Upset Stomach in Dogs: What to Give Your Dog & When to Worry

For a mild upset stomach in an otherwise healthy adult dog, the standard at-home plan is simple: rest the gut by withholding food (never water) for 12 to 24 hours, then feed small portions of a bland diet — plain boiled chicken and white rice — for a couple of days before easing back to normal food. Most mild cases resolve within 24 to 48 hours. If your dog is vomiting repeatedly, has blood in their vomit or stool, seems lethargic or painful, or symptoms last more than a day or two, skip home remedies and call your vet.

That's the short version, and it's backed by veterinary guidance from institutions like the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine's Riney Canine Health Center. The longer version below covers what you can safely give your dog, what to keep out of reach (looking at you, Pepto-Bismol), how to tell a passing tummy ache from an emergency, and how to prevent the next episode — because for many dogs, recurring stomach trouble traces back to what's in the bowl every day.

Key takeaways:

Mild cases: 12–24 hours of gut rest (water always available), then 2 days of bland food in small, frequent meals.
Safe home options include boiled chicken and white rice, plain canned pumpkin, bone broth, and vet-approved probiotics.
Never give human medications like Pepto-Bismol or Imodium without your vet's explicit approval.
See a vet promptly for: vomiting or diarrhea beyond 24–48 hours, blood, black tarry stool, repeated vomiting, lethargy, a swollen belly, or unproductive retching (possible bloat — an emergency).
Puppies, seniors, and small breeds dehydrate fast and shouldn't fast for extended periods — call your vet earlier for them.

What Can I Give My Dog for an Upset Stomach?

Here's what veterinarians actually recommend for mild digestive upset at home:

Remedy:	How To Use It:	Why It Helps:
Gut rest	Withhold food 12–24 hours (adult dogs only); always offer water	Gives an irritated GI tract time to settle
Boiled chicken + white rice	Skinless, boneless, unseasoned; small portions 3–4x daily for ~2 days	Easy to digest; the classic vet-recommended bland diet
Plain canned pumpkin	1–4 tablespoons depending on dog size (not pie filling)	Soluble fiber firms loose stools and feeds gut bacteria
Bone broth	Offer alone or over rice; no onion or garlic in ingredients	Encourages hydration and appetite in reluctant eaters
Vet-approved probiotics	Per label or your vet's direction	Helps restore healthy gut flora after digestive upset
Small, frequent meals	When reintroducing food, feed ¼ portions every few hours	Prevents overwhelming a recovering stomach

Cornell's veterinary guidance endorses this general approach: for an isolated episode of vomiting, withhold food for about 12 hours, then offer plain white rice with boiled chicken for two days; for diarrhea, boiled chicken or low-fat hamburger with white rice after a short fast. Two caveats straight from the same guidance: bland diets are not nutritionally complete, so don't feed them beyond a few days without veterinary input — and puppies, toy breeds, and dogs with health conditions shouldn't fast for extended periods, because they're prone to low blood sugar and rapid dehydration.

What NOT to Give a Dog for an Upset Stomach

This list matters as much as the remedies:

Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, and other human GI medications. Cornell's veterinary guidance is unambiguous: these should never be used without veterinary approval. Bismuth subsalicylate contains an aspirin-like compound that can harm dogs, and loperamide is dangerous for some breeds and conditions.
Fatty "comfort" foods. Rich table scraps are one of the most common triggers of pancreatitis — a painful, sometimes serious inflammatory condition. An upset stomach is the worst time for bacon grease on rice.
Dairy. Many adult dogs are lactose intolerant; milk often makes diarrhea worse.
Seasoned anything. Onion and garlic (common in broths and leftovers) are toxic to dogs. Check bone broth labels carefully.
A sudden switch to a new dog food. Mid-upset is the wrong moment to experiment. If a recent food change caused the trouble, Cornell recommends going back to the previous food until stools normalize, then transitioning again over one to two weeks instead of a few days.

Common Causes of an Upset Stomach in Dogs

Most cases trace to one of these:

Dietary indiscretion — the veterinary term for "ate something they shouldn't have": garbage, spoiled food, rich table scraps, or non-food objects.
Abrupt food changes — switching foods overnight instead of gradually.
Food sensitivities or allergies — chronic, recurring upset (often with itchy skin or ear infections) can point to an ingredient intolerance; chicken is a surprisingly common culprit.
Infections and parasites — parvovirus, salmonella, giardia, and worms all cause GI distress; these need a vet, not home care.
Stress — boarding, travel, fireworks, and routine changes commonly trigger stress colitis.
Chronic conditions — pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastritis need diagnosis and ongoing management.
Toxins — grapes, xylitol, chocolate, and certain plants cause vomiting among other symptoms. If poisoning is possible, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.

Digestive trouble is also simply common: gastroenteritis ranks among the most frequent reasons dogs visit the vet, according to Nationwide's pet insurance claims data, second only to skin conditions. If it feels like your dog's stomach runs your calendar, you're not alone — and prevention (more below) is worth real attention.

Signs of an Upset Stomach in Dogs

The classic signs: vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, excessive drooling or lip-licking, loud stomach gurgling, gas, grass-eating, and restlessness. A dog who repeatedly stretches into the "prayer position" — front legs down, rear up — may be signaling abdominal pain.

