• Rest the stomach - It is perfectly normal for dogs to self regulate and occasionally skip a meal. If your dog is generally healthy with no underlying medical conditions, and is vomiting or experiencing diarrhea, give your dog’s stomach a rest and allow him to skip a meal.
• Provide access to fresh water -While your dog isn’t eating, make sure there is plenty of access to water to prevent dehydration.
• A little pepto bismol or imodium may also help (dose according to your dog’s weight).
  
• After your pet’s missed meal, try to stimulate his appetite by offering a bland sick diet for dogs like homemade chicken and rice (substitute the brown rice in this recipe for White Rice because it is easier on digestion). We understand how challenging it can be for pet parents to know what to feed a sick dog with an upset stomach keeping the diet simple will help.
• Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and typically the aroma of a home cooked meal alone will be enough to get a dog who wasn’t eating previously to start nibbling again. Make sure the food is cool to the touch prior to serving, and not hot.

If an underlying health condition has been ruled out, and your dog continues to suffer from chronic diarrhea, it may be time to consider a dog elimination diet for allergies.

We have an excellent 8-page reference for you to download about how to detect and treat dog food allergies, as well as how to conduct a controlled elimination diet. 

CLICK HERE to download the free dog food allergies guide.

Definitely! If you already know your dog is allergic to chicken or beef, cottage cheese is a great alternative protein that is easy to digest and low in fat. Scroll up to the top of this page for info on how to prepare this simple and cheap homemade dog food recipe.

Yes. Serving a homemade dog food recipe with white rice can ease a dog’s sensitive stomach by aiding digestion and stopping diarrhea. As a carbohydrate, white rice also helps provide energy and can even lower cholesterol for your pup.

Many dog owners wonder if adding meat and providing fewer carbs is a more natural dietary choice for dogs due to their evolutionary connection with wolves. This seems completely logical. However, as dogs co-evolved with humans on farms, they began to eat less like their wolf ancestors, and more like their new best friends, as starchy human table scraps like potatoes and rice made their way into the canine diet.  

Because white rice is so easily digested by dogs, it can also put weight on rather quickly if portion size is not controlled. In addition, white rice is high on the glycemic index, so consider carbohydrate alternatives like quinoa, peas, beans or lentils if your dog is diabetic.

If your dog won’t eat his food, you can put some into your hand to try hand feeding your dog, or even pretend to eat the food yourself because dogs are often curious about what their humans are eating. If your dog refuses to eat, simply pick up the food after an appropriate time (i.e. 15 minutes), and store it in the refrigerator. Present the food again at the next scheduled feeding time.

Do not offer a perceived higher value food to the dog like a treat if he isn’t eating. If you feed your dog treats after he refuses food, he is training you.

A dog’s motivation and desire to eat is often closely related to his or her body’s energetic needs, so try a little exercise. Play a rousing game of fetch, take your dog swimming, or try a long walk to see if it stimulates his appetite.

You can try adding 1 tablespoon of plain, canned pumpkin to your dog’s next meal. CLICK HERE for more suggestions.

If symptoms persist for over 48 hours, it’s likely a prescription is needed.