dog laying belly up on woman's lap, caption reads "6 foods to soothe your dog's stomach ache"

It happened again at my house recently. Our 11 year old Weimaraner, Angie, woke up in the middle of the night violently throwing up and having diarrhea. The good news (if you’re an optimist like I am, and always searching for some good news in any situation–even one involving lots of puke and poop), is that our dog has a long, storied history of over-indulging on things she shouldn’t, so we knew that it was only a matter of riding out the wave of this particular episode of intestinal distress. 

In times like this, I turn to my handy-dandy arsenal of tummy taming foods that I keep on hand for just these types of doggie disasters. Once the throwing up subsides and our dog begins to show a little interest in eating again, I reach for these foods that add needed vitamins, nutrients, healing powers and also might entice a sick pup to eat. Best of all: no emergency trip to the grocery store needed and most items can be stored in your pantry or refrigerator for extended periods of time. 

How to Fix Your Dog’s Stomach Ache

Here’s what I keep on hand for all of our doggie digestive disasters:

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is high in fiber and packed full of vitamins (just make sure you buy pure pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie filling, which is chock-full of sugar). Pumpkin can help get your dog’s digestive system back on track in a jiffy and many dogs love the taste of it. Inexplicably, pumpkin seems to help with both constipation and diarrhea in dogs–so it’s a win-win! In fact, you can add a little pumpkin to your dog’s food any time that you feel like he needs some extra fiber and vitamins in his diet. 

Shredded Chicken

Unseasoned chicken is easy for dogs to digest and often stimulates their appetite. Chicken is loaded with essential vitamins, nutrients and fats that can help get your dog over the “hump” of a tummy upset. Make sure to remove all bones and sharp pieces of cartilage prior to feeding. Reduced sodium canned chicken works in a pinch and can be stored for long periods of time in your pantry.

dog's stomach ache

Rice

Unseasoned, cooked white rice is easily digested and can be added to dog food or served independently to a dog who needs encouragement to eat. It also helps to soothe an upset stomach and add bulk to the stool. 

Chicken Broth 

Mild in flavor and rich in hydrating nutrition, you can use chicken broth (low sodium is best) in your dog’s food to stimulate his appetite. This easily-digested addition helps to quiet an upset tummy and provides hydration–not to mention flavor–to a bland dog food. 

Plain, Unsweetened Yogurt

A tablespoon of plain, unsweetened yogurt can help replenish helpful bacteria that is often depleted when a dog has stomach problems. Yogurt can also encourage a dog to eat. 

Oatmeal

Unsweetened oatmeal provides fiber and is easily digested for dogs who have stomach upset. Make sure to cook the oatmeal in water (as opposed to milk) to circumvent any problems with dairy. 

When introducing new foods to your dog, be sure to offer in small amounts first. Also, be sure that what you’re feeding your dog doesn’t contain garlic or onion–both toxic to dogs. And, lastly, if symptoms don’t resolve in 24 hours, seek help from your veterinarian.