Last updated: June 10, 2026 · 8-minute read
How Do You Treat Dog Diarrhea? The Short Answer
For most mild cases, you treat dog diarrhea at home by briefly resting the gut, keeping your dog well hydrated with clean water, and reintroducing food as a bland, easily digestible diet of boiled chicken and white rice for two to three days. Once stools firm up, transition back to normal food and reach for single-ingredient, fully digestible chews with no rawhide—like the ones we make at Bully Sticks Central from 100% real meat ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms. Call your veterinarian right away if diarrhea lasts beyond 48 hours, contains blood, or is paired with vomiting, lethargy, or signs of dehydration.
Key takeaways
- Mild diarrhea often resolves in 24–48 hours with a short food rest, hydration, and a bland diet.
- Boiled chicken and white rice (no oil, salt, or seasoning) is the classic gut-settling meal.
- Hydration is the priority—diarrhea drains fluids fast and dehydration is the real danger.
- Blood, black tarry stool, repeated vomiting, lethargy, or diarrhea past 48 hours mean call the vet now.
- When recovery is underway, choose single-ingredient, fully digestible chews with no rawhide or mystery additives.
What Causes Diarrhea in Dogs?
Diarrhea is a symptom, not a disease, and the list of triggers is long: dietary indiscretion (garbage, table scraps, a sudden food change), stress, parasites, viral or bacterial infections, food sensitivities, or an abrupt switch to a chew or treat their stomach isn't used to. The most common cause by far is simply eating something they shouldn't have. Identifying the trigger matters because it tells you whether home care is enough or whether your dog needs to be seen.
How Do You Treat Mild Dog Diarrhea at Home?
If your dog is otherwise bright, alert, and drinking, mild diarrhea can usually be managed at home. Start by withholding food for 6–12 hours (never withhold water) to let the digestive tract settle. Then reintroduce small, frequent portions of a bland diet. Keep the environment calm, and avoid any new treats, chews, or rich foods until stools have been normal for a full day.
What Should You Feed a Dog With Diarrhea?
A bland diet does the heavy lifting. The table below shows what to offer and what to skip while your dog recovers.
| Feed this | Why it helps | Avoid this |
|---|---|---|
| Boiled, skinless, boneless chicken | Lean, gentle protein that's easy to digest | Fatty meats, skin, or bones |
| Plain white rice | Binding, low-fiber carbohydrate | Brown rice, high-fiber grains |
| Plain canned pumpkin (1–2 tbsp) | Soluble fiber that firms stool | Pumpkin pie filling (sugar & spice) |
| Fresh, clean water always available | Replaces fluids lost to diarrhea | Milk and dairy |
| Small, frequent portions | Easier on an irritated gut | Large single meals |
How Do You Make a Bland Chicken-and-Rice Meal?
This simple recipe is the standard gut-settling meal for dogs. Make it fresh, serve it lukewarm, and feed small portions a few times a day.
- Place one boneless, skinless chicken breast in a pot and cover with water. Do not add oil, salt, butter, or any seasoning.
- Boil gently for about 12–15 minutes, until fully cooked through with no pink remaining.
- Remove the chicken, let it cool, and shred it into small bite-sized pieces.
- In a separate pot, cook one cup of plain white rice in two cups of water until soft.
- Mix two parts rice to one part chicken, cool to lukewarm, and serve small portions 3–4 times a day.
When Should You Call the Vet?
Home care has limits. Contact your veterinarian promptly if diarrhea continues beyond 48 hours, you see blood or a black tarry appearance, or your dog also has repeated vomiting, a swollen or painful belly, fever, lethargy, or won't drink. Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with existing health conditions should be seen sooner—they dehydrate quickly and have less reserve. When in doubt, a quick call to your vet is always the safe choice.
What Are the Best Chews to Reintroduce After Recovery?
Once your dog's stomach is back to normal, ease back into treats with options that won't undo the progress. The safest picks are single-ingredient, fully digestible chews with no rawhide and no chemicals or fillers. Good reintroduction choices include our 6-inch standard bully sticks, gentle regular beef tendons, and beef trachea tubes. For bigger or stronger chewers ready for a longer session, the 12-inch monster bully sticks and beef cheek rolls are excellent rawhide-free alternatives. You can also browse cow ears and tripe twist sticks, or shop the full natural dog treats and chews collection. Everything we make is 100% real meat, fully digestible, with no rawhide, ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms.
Related reading
Want to keep building good digestive habits? See our guides on whether trachea dog treats are safe and the best dental treats for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does dog diarrhea usually last?
Mild diarrhea often clears within 24 to 48 hours with rest, hydration, and a bland diet. If it persists beyond two days, contact your veterinarian.
Should I withhold food from my dog with diarrhea?
For an otherwise healthy adult dog, a short 6–12 hour food rest can help the gut settle. Never withhold water, and don't fast puppies or seniors—call your vet for those cases.
Can I give my dog human anti-diarrhea medicine?
No. Many over-the-counter human medications are unsafe or dangerous for dogs. Only give medication your veterinarian has specifically recommended for your dog.
Is chicken and rice good for a dog with diarrhea?
Yes. Plain boiled chicken and white rice with no oil or seasoning is a gentle, easily digestible meal that helps firm up stool during recovery.
Does pumpkin help dogs with diarrhea?
Plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling) provides soluble fiber that can help firm stool. A tablespoon or two mixed into the bland diet is usually enough for most dogs.
When is dog diarrhea an emergency?
Seek care urgently if you see blood, black tarry stool, repeated vomiting, a painful or swollen belly, collapse, or signs of dehydration like sunken eyes and tacky gums.
What chews are safe after my dog recovers?
Stick to single-ingredient, fully digestible chews with no rawhide—such as bully sticks, beef tendons, or trachea tubes—and reintroduce them gradually once stools are normal.
Can a new treat or chew cause diarrhea?
Yes. Introducing any new chew too quickly, or feeding rawhide and additive-heavy treats, can upset a dog's stomach. Introduce new chews slowly and choose single-ingredient options.
Preston Smith is the co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. He started BSC because he couldn't find single-ingredient, fully digestible chews he trusted to give his own dogs — no rawhide, no chemicals, no mystery ingredients. He writes about dog nutrition, safe chews, and the practical side of feeding dogs well. Read more about Preston →
This post was last updated at June 23, 2026 23:50
