Dogs like people do get sick. Fortunately, there are some home remedies for a sick dog. One miracle food for sick dogs is PUMPKIN!
Fall and Winter is a great time to fill up on fresh and unsweetened (not pie filling) canned pumpkin. It’s very helpful to have on hand and it can be hard to find pumpkin during other times of the year. So get a few extra cans of pumpkin now and it might save you (and your dog) some heartache later.
Because it is high in fiber, pumpkin is good for constipation or diarrhea in dogs because it regulates the water in the digestive tract. Our dog, Kobi, has had some bouts of diarrhea and it’s worked very well for Kobi.
While Kobi rarely gets diarrhea, I do keep a couple cans in my pantry “just in case”. Previously, I have been in the situation where I couldn’t find any fresh or canned pumpkin. It was in the middle of the summer and I was able to find some other orange squash which was related to pumpkin and it worked similarly on Kobi. So if you can’t find pumpkin, try butternut squash.
Rice is also a good food to feed your dog when it has an upset tummy and needs a bland meal. There are a variety of different types of rice. Brown rice is a little higher in protein and a little lower in fat when compared to white rice. White or instant rice is an easily digestible carbohydrate which makes it a good source of energy when your dog has an upset tummy and isn’t feeling well.
Last but not least, you need to judge for yourself and your dog whether or not they need to go to the vet. Sometimes home remedies can help your dog, but other times you really need to take them to the vet. Unfortunately, as a pet parent, you cannot simply ask them what their various symptoms are and get an answer from them. If in doubt, be safe and take your sick dog to the vet.
We have had good luck with rice mixed with white meat chicken. It has to be white meat with no skin otherwise the higher fat content of the dark meat or the skin can actually upset their stomach more, especially in small dogs.