What to feed a dog with gastritis
Gastritis means inflammation of the stomach lining, and in dogs it usually shows up as vomiting, reduced appetite and general lethargy. Once a vet has confirmed that is what is going on and ruled out anything more serious, the usual approach is a bland, low-fat, easily digestible diet in small, frequent amounts while the stomach settles — never a home diagnosis or a fixed feeding plan without your vet involved.
Why diet matters for a settling stomach
An inflamed stomach lining has to work harder to process fat and fibre than a healthy one does, which is why vets commonly recommend a lower-fat, easily digestible diet during recovery rather than a dog's normal food. Simpler recipes with fewer ingredients also give the digestive system less to process while it heals.
Smaller, more frequent meals tend to sit better than the usual one or two larger ones, because a full stomach is more likely to trigger discomfort or vomiting in a dog whose stomach lining is already irritated. This is about easing the load on the stomach, not about starving it into recovery.
What to look for on a food label
A sensitive-stomach or gastrointestinal-support food typically lists a single named protein, a moderate-to-low fat content, and easily digestible carbohydrates such as rice, rather than a long ingredient list with several protein sources and added fats. Wet food is often easier for a recovering stomach to manage than dry kibble, simply because it requires less processing to digest.
Avoid anything rich, fatty or unfamiliar while a dog is recovering — table scraps, fatty treats and sudden food changes are all more likely to upset a stomach that is already inflamed than to help it. Stick to whatever your vet has advised, introduced gradually rather than swapped overnight.
When this needs a vet, not just a food change
Vomiting that continues beyond a day, blood in vomit or stools, a dog who seems increasingly lethargic, or one who stops drinking as well as eating are all reasons to see a vet promptly rather than waiting to see if a diet change helps on its own. Gastritis can have a range of underlying causes, from a single dietary indiscretion to something that needs proper investigation and treatment.
A vet is also the right person to say how long a bland diet should continue and when to transition back to your dog's normal food, because that varies with the underlying cause and how quickly your dog is recovering. Never start or continue a special diet indefinitely without that conversation.
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.
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
James Wellbeloved Adult Breed Dry Dog Food Turkey Rice
A hypoallergenic dry food for adult dogs, in small and large breed versions, built around single-source turkey protein
From£45.75
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food Fish Veg
Grain-free fish kibble for adult dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin included
From£12.75
James Wellbeloved Adult Dry Dog Food Turkey Rice
A hypoallergenic dry food for adult dogs, built around a single source of turkey protein
From£41.45
Burgess Sensitive Adult Dog Turkey
Complete turkey and rice dry food for adult dogs in a 12.5KG bag
£48.89
James Wellbeloved Senior Breed Dry Dog Food Turkey Rice
Turkey and rice kibble for senior small-breed dogs, sized for smaller mouths
From£11.69
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 Dog Original Lamb and Brown Rice
Single-source lamb and brown rice, formulated for adult and senior dogs with sensitivities
£35.99
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
Burns Adult/Senior Dog Sensitive Grain Free Turkey & Potato Dry Dog Food
Six-ingredient grain-free dry food for adult and senior dogs, single-source turkey
£15.49
Dr John Hypoallergenic Duck and Salmon
Hypoallergenic dry dog food for sporting and working dogs, duck and salmon based
From£7.49
Common questions
- Can I just feed my dog chicken and rice if I think they have gastritis?
- Plain boiled chicken and rice is a commonly used short-term bland diet, but gastritis needs a vet's confirmation first, since vomiting and reduced appetite can have several causes. Once a vet is involved, they can say whether a bland home diet or a specific gastrointestinal food is the better fit for your dog.
- How long does a dog stay on a bland diet for gastritis?
- This depends on the underlying cause and how quickly your dog responds, so it is a question for your vet rather than a fixed rule. Most dogs transition back to their normal food gradually once symptoms have settled, rather than switching back overnight.
- What foods should I avoid if my dog has gastritis?
- Fatty, rich or unfamiliar foods are best avoided while a dog's stomach is settling, including fatty treats, table scraps and sudden changes to their usual diet. Stick to whatever bland or gastrointestinal-support food your vet has recommended, introduced gradually.
- Is gastritis in dogs serious?
- It ranges from a mild, short-lived episode to something needing proper investigation, depending on the cause. Vomiting that continues beyond a day, blood in vomit or stools, or a dog who becomes increasingly lethargic are all reasons to see a vet promptly rather than waiting it out.
- Can stress cause gastritis in dogs?
- Stress and anxiety are recognised contributing factors to digestive upset in dogs, gastritis included, alongside dietary indiscretion, infection and other causes. If a stressful event lines up with the start of symptoms it is worth mentioning to your vet, but it does not replace a proper check to rule out other causes.
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.