Wondering what to feed a dog with diarrhea? Offer a bland, low-fat diet in small, frequent meals: plain boiled chicken or lean turkey with white rice, sometimes with a spoonful of plain pumpkin. Most mild cases in healthy adults improve within one to two days. Below: portions by weight, a switch-back plan and warning signs.
Feed small bland, low-fat meals 4 to 6 times a day, with fresh water always available. Return to regular food over about five days. Call your vet if diarrhea lasts beyond 24 to 48 hours, contains blood, or comes with vomiting or lethargy.
Table of Contents
Should You Feed a Dog With Diarrhea?
Yes, in most cases. Many vets now prefer small bland meals over long fasts, because the gut lining needs nutrients to recover. Any pause is usually just a few hours, and puppies, toy breeds and diabetic dogs shouldn’t be fasted without vet guidance. Never withhold water.
The Bland Diet: What to Feed a Dog With Diarrhea
A bland diet is low in fat and easy to digest:
- Protein (about one third): plain boiled skinless chicken breast, lean ground turkey, or low-fat ground beef with the fat drained. Cook with no oil, butter, salt or seasoning.
- Carbohydrate (about two thirds): plain white rice cooked soft. White rice is easier to digest than brown rice during a flare-up.
- Optional fiber: a spoonful of plain canned pumpkin (100% pumpkin, not pie filling).
Serve lukewarm in small amounts. For chicken allergies, use lean turkey or white fish.
How Much Bland Food to Feed by Weight
On day one, offer about a third of a full day’s amount in 4 to 6 mini meals, then increase as stools improve.
| Dog weight | Day 1 total (start here) | Full daily amount once improving | Meals per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb | about 1/2 cup | about 1 1/2 cups | 4 to 6 |
| 25 lb | about 1 cup | about 3 1/4 cups | 4 to 6 |
| 50 lb | about 1 3/4 cups | about 5 1/2 cups | 4 |
| 75 lb | about 2 1/2 cups | about 7 1/2 cups | 4 |
| 100 lb | about 3 cups | about 9 cups | 4 |
Estimates for a 1:2 chicken-and-rice mix (about 210 kcal per cup) and a typical neutered adult.
Foods That Can Help (and How to Use Them)
| Food | Why it helps | How to serve |
|---|---|---|
| Plain canned pumpkin | Soluble fiber can help firm up stool | Commonly about 1 teaspoon per 10 lb of body weight mixed into a meal, once or twice a day |
| White rice | Easy-to-digest starch that adds bulk | Cooked soft, plain, as two thirds of the bland mix |
| Boiled chicken or turkey | Lean, easily digested protein | Skinless, boneless, unseasoned, shredded |
| Boiled sweet potato | Fiber and easy carbohydrate | Peeled, boiled, mashed, plain (see our sweet potato guide) |
| Ripe banana | Contains pectin, a soluble fiber | A few small slices only; too much can worsen diarrhea (see bananas for dogs) |
| Veterinary probiotic | Supports healthy gut bacteria | Use a product made for dogs and follow your vet’s advice |
Foods to Avoid When Your Dog Has Diarrhea
- Fatty foods: bacon, sausage, skin, fat trimmings and greasy table scraps can trigger pancreatitis and make diarrhea worse.
- Dairy: milk, cheese and ice cream. Many dogs digest lactose poorly, especially when the gut is already irritated.
- Seasoned food: garlic, onion, spices and salt. Garlic and onion are toxic to dogs.
- Pumpkin pie filling: it contains sugar and spices, and some sugar-free versions contain xylitol.
How Long to Feed a Bland Diet and How to Switch Back
Most dogs need 2 to 3 days of bland food. Then switch back gradually:
| Day | Bland diet | Regular food |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 2 (or until stool firms) | 100% | 0% |
| Day 3 | 75% | 25% |
| Day 4 | 50% | 50% |
| Day 5 | 25% | 75% |
| Day 6 | 0% | 100% |
If diarrhea returns, go back one step for an extra day.
Chicken and rice isn’t complete and balanced, so don’t feed it beyond a few days without your vet’s advice.
Is It Getting Better? A Simple Stool Check
Use this quick scale to track progress:
| What you see | What it usually means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Watery or liquid | Active diarrhea | Keep to small bland meals and water; call your vet if it lasts beyond 24 hours or your dog seems unwell |
| Soft, cow-pat shape | Improving but not settled | Stay on the bland diet one more day |
| Soft but formed | Nearly back to normal | Start the switch-back plan |
| Firm, log-shaped, easy to pick up | Normal | Continue the transition to regular food |
| Red blood, black and tarry, or lots of mucus | Possible bleeding or significant inflammation | Call your vet today |
Keep Your Dog Hydrated
Diarrhea pulls water from the body. Keep fresh water available and watch for tacky gums, sunken eyes and lethargy. See our guide to dehydration in dogs.
When to call the vet instead of treating at home
- Diarrhea lasting more than 24 to 48 hours, or getting worse
- Blood in the stool, or black, tarry stool
- Vomiting as well as diarrhea, especially if your dog can’t keep water down
- Lethargy, weakness, fever, belly pain or refusing food
- A puppy, senior dog, or a dog with diabetes, kidney, liver or other conditions
- You suspect your dog ate something toxic, spoiled or a foreign object
Puppies need prompt care because parvovirus can be life-threatening. If a toxin is possible, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
Why Dogs Get Diarrhea
Common triggers include garbage or table scraps, sudden diet changes, stress, parasites, infections and antibiotics. Recurring diarrhea needs a vet’s diagnosis; VCA Animal Hospitals has a good overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chicken and rice good for dogs with diarrhea?
Yes. It’s low in fat and easy to digest. Use about one part chicken to two parts rice, unseasoned.
Can I feed my dog scrambled eggs for diarrhea?
Yes, in small amounts, cooked plain without butter, oil, milk or salt.
Is yogurt good for dogs with diarrhea?
Not ideal. Dairy can worsen diarrhea, and flavored yogurt may contain xylitol. A dog probiotic is more reliable.
What can I feed my dog with diarrhea if they’re allergic to chicken?
Lean turkey, white fish or another low-fat protein your dog tolerates, with white rice or boiled potato.
How much pumpkin should I give my dog for diarrhea?
\nAbout 1 teaspoon of plain canned pumpkin per 10 pounds, once or twice daily. Never use pie filling.
\nIs it okay to give my dog Pepto-Bismol or Imodium?
\nNot without your vet’s advice. Some human anti-diarrhea medicines contain ingredients that can be harmful to certain dogs, and stopping diarrhea can hide a problem that needs treatment.
\nWant the bigger picture? Our dog food guide covers choosing a food, portions and homemade meals.
The Bottom Line
When deciding what to feed a dog with diarrhea, think small, plain and low-fat, with plenty of water, then switch back over five days. Call your vet if warning signs appear. See dog vomiting yellow, upset stomach in dogs and our Dog Food guides. This is general information, not veterinary advice; see our Veterinary Disclaimer.
References & Sources
Written by CPD Nutrition Desk using the sources below. We are not affiliated with these organizations, and this guide is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
- ASPCA — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Diarrhea in dogs