Digestive Wellness: Practical Steps to Help Your Dog’s Gut

Is your dog dealing with loose stools, bloating, or slow digestion? Digestive wellness is one of the easiest ways to boost your dog’s energy and mood. Below are clear, usable steps you can start today—no fancy diets, just straightforward habits that help most dogs feel better fast.

Quick fixes for upset tummies

For mild stomach upset, try a simple fast: skip one meal for adult dogs (check with your vet first for puppies or small breeds). Follow the fast with a bland meal—boiled chicken (no skin, no bones) and plain white rice or canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling). Plain canned pumpkin adds fiber and helps firm stools. If vomiting, bloody stool, or severe lethargy appear, call your vet right away.

Hydration matters. Offer fresh water often and consider small amounts of low-sodium bone broth to encourage drinking. Avoid dairy and fatty human foods; these often make digestion worse. Also, slow down fast eaters with a puzzle feeder or place a tennis ball in the bowl (food goes around it) to prevent gulping air and reduce bloat risk.

Daily habits that build a healthy gut

Consistency beats novelty. Keep feeding times steady and use a reliable, balanced dog food. Add a small spoonful of plain yogurt or a vet-recommended probiotic to meals to support helpful gut bacteria. For extra fiber, try canned pumpkin or cooked sweet potato in small amounts. If you add supplements like omega-3s, pick products made for dogs and follow dose instructions—these fats can cut inflammation and support digestion over time.

Watch portions. Overfeeding stretches the gut and slows digestion. If your dog needs to lose weight, split meals into two smaller servings per day to improve transit and reduce hunger-driven scavenging. Avoid sudden diet changes—transition over 5–7 days by mixing increasing amounts of the new food into the old.

Touch can help. A gentle clockwise belly massage for a few minutes can ease gas and move digestion along. Use light pressure, stroke in the direction of the dog’s natural gut flow (clockwise when you’re facing the dog’s belly). If your dog tenses or pulls away, stop—too much pressure or a painful area needs vet attention.

Keep an eye on signs that need a pro: repeated vomiting, blood in stool, extreme bloating, weight loss, or sudden behavior change. These require a vet visit. For ongoing issues, your vet may recommend a stool test, food trial, or specific supplements tailored to your dog’s needs.

Want to learn more practical tools? Check our guides on abdominal massage techniques, omega-3 benefits, and nutrition tips to support digestion. Small, steady changes usually bring the biggest wins for gut health.