Natural Pet Health & Wellness | Tips for a Healthier, Happier Pet

My Dog Has an Upset Stomach: Natural Remedies and When to Worry

An upset stomach is one of the most common reasons dog owners reach for their phone at 11pm. Usually it resolves on its own. Sometimes it doesn't, and knowing the difference matters more than any remedy. This guide covers the most common causes of digestive upset in dogs, practical things you can do at home to support recovery, and the signs that tell you it's time to call the vet rather than wait it out. What causes an upset stomach in dogs? The most common cause is also the most undignified: they ate something they shouldn't have. Dogs are opportunistic scavengers by nature, and their digestive systems are built to handle a fair amount of dietary chaos. But there are limits. Other common causes include: Dietary changes introduced too quickly — switching food without a gradual transition is one of the most frequent triggers, and one of the most preventable Food sensitivities or intolerances — particularly to grains, certain proteins, or artificial additives Intestinal parasites — worms can cause persistent digestive upset, especially in younger dogs Stress and anxiety — the gut-brain axis in dogs is well-documented; a stressed dog often has a troubled stomach Viruses and bacterial infections — gastroenteritis can develop quickly and may need veterinary treatment Toxin ingestion — including human foods that are harmful to dogs (see below) Symptoms of an upset stomach in dogs Mild digestive upset typically looks like one or more of the following: Loose stools or diarrhoea Vomiting (occasional, not repeated) Reduced appetite Gurgling or rumbling stomach sounds Eating grass Lethargy Excessive lip licking or swallowing Most mild cases resolve within 24–48 hours with rest, hydration, and bland food. When to call the vet Some symptoms indicate something more serious that needs professional assessment, not home remedies. Contact your vet promptly if you see: Repeated vomiting — more than two or three times in a few hours Blood in vomit or stools — any amount Severe lethargy or weakness — not just quiet, but genuinely unresponsive Signs of abdominal pain — stretching into a "prayer" position, reluctance to move, guarding the belly Suspected toxin ingestion — chocolate, grapes, onions, xylitol, or anything unknown Symptoms that persist beyond 48 hours without improvement Puppies, elderly dogs, or dogs with existing health conditions — these dogs can deteriorate faster and should be seen sooner When in doubt, call. A two-minute conversation with your vet is always better than watching and waiting with something that turns out to be serious. Natural home remedies for a dog's upset stomach For mild cases where your dog is otherwise alert, drinking water, and not showing any of the serious symptoms above, these are the approaches most likely to help. 1. Rest the gut The first step with most digestive upsets is to remove the load. A short fast of 12–24 hours (for adult dogs — not appropriate for puppies) gives the gut a chance to settle before you reintroduce food. Make sure fresh water is always available. 2. Rehydrate carefully Diarrhoea and vomiting both cause fluid loss. Encourage small, frequent amounts of water rather than letting your dog drink a large volume at once, which can trigger more vomiting. If your dog is reluctant to drink, ice cubes are often accepted and slow the intake naturally. 3. Introduce bland food gradually Once your dog can keep water down, start with small portions of easily digestible food. The classic approach is plain boiled chicken (25%) mixed with plain boiled white rice (75%) — no oil, seasoning, or additives. Plain boiled white fish is a useful alternative for dogs with a chicken sensitivity. Feed small amounts every few hours rather than a full meal. Bland feeding typically continues for 48–72 hours before transitioning back to their normal food. 4. Pumpkin powder Pumpkin is one of the most well-evidenced natural supports for canine digestive health. High in soluble fibre, it helps firm up loose stools by absorbing excess water in the gut, and can also ease constipation by adding bulk. It's gentle, palatable, and something most dogs will eat willingly. A small amount added to bland food or mixed with water makes a practical, low-intervention supplement during recovery. The Pets Larder Apothecary Pumpkin Powder is 100% pure pumpkin with no additives — a useful thing to have in the cupboard before you need it. Suggested amount: half a teaspoon for small dogs, one teaspoon for medium dogs, one to two teaspoons for large dogs, added to food.     5. Kaolin clay Kaolin is a naturally occurring clay mineral with a long history of use in digestive support — in both human and veterinary medicine. It works by binding to toxins, bacteria, and irritants in the gut, helping to reduce diarrhoea and settle inflammation in the digestive tract. It's the active ingredient in several veterinary gut-settling preparations. The Pets Larder Apothecary Kaolin Clay is food-grade and unflavoured, designed to be mixed into food during periods of digestive upset. If your dog is on any medication, check with your vet before using kaolin, as it can affect absorption. 