One useful distinction from Cornell's specialists: occasional, isolated vomiting (like after gulping grass) is usually nothing, but vomiting that recurs even once a week can indicate an underlying disease worth investigating. Frequency over time tells you more than any single episode.

Do Probiotics Help a Dog's Upset Stomach?

The evidence is encouraging, if not miraculous. A controlled clinical trial in acute canine gastroenteritis found that dogs receiving a probiotic cocktail recovered to normal stools roughly a day faster than untreated dogs, and a systematic review in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine concluded probiotics show modest benefits for GI disease in dogs, particularly acute diarrhea. Veterinarians commonly recommend dog-specific probiotic products during and after digestive upset. Two practical notes: choose canine-formulated products (dog gut flora isn't human gut flora), and treat probiotics as support — not a substitute for figuring out why the upset keeps happening.

When to See a Vet for a Dog's Upset Stomach

"Many cases of diarrhea in dogs and cats are mild and self-limiting," notes Dr. Meredith Miller, associate clinical professor of small animal medicine at Cornell — which is exactly why the exceptions deserve attention. Call your vet promptly if you see:

Vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than 24–48 hours, or a bland diet that isn't working after 2–3 days
Blood in vomit or stool, vomit resembling coffee grounds, or black, tarry stool (signs of GI bleeding)
Repeated vomiting in a short window, or vomiting water or clear liquid over and over
Lethargy, fever, or obvious abdominal pain
Refusing food and water for more than a day
Signs of dehydration: tacky gums, sunken eyes, skin that stays "tented" when gently lifted

And one true emergency: a swollen, hard belly with unproductive retching, drooling, and restlessness can mean gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat), where the stomach twists and cuts off blood flow. This kills dogs within hours. Don't wait, don't try home remedies — go to the nearest emergency vet immediately. Deep-chested breeds like Great Danes, German Shepherds, and Standard Poodles are at highest risk.

For puppies, be more conservative across the board: vomiting or diarrhea in a young puppy — especially one not fully vaccinated — warrants a same-day vet call, both for dehydration risk and because parvovirus moves fast.

Preventing Upset Stomachs: The Role of Everyday Diet

Occasional stomach upset is part of life with a dog who experiences the world mouth-first. Recurring upset usually isn't — it's a pattern with a cause, and diet is the variable you control most directly:

Transition foods slowly. Cornell recommends one to two weeks of gradually shifting ratios when changing foods — slower than the 3-day switch many labels suggest.
Keep the daily diet consistent and digestible. Dogs thrive on consistency. A complete, balanced diet made from a short list of recognizable ingredients makes it easier on sensitive stomachs — and far easier to identify a culprit when something goes wrong.
Watch the extras. Treats, chews, and table scraps are frequent hidden triggers. Keep treats under 10% of daily calories and introduce new ones one at a time.
Feed the gut. Adequate fiber, consistent mealtimes, and fresh water all support the microbiome that does your dog's digestive heavy lifting.
Slow down speed-eaters. Gulping food and air is a recipe for regurgitation and gas; slow-feeder bowls help.

This is where daily food quality earns its keep: many dogs labeled "sensitive-stomached" are simply reacting to highly processed diets with long, variable ingredient lists. Spot & Tango's fresh recipes and UnKibble are formulated with pet nutritionists using a handful of whole ingredients per recipe — no artificial preservatives or fillers — which is why many pet parents of sensitive dogs land here after one too many 2 a.m. cleanups. Take the recipe quiz to find the recipe that agrees with your dog.

Frequently Asked Questions About Upset Stomach in Dogs

How long does an upset stomach last in dogs?

Mild cases typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours with gut rest and a bland diet. If symptoms last beyond that — or your dog seems worse at any point — it's time to involve your vet.

Can I give my dog Pepto-Bismol or Imodium?

Not without asking your vet first. Pepto-Bismol contains an aspirin-like compound that can be harmful to dogs, and Imodium is unsafe for certain breeds and conditions. Veterinary guidance from Cornell explicitly warns against using either without approval.

What can I give my dog for an upset stomach at home?

After 12–24 hours of gut rest with water available, offer small portions of boiled chicken and plain white rice for about two days. Plain canned pumpkin, bone broth, and dog-specific probiotics are also safe supports for mild cases.

How much pumpkin should I give a dog with an upset stomach?

Plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling): about 1 tablespoon for small dogs, up to 4 tablespoons for large dogs, mixed into food. It provides soluble fiber that helps firm loose stools.

Why does my dog eat grass when their stomach is upset?

Grass-eating is common and not fully understood — some dogs appear to do it to induce vomiting, others just like grass. Occasional grazing is normal; frantic, compulsive grass-eating alongside drooling or repeated vomiting is a reason to call your vet.

Are scrambled eggs good for a dog's upset stomach?

Plain scrambled or boiled eggs — no butter, oil, salt, or seasoning — are gentle and easy to digest, and can substitute for chicken in a short-term bland diet.

What food is best for dogs with chronically sensitive stomachs?

Look for a complete and balanced diet with a short, consistent ingredient list, adequate fiber, and no artificial additives — and work with your vet to rule out food allergies or underlying GI disease. If a specific protein is the suspect, a guided elimination diet is the most reliable way to confirm it.