Home Remedies for Dogs: Upset Stomach

Dogs are prone to bouts of vomiting and/or diarrhea, and often this can be treated at home quite simply. However, it's important to pay close attention to your dog's behavior and symptoms and bring him to the veterinarian if symptoms persist or become more severe.

Symptoms of stomach upset or distress are so common in dogs that it's the most prevalent complaint during trips to the veterinarian every year. These symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, unusual stomach sounds or a distended belly. Due to these animals' nature, it's not uncommon for these symptoms to present due to them eating food not meant for dogs. In most cases, it can be treated at home with items commonly found in your kitchen cabinets or refrigerator.

Causes of stomach upset in dogs vary greatly. They can be as simple as eating table food not appropriate for dogs to intestinal parasites or viruses. Among the possible causes of stomach upset in dogs: stress; car sickness; poor digestion; bacteria, parasites or viruses; ingestion of indigestible items or table food; poisoning; dietary change; and chronic disease. Before treating your dog with home remedies, it's important to attempt to determine the cause of your dog's discomfort and rule out any of the more serious causes that require medical treatment. If you're quite sure that your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea due to a benign cause such as eating something inappropriate, car sickness or a simple change in diet, you may want to attempt the following treatments at home.

For an upset stomach from overeating, eating inappropriate food, a dietary change, or stress, try the following: Abstain from feeding your dog for 12 to 24 hours (only overnight at the longest for puppies), leaving only water in his bowl, or half water and half Gatorade to replenish electrolytes and prevent dehydration. After the fast, give your dog plain, boiled white rice and chicken or hamburger in small portions multiple times throughout the day. This can be done until the vomiting subsides and/or the dog's stool becomes firm again. You may also add a very small amount of plain yogurt or cottage cheese to introduce good bacteria to the dog's digestive tract. If your veterinarian approves, you can give your dog an over-the-counter product, such as Pepto-Bismol or Immodium, to relieve stomach discomfort and/or diarrhea. For car sickness, over-the-counter medication such as Dramamine can be given at the recommended dosage. For suspected poisoning, see Warning below.

If your dog continues to show symptoms of stomach discomfort after 48 hours, or if the symptoms become more severe, take your doctor to a veterinarian. Also be sure to monitor your dog closely for signs of dehydration, such as lethargy or refusal of liquids. Finally, watch for more serious symptoms that could arise, such as bloody stool, unproductive vomiting, or vomiting blood or fecal matter. These could be signs of a much more serious condition and need to be medically treated immediately. Failure to treat these symptoms in a timely manner can be very dangerous for your pet.

If you suspect your dog may have ingested something poisonous, follow the guidelines below: Immediately call the National Poison Control Center at (800) 548-2423 for advice. DO NOT induce vomiting if your dog ingests petroleum products such as motor oil, gasoline, paint thinner or lighter fluid, or cleaning solutions such as bleach, ammonia or laundry detergents. In this case, give one dose of 1 or 2 tbsp. cooking oil or mineral oil, and call for help as soon as possible.