What to feed a dog with diarrhoea
A short period of easily-digested, low-fat food can help a dog's stomach settle after a mild, one-off bout of diarrhoea, but food alone does not fix diarrhoea that continues, worsens, or comes with other symptoms — that needs a vet. This page covers what mechanism is at play, what to look for on a food label, and when it is time to stop managing this at home.
Why a bland, low-fat diet can help
Diarrhoea happens when food moves through the gut faster than it can be properly digested, or when the gut lining is inflamed and cannot absorb as it normally would. A simple, low-fat, easily digested meal asks less of a gut that is already struggling, which is why many vets suggest a short period of plain food, such as boiled chicken and rice, alongside plenty of water.
This is a way of resting the gut, not a treatment for whatever caused the upset in the first place. It works well for a mild, short-lived episode and tells you very little about a dog whose diarrhoea does not settle within a day or two.
What to look for on a label afterwards
Once a dog is back on their normal food, or being moved to a food better suited to a sensitive stomach, the label is where the useful information sits. Look for a single named protein source rather than a mix of several meats, a moderate rather than high fat percentage, and the inclusion of easily digested carbohydrates such as rice.
Foods marketed for sensitive digestion often also include added prebiotics or specific fibre sources intended to support gut health, which can be worth trying for a dog with recurring mild upsets — though a food change should always be introduced gradually, over several days, rather than swapped overnight.
When it needs a vet rather than a change of diet
Diarrhoea lasting more than a day or two, blood in the stool, repeated vomiting, a dog who is off their food, lethargic, or showing signs of dehydration such as dry gums all need a vet rather than a wait-and-see approach at home. Puppies, older dogs and dogs with existing health conditions can deteriorate faster than a fit adult dog and should be seen sooner rather than later.
Diarrhoea is a symptom with a long list of possible causes, from a simple dietary indiscretion to parasites, infection or an underlying condition, and no amount of careful feeding at home will tell you which one you are dealing with. A vet can examine your dog and run tests where needed — this page cannot replace that.
Introducing a new food afterwards
Once your dog is back to normal, any change to their regular food should happen gradually, mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the old over roughly a week. A sudden full switch is itself a common cause of a wobbly stomach, which can undo the good work of the bland diet that came before it.
Keep a simple note of what your dog ate and when the diarrhoea started if it happens again — that pattern is often the most useful thing you can bring to a vet appointment.
Foods formulated for this
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Pooch & Mutt Salmon Oil
Scottish salmon oil for dogs, dosed by weight from toy breeds to giants
£13.99
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Harringtons Lamb & Rice
A 15kg complete dry dog food with lamb and freshly prepared chicken, for dogs from 8 weeks
£45.99
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey
A complete dry dog food with turkey and freshly prepared chicken, for dogs from 8 weeks
From£13.09
Burns Adult/Senior Dogs Sensitive Grain Free Turkey & Pototo
Six-ingredient grain-free dry food for adult and senior dogs, single-source turkey
£15.49
Burns Adult/Senior Dog Hypoallergenic Mixer
Hypoallergenic dry mixer for combining with wet food or a home-cooked diet - not a complete food
£13.49
Harringtons Small Dog Lamb
A small-breed dry dog food with smaller kibble, built on lamb and meat meals
£4.45
Burns Adult Senior Dog Sensitive Pork and Potato
Burns complete pork and potato dry dog food in 6KG and 12KG bags
From£36.99
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Chicken
Complete grain-free chicken and salmon dog food with 24% protein
£10.99
Burns Adult/Senior Dog Sensitive Pork & Potato
Complete pork and potato dry food for adult and senior dogs in a 2KG bag
£15.49
Burns Adult/Senior Dog Sensitive Duck & Brown Rice
Single-source duck and brown rice, sized for a first attempt at a diet trial
£15.49
Burgess Sensitive Adult Dog Lamb
Complete lamb and rice dry food for adult dogs in a 12.5KG bag
£50.29
Common questions
- Should I stop feeding my dog completely if they have diarrhoea?
- A short fast of a few hours is sometimes suggested for adult dogs, but puppies, small breeds and dogs with health conditions should not go without food for long. Always offer water, and speak to your vet before withholding food from any dog for more than a few hours.
- How long can I feed a bland diet before going back to normal food?
- A few days is typical for a mild, settling case, moving back to the normal diet gradually once stools return to normal. If diarrhoea has not improved within that time, or returns as soon as normal food goes back on, that is a reason to see a vet rather than extending the bland diet indefinitely.
- Can a food change alone cause diarrhoea in dogs?
- Yes, a sudden switch between foods is one of the most common causes of a temporary upset stomach in an otherwise healthy dog. Introducing any new food gradually over about a week, rather than swapping overnight, usually avoids this.
- Is white rice or brown rice better for a dog with an upset stomach?
- Plain white rice is generally easier to digest than brown rice during a short-term upset, since it is lower in fibre and gentler on a gut that is already working harder than usual. This is about short-term ease of digestion, not a long-term dietary recommendation.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.