Few things pull at your heart quite like watching your dog hunch over, refuse their dinner, and give you that miserable, hopeful look.
A dog upset stomach is one of the most common reasons you may need to find stomach pain relief for dogs quickly as possible.
The good news is that most mild cases settle down within a day or two with a little patience and the right care at home.
However, the tricky part is knowing which gentle steps genuinely help, which foods to reach for, and the moment when home care needs to stop, and a vet needs to step in.
In this dog digestive health guide, we will walk you through all of it.
First, we will cover what causes tummy upset, the signs to watch for, and safe ways to ease your dog’s discomfort.
Then, we will highlight 12 simple, soothing recipes that can help your dog with an upset stomach. Keep reading!
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Why Your Dog’s Stomach Hurts in the First Place
An upset stomach for dogs is really just irritation or inflammation somewhere in the digestive tract, and dogs can find many ways to get there.

The most common culprit is dietary indiscretion, which is the polite term for raiding the trash, snatching a dropped chicken bone, or wolfing down something they found on a walk.
A sudden switch in food, too many table scraps, or eating far too fast can also throw things off.
Beyond excessive eating, stomach trouble in dogs can come from infections, swallowed objects, certain medications, stress and anxiety, or chronic issues like food allergies.
Puppies and senior dogs tend to get hit harder because their immune systems are not as robust.
Also, in unvaccinated puppies, persistent vomiting and diarrhea can signal parvovirus, which is a genuine emergency. It is one of the most common pet health issues you will run into as a dog owner.
Knowing that the causes range from trivial to serious is exactly why reading your dog’s other signals matters so much.
The Signs Your Dog Has an Upset Stomach
Is your dog sick to their stomach and turning away from the bowl? Some signs your dog has an upset stomach are obvious; at the same time, some are easy to miss.



Alongside the classic dog throwing up and diarrhea, watch for drooling or excessive lip-licking, repeated swallowing, loud gurgling stomach noises, gas, a loss of appetite, and low energy.
Many dogs will eat grass in an attempt to make themselves feel better, and some will seem restless or unable to get comfortable.
One posture worth knowing is the so-called prayer position, where a dog stretches their front legs and chest down to the floor while keeping their hind end up in the air.
It can look like a playful bow, but when it comes with other symptoms it often signals real abdominal pain, and that is a reason to take things seriously rather than wait and see.
Safe Ways to Settle Your Dog’s Stomach at Home

If your dog is otherwise bright, still drinking, and has had symptoms for less than a day or so with no blood involved, a few gentle measures usually do the trick.
Learning how to help a dog with upset stomach symptoms at home usually comes down to a few calm, simple steps.
Your vet may suggest a short rest for the digestive system, often a brief fast of several hours up to around 12 to 24 hours for healthy adult dogs, so the gut can calm down.
Puppies should never be fasted that long, and water should stay available unless vomiting makes that impossible.
Hydration should be the top priority, since diarrhea and vomiting lead to massive loss of fluids from the dog’s body.
After the rest period, small and frequent servings of gentle food work far better than one big meal.
When people ask what to give a dog for upset stomach, the short answer is bland and simple: easy proteins like boiled chicken, gentle carbs like white rice, and a spoonful of plain pumpkin.
Speaking of which, pumpkin for dogs upset stomach is a favorite because its soluble fiber soaks up excess water in the gut and helps firm up loose stools.
Reach for plain canned 100% pumpkin puree rather than pumpkin pie filling, which is loaded with sugar and spices.
A scoop of dog-safe probiotics can help repopulate the friendly gut bacteria that get stripped out during a bout of illness.
In simple terms, the simplest upset stomach remedy for dogs is often rest, fresh water, and a small, bland meal.
Just resist the urge to give your dog human medicine, since several common over-the-counter products can be risky for dogs and should only ever be used under a vet’s direction.
As you can see, these simple dog upset stomach remedies are about support and rest, not heavy intervention.
Do you want the deeper version of this list? Browse our complete remedy guide on what to give a dog for an upset stomach for gentler, at-home options.
When a Bland Diet Helps (and How to Do It Right)
If you are unsure about what to feed dog with upset stomach, it’s always a good idea to start with a homemade bland diet for dogs.
A bland diet for dog is the backbone of home care, and figuring out how to help a dog with a stomachache usually starts right here.
The idea is to feed plain, low-fat, easy-to-digest food for a few days so the gut can rest and recover.


