Dog with an upset stomach: what to do at home

First, check whether it's a vet job

Call your vet the same day if there's blood in the vomit or stools, your dog keeps vomiting or can't keep water down, they're lethargic or seem in pain, their tummy looks swollen, or they might have eaten something poisonous or a toy. Puppies, elderly dogs and dogs with other illnesses should see a vet sooner.

A swollen, hard tummy with retching but nothing coming up can be bloat, which is an emergency, especially in deep-chested breeds.

What to do for a mild upset

Make sure fresh water is always available. Offer small, frequent meals of something bland and low in fat, such as plain boiled chicken or white fish with plain rice, for a day or two. Then mix their normal food back in gradually over a few days.

Don't give human anti-diarrhoea medicines unless your vet tells you to. Some are dangerous for dogs.

Do probiotics help?

Vets often recommend a probiotic for mild diarrhoea, especially after a food change, stress, kennels or antibiotics. Probiotics top up the friendly bacteria in the gut. Prebiotic fibres such as inulin and psyllium help firm things up and feed those bacteria.

Common causes

Eating something they shouldn't (scavenging on walks, bins, rich leftovers), a sudden change of food, stress such as travel, fireworks or kennels, antibiotics, and worms. If upsets keep coming back, ask your vet to look for an underlying cause.

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