Dog upset stomach: what to give and when to call the vet

For a mild upset stomach in an otherwise healthy adult dog, what you give is mostly rest: a short break from food, water in small amounts, then a few days of plain, bland meals. Nothing from your own medicine cabinet, unless your vet has told you the exact product and amount for this dog.

That plan suits a dog who has gurgled, gone off a meal or vomited once or twice and is still bright and drinking. It does not suit a dog who keeps vomiting, seems in pain or is weak, and it is less safe for an old dog, where a sick stomach is more often a sign of something else. If you are unsure which dog you have, call the vet first.

Signs of an upset stomach or nausea

• Loud gurgling from the belly
• Lip licking, drooling, repeated swallowing or gulping
• Eating grass or licking floors and carpets
• Turning away from food, or walking up to the bowl and leaving
• Vomiting, loose stools or more gas than usual
• Restlessness, stretching with the front end down and the rear up, or a hunched back

A stomach ache shows as posture and behavior: a tight belly, flinching when picked up, not wanting to lie down. Visible pain is a reason to call the vet, not to try home care.

What to give a dog for an upset stomach

A short rest from food

After vomiting, vets often suggest letting the stomach settle by skipping the next meal. Keep the break short for a healthy adult dog, and do not withhold water. Do not fast a puppy, a very small dog, a diabetic dog or a frail senior without asking the vet, because they can run into low blood sugar or weakness quickly.

Water in small sips

A nauseous dog who gulps a full bowl often brings it straight back up. Offer a little water at a time and top it up through the day, or offer ice cubes to lick. If your dog cannot keep even small amounts of water down, stop and call the vet today. Do not give sports drinks or human rehydration drinks unless the vet says to. They are made for people, and sugar-free products can contain xylitol, a sweetener that is poisonous to dogs.

Bland meals

Once vomiting has stopped for several hours, offer a small portion of bland food. The usual choice is plain boiled chicken breast, with no skin and no bones, mixed with plain boiled white rice. Lean boiled turkey works the same way. A prescription digestive diet from your vet is the ready-made version and is properly balanced.

• Start with a few spoonfuls. If it stays down, give another small portion a couple of hours later.
• Feed several small meals across the day instead of one or two large ones.
• No butter, oil, salt, seasoning, gravy or stock. Many stocks and broths contain onion or garlic, which are toxic to dogs.
• After two or three normal days, mix the regular food back in gradually over several more days.

Chicken and rice is not a complete diet and is only for a few days. If your dog still needs it after that, the stomach is not settling and the vet should know. Dogs with food allergies, pancreatitis, diabetes or kidney disease may need a different plan, so check before changing their food.

Plain pumpkin and probiotics

A little plain canned pumpkin is commonly suggested for mild loose stools, because of its fiber. It must be plain pumpkin, not pie filling, which contains sugar and spices. Vets sometimes suggest a probiotic made for dogs as well. Ask your vet before giving either, including which product and how much, especially for a dog with diabetes or other health problems.

What can I give my dog for nausea?

There is no home remedy that reliably stops nausea in dogs. The medicines that work are prescription anti-nausea drugs, which vets give as an injection at the clinic or as tablets to take home. If your dog is drooling, lip licking and refusing food for more than a day, a vet visit is the effective route.

Be careful with remedies suggested online. Herbal products, essential oils and human supplements are not tested for dogs, and some are harmful. Ask the vet before giving any of them.

Human medicines to avoid

• Pink bismuth stomach liquids and tablets. They contain a salicylate, a relative of aspirin, which can irritate the stomach and is risky with other medicines. They also turn stools black, which can hide bleeding.
• Anti-diarrhea medicines. Some are dangerous for certain herding breeds and their crosses, and they can trap an infection or a toxin inside the gut.
• Antacids and acid reducers. Vets do use some of these, but the product and amount differ from human use and matter more in a dog with kidney disease.
• Painkillers. Ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen (paracetamol) and aspirin can cause stomach ulcers, kidney failure, liver failure and death in dogs. Never give them for a stomach ache.

Any human medicine must only be given if your vet has confirmed the exact product and amount for your dog. Added ingredients such as xylitol, decongestants and extra painkillers turn up in liquids, chewables and combination products.

Why an older dog's upset stomach is different

A young dog with a sick stomach has usually eaten something it should not have. In an old dog, an upset stomach that keeps coming back is often a symptom of disease elsewhere or a side effect of a medicine.

• Kidney disease. Waste products build up in the blood and cause nausea, poor appetite and vomiting. See kidney disease in senior dogs.
• Pancreatitis. Often follows a fatty meal or treat and causes vomiting, belly pain and a hunched or praying posture.
• Liver disease. Nausea, weight loss and sometimes yellow gums or eyes.
• Medicines. Anti-inflammatory arthritis pain medicines, steroids, some antibiotics and some heart drugs can upset the stomach. If your dog vomits, goes off food or passes black stools while taking one, call the vet before giving the next dose.
• Hormonal disease. Addison's disease and diabetes can both show up as on-and-off stomach trouble.
• Growths and bowel disease. Both become more common with age.

Older dogs also dehydrate faster, so the bar for calling the vet is lower. A senior who vomits more than once, or who has a second bout within a few weeks, should be seen, not managed at home again. Our pages on why an old dog is vomiting and why an old dog is not eating go through the causes.

Call the vet today if

• Your dog vomits more than two or three times, or cannot keep water down
• There is blood in the vomit or stool, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, or black, tarry stool
• The belly is swollen or tight, or your dog is retching and bringing nothing up. This can be bloat, which is an emergency in any breed. Go now.
• Your dog may have eaten a toxin, a medicine, a toy, a bone, a sock or anything else that could poison or block
• Your dog is weak, wobbly, collapsed or has pale, white or yellow gums
• There are signs of pain: hunching, trembling, crying, guarding the belly
• Your dog has not eaten for a day, or the upset has lasted more than a day
• Your dog is a senior, a puppy or very small, or has diabetes, kidney disease, Addison's disease or another ongoing illness
• A diabetic dog is not eating or is vomiting. Call before the next insulin injection.

What the vet will do

Expect questions about what your dog ate, any new food, treat or medicine, and what the vomit and stools look like. A photo helps. The vet will feel the belly and check hydration, gum color and temperature.

For a senior dog, blood and urine tests are common early on, because they show the kidneys, liver, pancreas and blood sugar. X-rays or an ultrasound may follow. Treatment usually means anti-nausea medicine, fluids, a digestive diet and treatment of whatever the tests find.

If it keeps happening

Keep a simple record of dates, what was eaten, what came up and any medicines given, and take it to the vet. Meanwhile keep fatty scraps off the menu, secure the bins, and stick to a senior dog food that agrees with your dog.

This article is general educational information about upset stomachs in dogs and is not veterinary advice. Home care is only for a mild, short-lived upset in a dog who is otherwise well, and it cannot tell you why your dog is sick. Never give a human medicine or supplement unless your veterinarian has confirmed the exact product and amount. Decisions about your dog's care should be made with them.