Home Remedies for Dog Diarrhea: What to Feed and What to Avoid

Step 1: Keep Your Dog Hydrated

Diarrhea can dehydrate a dog quickly, so always keep fresh water within easy reach.^5,1 Small dogs dehydrate much faster than big dogs.⁴

Can I give my dog Pedialyte? Unflavored Pedialyte, diluted half and half with water and offered in small amounts, can help a dog that has had a few bouts of diarrhea. It doesn't treat the cause, and it isn't suitable for dogs that are vomiting a lot, are clearly dehydrated, or have diabetes or heart disease.⁴ Ask your vet first if you're unsure.

Should You Fast a Dog With Diarrhea?

Vets used to routinely recommend withholding food for 12 to 24 hours, and some still suggest a short fast.^1,5 However, in some intestinal illnesses such as parvovirus, feeding earlier has been linked to faster recovery,⁶ and a fast isn't always necessary: small amounts of a bland or veterinary gastrointestinal diet are an accepted alternative.⁵ Never withhold water, and ask your vet before fasting a puppy or a small dog.

What to Feed a Dog With Diarrhea: The Bland Diet

A bland diet is gentle on the gut and helps stools firm up. Common options include:^1,3

• Boiled chicken and white rice: about 3 parts cooked white rice to 1 part boiled, skinless, boneless chicken
• Lean (low-fat) boiled hamburger with white rice
• Plain cooked pasta in place of rice
• A prescription bland or gastrointestinal diet from your vet^3,5

How to feed it: offer small portions several times a day rather than one or two big meals.⁶ Avoid fat, seasoning, butter and oil, as well as treats and table scraps.¹

How long? Feed the bland diet until stools are normal, then mix it back into your dog's regular food gradually over about 7 to 10 days.⁵ Homemade bland diets aren't nutritionally complete, so they're only for short-term use.¹

Pumpkin for Dog Diarrhea

Plain canned pumpkin is a popular home remedy. Its fiber absorbs water and adds bulk to the stool, and it acts as a prebiotic that feeds beneficial gut bacteria.³

• How much pumpkin? The AKC suggests 1 to 4 tablespoons added to a meal. Start with a small amount, especially for small dogs, and ask your vet how much is right for yours.³
• Use plain canned pumpkin only. Avoid pumpkin pie filling and products with added sugar, salt or spices.³
• Keep expectations modest. Pumpkin is best for mild diarrhea and isn't a substitute for veterinary care.³ There's little research on pumpkin itself. Fiber does help many dogs with large-bowel (colitis) diarrhea, but on its own it usually isn't enough.⁶

Do Probiotics Help Dog Diarrhea?

Veterinary probiotics are widely used and some vets recommend them for mild diarrhea.^7,1 The research is mixed, though: a 2024 review found no clear evidence that probiotic and similar products meaningfully shorten sudden diarrhea in dogs, and the latest guidelines make no recommendation for or against them.^8,2 Product quality also varies, so choose a veterinary product and ask your vet.⁵

Diarrhea After Changing Dog Food

If diarrhea started after switching foods, go back to the old food until stools firm up, then switch more slowly, over a week or two.¹

Home Remedies to Avoid

• Human anti-diarrhea medicines such as Imodium (loperamide) or Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate), unless your vet tells you to use them. They can be harmful to some dogs and can interact with other medicines.¹ Loperamide can cause serious nerve-related side effects in herding breeds such as Collies and Australian Shepherds that carry the MDR1 gene mutation,^9,10 and it shouldn't be used when diarrhea may be caused by an infection or toxin.^10,11 Pepto-Bismol turns stool black, which can hide bleeding.¹⁰ See dog diarrhea treatment.
• Sugar-free products: some over-the-counter medicines and supplements contain xylitol, which is dangerous to dogs.¹²
• Fatty or rich foods, which can make diarrhea worse and are a risk factor for pancreatitis.^1,13

Frequently Asked Questions

What home remedy can I give my dog for diarrhea?

For a mild case in an adult dog that is otherwise well, keep water available and feed small, frequent bland meals such as boiled chicken and white rice. A spoonful of plain canned pumpkin may help. See a vet if your dog seems unwell or isn't improving within 2 to 3 days.

Is scrambled egg good for a dog with diarrhea?

Plain cooked egg, with no butter, oil, salt or seasoning, is a bland protein that many dogs tolerate. Feed it in small amounts with white rice, and stick with plain boiled chicken or lean hamburger if your dog doesn't do well on it.

How much pumpkin should I give my dog for diarrhea?

The AKC suggests 1 to 4 tablespoons of plain canned pumpkin mixed into a meal. Start small (less for small dogs), and never use pumpkin pie filling.

How long should I feed my dog chicken and rice?

Until the stools are back to normal, which is usually a few days. Then mix it back into your dog's regular food gradually over about 7 to 10 days.

Why isn't chicken and rice helping my dog's diarrhea?

If a bland diet hasn't helped within 2 to 3 days, there may be an underlying cause such as parasites, an infection or another illness. See your vet.

Can I give my dog Pedialyte for diarrhea?

Unflavored Pedialyte, diluted half and half with water, can help a dog that has had a few bouts of diarrhea stay hydrated. It doesn't treat the cause. It isn't suitable for dogs with diabetes or heart disease, and dogs that are vomiting a lot or are clearly dehydrated need a vet.

What can I give my dog to firm up his stool?

Small bland meals and a little plain canned pumpkin are the usual first steps. If stools stay loose for more than a few days, see your vet rather than trying more remedies.