10 Foods to Feed Your Dog When They Are Sick

When they're well, dogs usually have a healthy appetite. However, when they're ill, it can be challenging to know what to feed them, as, much like humans, it's common for them to go off their regular food if they have an upset stomach or are feeling under the weather. 

If your dog is sick, feeding them nutritious food is vital to help boost their energy levels and speed up their recovery. In this blog, we outline ten of the best foods for dogs with upset stomachs before looking at the best dog food options to feed them if they have allergies or are prone to an upset stomach. We've partnered with We Love Doodles to bring you an informative guide on what to feed your four-legged friend when they aren't feeling themselves. 

Table of contents: 

What to feed a sick dog
What to feed a dog with allergies

• Cold pressed dog food
• Insect protein cold pressed dog food
• Raw food

What to feed a sick dog

 

If your dog is sick, it's only natural for you to worry about what to feed them. Generally, a plain, bland diet of nutritious foods works best when caring for your dog's upset stomach. It's good practice to have some healthy, nutritious options ready should your dog's health take an unexpected turn so you can be prepared to help nurse them back to health. However, should your dog continue to be sick, we'd recommend consulting your vet for further advice. Here are ten of the best, most nutritious, failsafe options to feed a dog with an upset stomach: 

1. Boiled white meat 

Plain white meat, such as chicken or turkey, is the perfect option for a sick dog as it is easy to digest and low in fat.Feeding your dog chicken or turkey breast is best; it provides lean protein and can help to soothe your dog's stomach. Remember to remove any skin or bones from the breast before you feed it to your dog, as this removes any risk of choking and makes the meat easier on your dog's digestive system.You can prepare the meat for your dog by following these simple steps:

• Start by rinsing the meat thoroughly under cold water.
• Remove any excess fat, skin or bones.
• Place the meat in a pot and cover it with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let the meat simmer for 15-20 minutes.
• Once cooked, drain the water and cut the meat into small, bite-sized pieces, as this will be easier for your dog to digest. 
• Allow to cool, then serve alone or alongside white rice or vegetables. 

2. White rice

White and brown rice are staple ingredients of most dog foods, so it's no wonder they're a successful option when your dog is under the weather. The perfect accompaniment to chicken, although brown rice is more nutritious for dogs, the blandness of white rice makes it a safer choice when your dog is sick, as it's easier for them to digest.

If your dog has diarrhoea, white rice can also help to bind their stools, helping their digestive system return to normal.  Here's how to cook the rice:

• Start by rinsing the rice under cold water.
• Add your rice to a large pan, then add two parts water to one part rice.
• Bring to the boil adding in a generous pinch of salt.
• Turn down to a simmer, put a lid on the pan and allow the rice to cook on low heat for about 18 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. 
• Allow to rest and cool; fluff with a fork, then serve.

3. Sweet Potatoes

Plain, cooked sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins and fibre and incredibly gentle on the stomach, making them an excellent choice for soothing your dog's stomach and intestines. They can help to improve your dog's health by providing them with essential calcium, iron and magnesium.

Don't feed your dog raw, sweet potatoes, as they are harder to digest and could further upset your dog's stomach. Instead, peel the skins, chop the potatoes into chunks and add to a pan of boiling water. Boil until soft, then drain and mash them for your dog, feeding once they've cooled.  

4. Pumpkin

Pumpkins, like sweet potatoes, are very effective in curing an upset stomach and making a sick dog feel better. Rich in vitamins that help boost your dog's immune system, they're also full of fibre, which can help regulate digestion. 

Give your dog up to four tablespoons of pumpkin with their regular meal (or alongside their chicken and rice) to help their recovery. 

Canned pumpkin can be as effective as fresh, provided it has no added sugar or extra seasonings or ingredients. Avoid seasonings, including sugar or pumpkin pie seasoning, as this could make your dog's stomach feel worse.

5. Homemade Bone Broth

Bone broth is great for sick dogs as it provides essential nutrients and minerals such as sodium and potassium and can also aid hydration. Avoid using garlic or excessive salt when cooking, as this could further upset your dog's stomach. 

Low in carbohydrates, bone broth is an excellent choice for sick dogs with an upset stomach as it's gentle and easy to digest. 

You can prepare your dog's bone broth by following these simple steps:

• Add beef or pork marrow bones and chicken or turkey bones to a large cooking pot.
• Cover with a few inches of water and cook on low heat for 20-24 hours.
• Once finished, strain to remove the bones, then serve the liquid. 

6. Baby Food

If your puppy is struggling with its stomach, stage 2 meat-based baby foods such as chicken, lamb and turkey can be an effective feeding choice. If you feed baby food, however, avoid ingredients or additives that could be toxic to dogs, like garlic or onion powder. 

