Is pumpkin good for a dog's upset stomach? What's the right amount?

[Pumpkin](https://www.petcoach.co/article/health-benefits-of-pumpkin-for-pets) is a "super food" of the canine world. [Pumpkin](https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/pumpkin) contains soluble fiber and beta-carotene and can do wonders for both constipation and diarrhea. However, if your dog is lethargic, not eating, vomiting has diarrhea or is straining and not passing any stool, you need to seek veterinary attention immediately. That being said, the recommended amount of [pumpkin to give a dog](https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/pumpkin/) is 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight of plain, canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling) or fresh, steamed pumpkin. Given once or twice daily, this can aid in defecation. Always have fresh water available. Mix in some warm water in the food to increase intake which can also help prevent constipation. If the constipation persists for more than 24 hours, you should see your veterinarian.

I would stick with just the proviable paste. For simple diarrhea, it usually works within 1 or 2 doses. If you combine it with pumpkin you may cause constipation. Once the diarrhea is improved you could add a little bit of oumpkin instrad of the Proviable.

The short answer is...yes. Plain canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling) can be used to add fiber to the diet, promote healthy stool and a healthy gut, but may cause loose stool if too much is given or if Romeo has an allergy to pumpkin. The rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight once or twice daily. Decrease the amount if the stool is soft. As long as he is behaving normally, he does not need to be seen by your veterinarian. What you can do at home is withhold food for 12-24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet in small amounts until the stool is normal then transition slowly back to his regular diet. You can try the pumpkin again at a later date, but if he develops loose stools, then discontinue it and consider an alternative. Make sure he has plenty of fresh, clean water to drink at all times. Dehydration may cause firm stool. Monitor for lethargy, vomiting persistent diarrhea, loss of appetite or abdominal pain. These are symptoms that should be addressed right away by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER.

I typically recommend one tablespoon of pumpkin for each meal, so it's given twice a day. It's fine, however, to give it to her once a day with two tablespoons, but I would not add any more to her diet. Too much fiber can cause constipation, so it's best to stick with a maximum of two tablespoons today.

She is likely going to have some major GI upset, especially if the treats contained a lot of fiber (which pumpkin does). Picking up her regular food and offering a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice may help with minor digestive upset and get her feeling better. If she doesn't pass stool, continues vomiting, seems very painful, has blood in her stool or vomit, or her stomach/abdomen look very bloated, painful or she is in distress, then it could indicate something more serious ongoing which should be seen ASAP by a vet.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You can add about 1 tablespoon of canned pumpkin to his meals which may help with constipation. If that does not help, I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They can at that point check on that and recommend therapy accordingly. This would be especially important since he is having trouble seating which may be seen with discomfort for example. Best of luck!

Pumpkin does contain fiber, which can help with mild diarrhea some of the time. It certainly won't hurt anything to give it a try. However, if the diarrhea has been going on for more than 24 hours, I'd also schedule a vet visit for tomorrow. If Bruno seems weak, uninterested in eating, or just generally very ill, I'd recommend going to an emergency clinic tonight for evaluation.