6. Slippery elm Slippery elm bark has been used in traditional herbal medicine for gut support for centuries, and there's good reason for it. The inner bark contains mucilage — a gel-like substance that coats and soothes the lining of the digestive tract, making it particularly useful for dogs whose stomach upset is accompanied by inflammation or irritation rather than just loose stools. It's gentle enough to use alongside food and is well tolerated by most dogs. We'll be adding Slippery Elm to the Apothecary range later in 2026 — if you'd like to know when it's available, sign up to our mailing list. 7. Bone broth Plain, unseasoned bone broth is useful during the recovery phase — it provides mild nutrition and hydration in a form that's easy on the gut, and most dogs find it palatable when appetite is low. If making your own, use only dog-safe ingredients: no onion, garlic, or salt. Chicken carcass with water and a splash of apple cider vinegar, simmered slowly, is the straightforward version. If buying ready-made, read the label carefully. Many commercial bone broths contain onion or garlic powder, which are toxic to dogs. If it keeps coming back: looking at the underlying diet A single episode of digestive upset is usually just that — a one-off. But if your dog has recurring loose stools, intermittent vomiting, or seems to have a generally sensitive stomach, it's worth looking at what they're eating every day rather than reaching for remedies each time. The most common dietary contributors to ongoing digestive issues are: Grains — wheat, maize, and barley are harder for many dogs to digest than meat-based carbohydrates, and can contribute to chronic gut inflammation in sensitive individuals Low meat content — foods with a high proportion of plant-based fillers put more fermentable material through the gut, which can cause gas and loose stools Artificial additives — preservatives, colourings, and flavourings can all irritate the digestive tract in sensitive dogs Switching to a genuinely grain-free, high-meat food often resolves chronic digestive issues without any additional intervention. If your dog also has a sensitive stomach or a tendency toward bloat, it's worth knowing that not all grain-free foods are equal in how they're processed. Tribal cold-pressed dog food is worth particular mention here. Unlike extruded kibble — which is cooked at high heat and pressure — Tribal is cold-pressed at low temperatures, which preserves more of the natural nutrients and produces a denser food that breaks down slowly and doesn't swell in the stomach. Many dogs that struggle with traditional kibble do noticeably better on it.   A quick reference: natural remedies at a glance Remedy Best for Notes Short fast (12–24hrs) Mild upset, vomiting Adults only, not puppies Bland food (chicken & rice) Recovery phase Introduce gradually Pumpkin powder Loose stools, constipation Add to food Kaolin clay Diarrhoea, gut irritation Check with vet if on medication Slippery elm Gut inflammation, irritation Coming to Apothecary range 2026 Bone broth Low appetite, rehydration Check label — no onion or garlic   The short version Most upset stomachs in dogs resolve with rest, hydration, and bland food. If your dog is alert and the symptoms are mild, you have 24–48 hours to manage it at home before escalating. If there's blood, repeated vomiting, signs of pain, or your dog is very young or elderly, don't wait — call the vet. The Apothecary range exists for situations exactly like this: simple, honest gut-support ingredients you can keep in the cupboard and reach for when you need them, without the guesswork.   Written by Katy Peck, founder of The Pets Larder. Katy founded Doggy Day Care Cornwall in 2014, growing it from three dogs in her back garden to a peak of 80 dogs daily before opening The Pets Larder in 2018. She launched the Apothecary range after years of observing what dogs actually need when their digestion is struggling — and finding that the simplest ingredients are usually the most effective. The Pets Larder won Independent Pet Shop of the Year (PetQuip & PIF) in 2021.