The most recommended combination is boiled, skinless, unseasoned chicken mixed with plain white rice, typically around one part chicken to two parts rice.
White rice can be better than the brown variant because it has less fiber and is gentler on an already irritated system.
A proper bland diet for dogs with upset stomach skips all salt, oil, butter, garlic, and onion, since those either irritate the gut or are outright unsafe.
Start with small portions spread across the day, and if your dog keeps them down, slowly increase the amount and stretch the time between meals.
Once stools have been normal for a day or two, gradually fold their regular food back in over several days rather than switching all at once.
A bland diet is one of the short-term dog digestive remedies, not an everyday meal, because on its own it does not cover all of your dog’s nutritional needs.
Is your pup turning down every bowl? Our roundup of what to feed a sick dog with no appetite has gentle foods to tempt them back to eating.
When to Stop Home Care and Call Your Vet
Home care has clear limits, and knowing how to treat dog stomach issues includes knowing when not to.
The widely used rule of thumb is the 48-hour mark. If vomiting or diarrhea lasts longer than that, or if symptoms are getting worse rather than better, you better call your vet.


Call sooner, not later, if you notice any of these warning signs:
- Blood in the vomit or stool
- Repeated or projectile vomiting
- An inability to keep water down
- A swollen or painful belly
- Weakness or collapse
- Signs of dehydration, or
- Obvious pain
If your dog seems sore or achy beyond a simple tummy upset, our guide to safe dog pain relief remedies walks through gentle at-home options and when to reach for the vet.
In some situations, you may want to skip the waiting period entirely and just chat with your vet on the go.
Unvaccinated puppies with vomiting and diarrhea need to be seen right away because of the parvovirus risk.
Also, any time you suspect your dog swallowed a foreign object or got into something toxic, that is an immediate call.
When in doubt, it’s always much safer and better to have a quick conversation with your vet. They may advise you to bring a fresh stool sample to speed up the diagnosis.
To make things clear, none of the recipes below is a substitute for prescribed dog stomach ache remedies or veterinary care when the above red flags are obvious.
Make Gentle Meals with the ChefPaw Dog Food Maker

When your dog’s stomach is already off, the last thing you want sneaking into their bowl is hidden salt, oil, onion, or garlic.
Cooking at home is the surest way to control every single ingredient, and the ChefPaw Dog Food Maker makes that control almost effortless.
ChefPaw is our favorite countertop appliance from Innovet Pet Products.
Using it is simple, all you have to do is load it with whole, fresh ingredients, and roughly forty minutes later you have a finished DIY food that is gentle enough for a sensitive tummy.
The clever part is that it chops, blends, and cooks right inside the single included bowl, so there are no extra pots to scrub and no guesswork about doneness.
It also cooks on low heat to preserve nutrients, and the built-in scale keeps your measurements precise, which really matters when you are feeding small, gentle portions during recovery.
It only takes up about a 9-by-12-inch footprint of counter space and pairs with a free web app that holds nutritional values for over a thousand ingredients drawn from the USDA database.
In other words, you will always know exactly what you are feeding your furry friend while they get back on their paws.
We have a $50 deal for the ChefPaw Dog Food Maker. Just use the code FURSNPAWS at checkout and start cooking meals your dog’s stomach will thank you for.
12 Stomach Pain Relief for Dogs DIY Recipes
1. Crockpot Chicken and Pumpkin Stew

Ingredients
- 2 cups diced boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 cup chopped pumpkin
- 4 cups water
- 1 tsp fish oil per serving
- ½ tsp calcium powder per pound of food
Instructions
- Add the diced chicken, white rice, and chopped pumpkin to your crockpot, then pour in the water until everything is fully covered.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, with no stirring needed while it works.
- Once the time is up, check that the chicken shreds easily, the rice is soft, and the pumpkin is fork-tender, then stir it all together, loosening it with a little more water if it looks too thick.
- For a softer meal, shred the chicken with a fork and mash the pumpkin into the rice, or leave the pieces whole if your dog likes more texture.
- Let the stew cool to room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before serving, drizzling in the fish oil or calcium powder at this stage if your vet recommends them.
Keep scrolling, because recipe #3 takes this same comforting combo and trims it down to just three gentle ingredients.
2. Chicken And Rice for Dogs Upset Stomach

Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small cubes
- ½ cup brown rice
- 1 cup unsalted chicken broth with no onion or garlic
- 1 tablespoon chopped curly parsley
- ⅓ cup shredded carrots
- ⅓ cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the cubed chicken and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until it is just cooked through.
- Stir in the chicken broth, rice, and parsley, and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the rice is cooked and tender.
- Stir in the shredded carrots and peas until they are warmed through, then take the skillet off the heat and let everything cool slightly before serving.
And don’t drift off yet, because recipe #5 is the slow-simmered broth even the queasiest, pickiest pup rarely turns down.
3. Chicken, Rice, and Pumpkin Dog Food
A three-ingredient twist on the classic, with pumpkin added for a little extra fiber and stool support.

Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 pound chicken breasts
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
Instructions
- Cook the jasmine rice according to the package instructions until soft.
- Fill a medium pot three-quarters full with water, add the chicken breasts, and boil for about 15 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Lift out the chicken and chop it into small cubes.
- Add the rice, chicken, and a little pumpkin to your dog’s bowl and mix everything together.
4. Plain Boiled White Rice

Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Rinse the white rice thoroughly under water to wash away the excess starch.
- Combine the rinsed rice with the water in a pot and bring it to a boil over high heat.
- Once it is boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and let the rice simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until all the water is absorbed.
- Take the pot off the heat and let the rice cool completely, then serve a small portion on its own or mixed with a little lean, boiled chicken.
Wait until you reach recipe #6, the humble one-ingredient mash that works surprisingly fast.
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5. Slow-Simmered Bone Broth

Ingredients
- 2 – 3 pounds raw animal bones with marrow
- 1 bunch celery
- 6 whole peeled roasting carrots
- 1 cup fresh chopped parsley
- 1 bunch fresh thyme
- ¼ cup raw apple cider vinegar
- Enough water to cover the bones
Instructions
- Add the raw marrow and joint bones to a slow cooker. Surround the bones with the chopped parsley, carrots, and celery.
- Pour in the apple cider vinegar, add the fresh thyme, then cover everything with cold water, leaving about an inch of space at the top.
- Cover and cook on low for ideally 24 hours (or medium for 12), stirring occasionally, until the broth turns bubbly and fat solids start to form.
- Turn off the slow cooker, remove and discard the bones since cooked bones should never be fed to dogs, and let the broth cool.
- Skim off the hardened fat layer, lift out the vegetables, and pour the broth through a strainer to catch any bone fragments.
- Divide the broth into freezer-safe containers and label them; it stays fresh in the fridge for up to five days and in the freezer for up to a year.
6. Mashed Sweet Potato Puree

Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
Instructions
- Scrub the sweet potatoes clean, peel off the skin, and chop them into small, even chunks so they cook at the same pace.
- Drop the chunks into a large pot, cover them with water, and bring it to a boil, then lower the heat and let them simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until they slide off a fork easily.
- Drain the cooked sweet potatoes in a colander, then either mash them by hand or run them through a blender until the puree is smooth.
- Let it cool all the way down before spooning a portion into your dog’s bowl.
Keep scrolling, because recipe #8 is the everyday protein most owners are likely to overlook for a tender tummy
7. Plain Cooked Oatmeal

Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 ½ cups water
Instructions
- Bring the water to a gentle simmer in a medium saucepan.
- Stir in the rolled oats as you add them so they don’t clump together.
- Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the oats soften and absorb the water.
- Cook the oats fully (never serve them raw), then cool completely and offer a small plain portion.
Hang tight, because recipe #10 is the cozy chicken-and-pumpkin dinner most pups happily lick clean once they’re on the mend.
8. Plain Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients
- 1 or 2 eggs
- A splash of dog-safe oil such as olive or coconut
Instructions
- Whisk the eggs together in a bowl on their own, with no salt, butter, or seasoning added.
- Set a non-stick pan over low heat and add a tiny drop of oil if you like, or skip it entirely and use a splash of water for dogs on a bland diet.
- Pour in the eggs and stir them softly as they cook, keeping things low and slow until they are just set but still soft and a little glossy.
- Pull the pan off the heat and let the eggs cool down fully, since they should never be served hot.
9. Lean Turkey and Rice Dog Food

Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked brown rice
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- ½ cup shredded carrot
- ½ cup shredded zucchini
Instructions
- Prepare the brown rice while following the directions in the package, then put it to the side once it cooks.
- You can then brown the ground turkey over medium heat until cooked through in a large pot or Dutch oven.
- Once that is done, proceed to stir in the carrot, zucchini, and spinach and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
- Fold the cooked rice back into the pot and stir until everything is evenly combined and warmed through.
- Let the meal cool completely before serving, and keep any leftovers in the fridge for up to five days or freeze them in servings for later.
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Don’t skip ahead too fast, because recipe #11 is the cooling, two-ingredient treat your dog will mistake for dessert.
10. Chicken and Pumpkin Dinner

Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- ½ cup rolled oats
- A little pumpkin puree
Instructions
- Steam the chopped carrot and celery in a basket over simmering water until tender, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Boil the chicken breasts in a large pot of water for 10 to 15 minutes until fully cooked, then cube them.
- Add the rolled oats to your dog’s bowl and soften them with a little hot water.
- Stir the chopped chicken, steamed vegetables, and a spoonful of pumpkin into the oats, then cool before serving.
11. Frozen Pumpkin and Yogurt Bites

Ingredients
- 1 (5.3 oz) container plain Greek yogurt
- About ½ can plain pumpkin puree
Instructions
- Add the plain Greek yogurt to a medium bowl.
- Fill the empty yogurt container about halfway with pure pumpkin and add it to the bowl.
- Mix the yogurt and pumpkin together until smooth.
- Spoon the mixture into silicone trays and freeze until solid, about three hours.
Keep reading, because the final three are the gentle, vet-favorite remedies worth knowing about for the really stubborn tummies.
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12. Carrot and Ginger Digestive Paste

Ingredients
- 2 organic carrots
- A small piece of fresh ginger, grated
- A pinch of turmeric
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- ½ cup of water, as needed
Instructions
- Peel and chop the carrots into small pieces for easy blending.
- Boil or steam the carrots until they are soft.
- Add the cooked carrots, grated ginger, turmeric, and coconut oil to a blender.
- Pour in a little water and blend until you reach a smooth paste, adding more water as needed.
- Store the paste in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a week and stir a small amount into meals.
Ensuring Complete Nutrition
The recipes featured in this guide are to help your dog feel better, not to feed them forever.
A bit of chicken and rice or a scoop of pumpkin is gentle and comforting, but a plain bland meal was never meant to deliver everything your dog needs

So once their stomach has calmed down for a day or two, start easing their usual balanced food back in slowly over a few days.
Just have a quick chat with your vet or a veterinary nutritionist first, since they’ll know which extras, like calcium or omega fatty acids, a homemade bowl tends to leave out.
No two dogs are quite the same. Their age, size, and whatever else is going on with their health all shape what a complete meal really looks like for them.
When you’re not sure, lean on your vet, they’ll help you put together something that keeps your pup thriving long after the upset stomach is solved.
Conclusion
For the most part, stomach problems in dogs will usually resolve with rest, proper hydration, and a few stomach pain relief for dogs.
Give their digestive system that initial 12 to 24 hours to rest and reset, then slowly reintroduce the homemade dog food for upset stomach.
Every pooch reacts differently to digestive trouble, so pay close attention to their behavior before offering stomach pain relief for dogs.
If their upset stomach lingers past the 48-hour mark, or if you notice anything alarming like extreme lethargy or blood in their stool, do not hesitate to call your vet.
You know your dog better than anyone, so always trust your instincts if something feels out of the ordinary.
Laura is the founder of Furs'n'Paws. She is a also a pet writer and expert with more than 20 years of experience of working with dogs and cats. She developed a very strong love for animals at a young age. Her passion led her to establish a thriving pet sitting and dog walking business in Dubai. As an expert in pet training, behavior, and nutrition, Laura is committed to helping pet owners and pet lovers by offering high-quality information on a wide range of topics.


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