the moisture has evaporated.
4. Let cool, then portion into freezer bags or containers and freeze. The purée can be defrosted quickly in the microwave or by placing the frozen bag or container into a bowl of hot (but not boiling) water. Use by itself to help with canine constipation or diarrhea.

Thank you to BARk for this recipe.

How much Pumpkin to give to a Dog with an Upset Stomach?

Considering the fact that it is rich in fiber, too much pumpkin can do more harm than good. For this reason, you must control the quantity of pumpkin in your dog’s meal.

According to the American Kennel Club, 1-4 tablespoons of pumpkin in your dog’s meal are sufficient to achieve the desired results. However, you should start by feeding smaller amounts and observe your dog’s response. If the stomach responds well, you can increase the quantity gradually.

Applesauce for Dog Upset Stomach

Just like humans, apples (without seeds) are extremely healthy and beneficial for dogs. Being a citrus fruit, they are rich in vitamin C and calcium. Similarly, they contain a lot of dietary fiber. Despite their nutritional value, they are low in calories which makes apple a really useful ingredient.

Most of the benefits of apples are transferred to unsweetened applesauce. The blandness of applesauce is often used to treat a dog’s upset stomach. The presence of pectin helps in alleviating loose stool by soothing the dog’s intestines.

Likewise, it is quite useful for preventing dehydration in case of diarrhea. You can make unsweetened applesauce at home by following this easy recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4-5 apples, peeled and cubed
• Water

Instructions

1. In a medium-sized pan add in the apples and water. 
2. Bring to a simmer and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. 
3. Remove from heat and add apples and water either to a blender or food processor.  Blend until smooth.
4. Store in an airtight container.

Thank you Leash and Tails for this recipe.

Bone Broth for Dogs Upset Stomach

Bone broth is probably the most effective homemade remedy to heal your dog’s upset stomach. In addition to its soothing benefits, bone broth keeps your pet hydrated. Even though it takes a lot of time (at least 24 hours) to get ready, it’s worth the effort.

The only demerit of this natural tonic is that you need to prepare it before your dog gets sick. Having said that, you can store it easily (after removing the fats) by freezing in an ice cube tray.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 Lbs. Cooked or Raw Bones
• Filtered Water (enough to completely cover the bones in the slow cooker)

Instructions:

1. Add the bones and apple cider vinegar to your slow cooker and completely cover them with filtered water.
2. Turn on the slow cooker and let simmer for 24-48 hours.
3. When cooked, strain the broth through a sieve to remove any bits of skin or bones from the liquid.
4. Refrigerate broth or pour into silicon molds or ice cube trays and freeze.
5. Add liquid mixture to your dog’s food, or add frozen cubes to their bowls.

Note: Ideally, you should refrigerate the bone broth for a couple of hours before freezing to skim off the fats.

Thank you to Brindleberry Acres for this recipe.

Brown Rice for Dogs Upset Stomach

Although some dogs might respond well to brown rice, they are not a preferred option to treat an upset stomach. The presence of bran and several other nutrients (including fiber) makes them a little too rough for your canine companions. For this reason, white rice are more suitable for dogs having diarrhea.

On the other hand, if your dog is suffering from constipation, brown rice can be an ideal alternative for them. Similarly, they are quite useful for reducing the food intake of overweight dogs.

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds minced chicken meat
• 4 cups of rice
• 6 ½ cups of water
• 2 ½ cups frozen vegetable blend (no garlic or onions)

Instructions

1. Place chicken, vegetables, and rice into a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Stir in water until the mixture is smooth. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and all of the liquid has been absorbed (about 25 minutes). Cool completely before serving; store covered in the refrigerator.

Thank you to All Recipes for this recipe.