Baby food is easy to chew and digest and can help treat the stomach and diarrhoea. 

If you're unsure about certain ingredients in your chosen baby food, consult your vet for further advice. 

7. Fish 

Fish is an excellent source of healthy fats and vitamins, which can do wonders for your dog's health and immune system when they've been struggling with their stomach. 

The strong smell of fish can also entice your dog back to its bowl and encourage it to eat after it's lost its appetite. 

The best way to prepare fish for your dog is to poach it. Similar to how you would boil chicken for your dog, add the fish to a pan of water, bring it to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 10-15 minutes until cooked. Remove all of the bones and cut the fish into small pieces before feeding it to your dog. 

8. Oatmeal

A type of porridge made from rolled oats, plain, cooked oatmeal can help soothe your dog's upset stomach. High in fibre, it can aid constipation and contains antioxidants ideal for reducing stomach inflammation. 

Whilst feeding oatmeal is a good thing, don't overdo it. Oatmeal is full of fibre, and too much in your dog's stomach could make it feel even more sick, so go sparingly. 

9. Yoghurt

Plain yoghurt full of probiotics and free of additional sweeteners is the perfect food for a dog with an upset stomach. Aiding in digestion and supporting gut health, if your dog has constipation, plain yoghurt can help to regulate their digestive system. 

Plain, natural yoghurt is easy to source from your local store or supermarket, so it's easy to acquire if your dog suddenly gets ill, and it can even be frozen and served to your dog as a cool treat on a summer's day. 

10. Eggs

As long as your dog isn't vomiting, eggs are an ideal food choice as they are gentle on the stomach and help to give your dog a good source of protein. Eggs are also a great energy booster if your dog feels a little lethargic post-illness.

Scrambled without butter or oil, or boiled, are the best ways to cook your dog's eggs to ensure they are gentle on its stomach, but if your dog is vomiting, avoid eggs completely. 

What to feed a dog with allergies 

If your dog regularly suffers from an upset stomach or is often sick, it may be worth consulting your vet to determine whether it's suffering from food-related or breed-specific allergies. 

Whilst regular kibble can be problematic for some dogs, at Wilsons Pet Food, all of our cold pressed dog foods are created with your dog's health in mind, and if your dog suffers from food-related allergies, we have many options tailored to their sensitive tummies. Here are some of our top recommendations if your dog frequently has an upset stomach;

Cold pressed dog food

Cold pressed dog food is a great alternative to kibble, particularly if your dog suffers from food-related allergies. A form of dry food, cold pressed dog food goes through minimal processing at a much lower temperature than traditional kibble and, therefore, has a much greater nutritional value.

Because of how cold pressed dog food is made, it is easily broken down, which is ideal for sensitive stomachs. Made with improved all-round health in mind, it aids digestion and breaks down at the same rate as raw food, so it can be easily fed alongside a raw diet.

Available in a range of flavours, including white fish, salmon and chicken, cold pressed is the perfect choice for keeping your dog happy and healthy. And with grain-free options in our range, it's perfect for dogs with grain-related allergies, providing them with nutritionally dense food that won't upset their tummies.

Insect protein cold pressed dog food

Complete and nutritionally balanced, our insect protein cold pressed dog food is created in the same way as our meat protein range, pressing at a lower temperature to retain nutritional value, helping to aid digestion. 

As insects contain more protein than chicken or beef, you don't have to worry that your dog will be missing out on any of its essential nutrients. Insects are also hypoallergenic and low in purines, making them an ideal food source for dogs with sensitivities or meat-related allergens. 

Our insect protein cold pressed range breaks down like our meat-based options, so it can be fed alone or alongside raw food.

Raw frozen dog food

If your dog is fussy or sensitive to its current kibble, raw food can be a great way to change its diet. Our raw food at Wilsons is made from natural ingredients that have been minimally processed and are grain-free, aiding digestion and helping to improve the coat, skin and all-around health. 

Coming in two options, a 80/10/10 mix of meat, offal and bone, and a 70/10/10/10 mix with added vitamins and minerals, to give you the option of mixing with your own vegetables and minerals to cater to your dog's specific allergies, it's never been easier to tailor your dog's food to its specific needs.

Shop our complete range of tummy-friendly food at Wilsons 

Now you know how to feed your dog when it's sick and what to feed it should it have food-related allergies, why not try one of our Wilsons Pet Food sample packs? From our cold pressed sample pack to our raw food trial box, it's the perfect way for your dog to try before you buy! Or, for more nutritious goodies for your dog, why not try our dog treats?

Related posts:

Gentle and natural dog food

The perfect puppy food 

Benefits of grain-free dog food