First of all, see if you can pinpoint what might have given him the upset stomach. Sometimes it will be obvious – if he gets into the garbage, for instance – but in other cases you might need to do a bit of searching. If you have a fenced yard and let your dog out to do his business unsupervised, he could have stumbled upon an undesirable “treat” dragged in by a squirrel or other animals. Check your houseplants to make sure that he hasn’t been sampling those, as well. If his stomach problems last long enough to cause major concern – and a vet visit – it will help if you have some idea of what could be causing the issue.

Drink up!

It’s important for your dog to stay hydrated, particularly if he’s throwing up or experiencing diarrhea. If he’s progressively losing fluids to the point where he’s dehydrated, it can exacerbate the situation. If your dog doesn’t have much interest in drinking, add some no- or low-sodium chicken broth to his water to bolster his interest.

Soothing foods

Just as it’s recommended to give people with very upset stomachs a bland diet, the same can apply for dogs. Boiled rice, a pantry staple for virtually everyone, can be relied on as a comforting option, as can Sojos Original Dog Food Mix, which is mild like oatmeal, but also allows you to control the protein you use. Plain (unseasoned) boiled chicken is another mild food that should not cause any further upset. Two other ingredients good for the GI tract are papaya, which contains the enzyme papain, helpful in digesting proteins; and pumpkin, which is high in fiber and therefore helpful with both constipation and diarrhea.

Herbs

Chamomile, ginger and peppermint can also help to calm the stomach. Your holistic vet can also provide you with ideas for how to administer herbs and more in-depth holistic or homeopathic advice for those times when your dog is having stomach troubles. Other herbs and spices, like basil, cinnamon, parsley and rosemary, which are ingredients in Sojos dog foods, also effective stomach callers.

Creature comforts

It might not cure him, but giving your dog care and attention when he’s feeling ill will surely help reduce stress. Plus, closely monitoring his symptoms is important so that you’ll know what steps are working and whether you might need to try something else.