How to Treat a Dog's Upset Stomach at Home
Short answer: For a mild upset stomach, rest your dog's gut by withholding food for 12–24 hours (keep water available), then reintroduce a bland diet of plain boiled chicken and white rice. A spoonful of plain canned pumpkin and a dog-specific probiotic can help settle things further. Most mild cases clear up in a day or two. If your dog has repeated vomiting, bloody stool, a bloated or painful belly, or seems weak or dehydrated, skip the home remedies and call your veterinarian right away.
I'm Preston Smith, co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. Between running the business and raising dogs of my own, I've dealt with plenty of queasy pups. The good news is that most upset stomachs are minor and respond well to a few simple, gentle steps at home.
How do you know if your dog has an upset stomach?
Common signs include a decreased appetite, lethargy, drooling or lip-licking (a sign of nausea), occasional vomiting, loose stool, and a gurgling belly. Catching these early lets you act before things get worse. According to the American Kennel Club, mild digestive upset is one of the most common reasons dogs act "off" for a day.
Step-by-step: how to settle a dog's upset stomach
- Fast for 12–24 hours. Giving the gut a rest is often the single most effective step. Keep fresh water available to prevent dehydration. Skip fasting for puppies, seniors, or small breeds prone to low blood sugar—call your vet instead.
- Reintroduce a bland diet. Feed plain boiled chicken (no skin, bones, oil, or seasoning) with white rice in small, frequent portions. VCA Animal Hospitals recommends a bland diet as a gentle way to transition back to normal food.
- Add plain pumpkin. A spoonful of plain canned pumpkin (never pie filling) adds soluble fiber that can help firm up loose stool.
- Consider a probiotic. A canine-specific probiotic can help restore healthy gut bacteria after a bout of diarrhea.
- Keep hydration up. Offer small amounts of water often, especially if there's been vomiting.
- Ask before medicating. Never give human medications like Pepto-Bismol without checking with your vet first—dosing and safety vary by dog.
When should you call the vet?
Home care is only for mild cases. Contact your veterinarian if you see repeated or projectile vomiting, blood in vomit or stool, a swollen or painful abdomen, pale gums, weakness, or if symptoms last more than 24–48 hours. These can signal something more serious than a simple stomach upset.
How do you prevent the next upset stomach?
A lot of digestive trouble comes down to what dogs eat. Sudden diet changes, rich table scraps, and mystery ingredients are frequent culprits. One of the simplest changes you can make is switching to single-ingredient chews—treats with nothing on the label but real meat, so there are no fillers or additives to upset a sensitive gut.
At Bully Sticks Central, our chews are 100% natural, single-ingredient, 100% real meat, fully digestible, and contain no rawhide. Our bully sticks are ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms and are 100% high-quality guaranteed. Because they're fully digestible—unlike rawhide, which can swell in the stomach—they're a gentler choice for dogs with touchy tummies. If you want a highly digestible, low-fat option, our beef trachea chews are another easy-on-the-stomach pick.
The bottom line
Most dog upset stomachs are mild and respond to rest, a bland diet, and a little patience. Fast for 12–24 hours, ease back in with boiled chicken and rice plus a bit of pumpkin, keep water flowing, and watch for red-flag symptoms. When in doubt, your vet is always the right call.
This post was last updated at August 6, 2026 23:28
