What Do You Feed a Dog With Diarrhea?

Dog diarrhea can have many causes, including dietary changes, stress, and/or infections. And when it happens to your pup, it’s natural to wonder what to feed a dog with diarrhea. After all, they need some nourishment, but you don’t want to make the problem worse.

Feeding your pup a bland, easily digestible diet can aid in recovery by firming up their stools and soothing their digestive system. But there are some other at-home dietary changes you can try too—as long as your vet gives you the green light.

Here are the best food options, as well as guidance on how to comfortably transition your dog from one diet to another.

When your dog has diarrhea, their normal diet might be too much for their stomach to handle. Often, it’s a good idea to give them easier-to-digest foods that give their stomach a break and allow their symptoms to settle.

Of course, diarrhea is a sign that there’s something not quite right with your dog’s digestive system. Because of this, you should always talk to your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet or starting any home remedies.

Your veterinarian might recommend feeding your dog the following:

A bland diet for dogs is the best place to start when your pup has diarrhea, says Marc Smith, DVM, MS, a veterinarian at Natchez Trace Veterinary Services in Nashville, Tennessee.

A bland diet for dogs with diarrhea consists of neutral-tasting, easy-to-digest foods, such as boiled chicken breast (without any skin or bones) and cooked white rice. This gives the digestive system a break, reduces intestinal irritation, and helps firm up stool.

While chicken and rice can be helpful to feed for a few days, it’s not complete or balanced, so it should not be fed as your dog’s main meal long-term.

Canned pumpkin is another go-to. It’s high in fiber, which can help firm up stools and make them more comfortable to pass. Dr. Smith also says it’s a great choice because it’s accessible for pet parents—it’s easy to find at the grocery store or online.

Just make sure you’re using plain, canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling. The latter is filled with sugar and other undesirable ingredients that can make diarrhea worse.

In addition to pumpkin, there are some other mild foods that you can give to dogs with diarrhea to provide some varied nutrition as their stomach settles. Some options include:

• Plain Greek yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt helps firm up stools and provides probiotics that can help restore the GI tract’s gut flora balance, according to Dr. Smith. It’s also higher in protein than non-Greek options. To start, only serve in small amounts (1–2 tablespoons) because too much dairy can worsen diarrhea.
• Sweet potatoes: This is another high-fiber option that works similarly to pumpkin.
• Plain, mashed potatoes: Plain potatoes are bland and easy to digest. Potatoes also contain resistant starch, which can help digestion.
• Cooked, plain oatmeal: Oatmeal is high in fiber and easy to digest. Avoid flavored oatmeal.

Veterinary diet dog foods, which require an authorization from your veterinarian, are also an option.

In most cases, your vet will recommend a therapeutic diet if your dog has chronic diarrhea and the other options don’t work. The exact veterinary diet will depend on what your vet suspects is causing the digestive distress.

That said, veterinary diets often consist of hydrolyzed proteins, which are proteins that have been broken down into smaller pieces so they’re easier for your dog to digest. Hydrolyzed protein diets, such as Royal Canin Hydrolyzed, are a great option for dogs who have a history of diarrhea and need to firm up their stools, says Dr. Smith.

Gastrointestinal diets, such as Hill’s i/d and Royal Canin Gastrointestinal, are another option, says Eliza O’Callaghan, DVM, a veterinarian at Small Door Veterinary in New York City. These dog foods contain prebiotics and other highly digestible ingredients to help support gut health.

Diarrhea can take a little while to resolve, and Dr. Smith says you don’t want to jump the gun. Just because your dog has one good poop doesn’t mean the problem has resolved.

As a general rule, Dr. Smith recommends waiting until your pup has solid poops for about 48 hours before transitioning back to their original diet. You don’t want to switch back all at once, though.

Dr. O’Callaghan recommends gradually transitioning to your dog’s normal food over the course of three to five days to avoid recurrence. Here’s a transition schedule you can use:

• Day 1: 75% bland diet, 25% regular food
• Day 2: 50% bland diet, 50% regular food
• Day 3: 25% bland diet, 75% regular food
• Day 4: 100% regular food

If diarrhea returns, revert to the bland diet and consult your vet.

Your dog is likely to experience diarrhea at some point in their life, but occasionally diarrhea can become an emergency. Seek veterinary care if:

• Diarrhea lasts for more than 48 hours
• There’s blood in the stool or the diarrhea looks black and tarry
• Diarrhea is accompanied by other symptoms, such as:
  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Fever (above 103 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Dehydration (sunken eyes, dry gums)
  • Abdominal pain

Puppies, senior dogs, and those with underlying health conditions should be seen as soon as possible. Dogs in these categories have a higher risk of complications, so it’s a good idea to make sure there are no serious health issues that need to be addressed.

Q: Is scrambled egg good for dogs with diarrhea?

A: Scrambled eggs aren’t the best food for dogs with diarrhea, but they can be given occasionally, according to Dr. O’Callaghan. Plain scrambled eggs (without butter, oil, or seasoning) are a gentle, easy-to-digest protein source that can help in the short term, she adds. Boiled chicken and turkey, however, are better options.

Q: What do you feed a dog with diarrhea and vomiting?

A: If your dog has diarrhea and is vomiting, they’re at higher risk of dehydration. If your dog is experiencing both, call your vet for guidance on what to feed them. They’ll likely recommend a bland diet and fluids.

Q: What do you feed a dog with bloody diarrhea?

A: Bloody diarrhea can signal an emergency and should always be treated as such. Instead of trying to treat your dog at home, bring your dog to your vet or an emergency vet clinic for evaluation. It’s likely your vet will recommend a bland or veterinary diet after evaluation, but you’ll want to figure out the underlying cause first.