It’s no surprise that some dogs eat some weird stuff, so an occasional upset stomach may follow. This can be stressful for both you and your pup.
If their symptoms are mild and you’re looking to give your dog quick relief, Pepto-Bismol is an option, with some important caveats.
However, there are better (and safer) ways to treat your dog’s gastrointestinal distress at home. We’ll cover everything you need to know here.
Before we dive in, here’s a quick summary of what’s ahead:
- Mild cases of gastrointestinal (GI) distress in dogs can usually be addressed at home.
- Pepto-Bismol can be a suitable option when it is dosed appropriately.
- Overall, however, there are better, safer, and more natural alternatives to Pepto-Bismol when your dog has an upset stomach.
- These include slippery elm and the probiotic S. boulardii.
- Commonly recommended “bland diets” high in carbohydrates may do more harm than good when your dog has an upset stomach.
- Proactive gut health support using simple supplements can help prevent gastrointestinal distress in many dogs.
First, What Are the Symptoms of GI Distress in Dogs?
We all wish our dogs could talk. But if your pup isn’t a button aficionado who can tell you when their belly hurts, you’ll need to pay more careful attention to their behavior.
Common symptoms of an upset stomach in dogs include:
- Drooling or unusually large amounts of salivation
- Lip smacking (excessively licking their lips)
- Vomiting, retching, or gagging
- Excessive gurgling stomach noises
- Belching or farting
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal pain (your pup might cry out when you pick them up)
Dogs can get an upset stomach from a variety of things. For example, eating things they shouldn’t, eating new (but still safe) foods, and common medications like antibiotics (such as metronidazole or tylosin). Even stress can cause stomach upset in dogs.
Any severe or chronic symptoms should be promptly checked out by a veterinarian (DVM). But if your dog’s gastrointestinal symptoms are mild, they can often be cared for at home. Let’s have a look at the options.
What Is Pepto-Bismol and How Does It Work?
Pepto-Bismol comes in a pink liquid form or a chewable tablet. Humans often take it for an upset stomach, nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or diarrhea, and it’s available over the counter.
Pepto-Bismol’s active ingredient is bismuth subsalicylate. (Another brand, Kaopectate, offers the same active ingredient under a different name.) Subsalicylates are a kind of salicylate; they are synthetic chemicals most commonly known for their pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.
Bismuth subsalicylate works in a few ways:
- Coats the stomach lining to protect it from irritation.
- Slows down the movement of fluids and electrolytes into the bowel to ease diarrhea.
- Prevents inflammatory bacteria from binding to the cells inside the stomach and intestines.
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Possibly helps to kill certain bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori, that can cause ulcers and other nasty GI issues.
In a nutshell, Pepto-Bismol has anti-inflammatory properties, calms the digestive system, and relieves mild stomach upset.
Back to the Point: A Safe Pepto-Bismol Dosage for Dogs?
Just like in humans, Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) can help relieve mild, short-term stomach upset in some dogs.
However, there are better dog-specific alternatives – keep reading to learn more about those. But for now, let’s answer your Pepto-Bismol questions.
How much Pepto-Bismol should you give your dog? Well, the safe dosage is one teaspoon per ten pounds of body weight.
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So a 20 lb beagle would need two teaspoons, and your neighbor’s 5 lb Yorkie would need just a half teaspoon.
However, just like you wouldn’t take Pepto-Bismol for chronic diarrhea or a bad stomach flu, it shouldn’t be given to dogs who have anything other than a mild and temporary upset stomach.
And as with all medications, you must check with your veterinarian first to make sure the dosage is correct and safe for your dog’s unique situation.
Which Dogs Shouldn’t Take Pepto-Bismol?
⚠️ Because of the way it coats the GI tract, Pepto-Bismol can inhibit the absorption of certain medications. If your dog is taking any other medications, it may not be safe to give them bismuth subsalicylate.
🍼 Puppies and pregnant or lactating dogs should never be given Pepto-Bismol.
💊 Never give Pepto-Bismol to dogs on NSAIDs like Rimadyl, or medications like aspirin. Again, if your dog is on any other medication, check with your veterinarian before giving them Pepto-Bismol.
🩻 Don’t give your dog Pepto-Bismol before an X-ray. It can interfere with the image and make it harder for the vet to see what they’re looking for.
What Are the Side Effects of Pepto-Bismol in Dogs?
💩 Pepto-Bismol may turn your dog’s poop dark brown or black. As long as you’ve checked with your veterinarian to ensure your dog is safe to take bismuth subsalicylate, black stools shouldn’t be anything to worry about. But if darker stools are accompanied by other concerning symptoms, such as diarrhea or pale gums, this could be an indicator of gastric bleeding, which is a serious health concern. If this is the case, you should contact your vet immediately.
🧻 Pepto-Bismol can cause constipation. Bismuth subsalicylate helps to treat diarrhea by slowing the passage of fluids into the bowels, so constipation is not unexpected. But if you’ve exceeded the safe dosage, the constipation persists for more than 48 hours, or it is accompanied by signs of distress, you’ll need to visit a veterinarian.
🚨 Very high doses may cause Pepto-Bismol toxicity. Giving your dog excessive amounts of Pepto-Bismol, or dosing it repeatedly, can be toxic. Signs of Pepto-Bismol toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and loss of appetite. If your dog displays any of these symptoms, contact your vet immediately.
What About Other Medications Like Pepcid and Imodium?
Pepto-Bismol isn’t the only over-the-counter medication used to treat stomach issues in dogs. Let’s have a quick look at some of the most common OTC human medications and their safety for dogs:
✅ Pepcid: For dogs that have occasional issues with stomach acid buildup or gastric ulcers, veterinarians may recommend Pepcid. It’s an antacid containing the active ingredient famotidine, which decreases stomach acidity. Pepcid also inhibits the activity of pepsin, a digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins. Excess production of pepsin can irritate the stomach lining, so inhibiting it can help dogs with stomach acid buildup. While Pepcid may be beneficial in the short term, long-term use of any antacid can interfere with digestion. Talk to your vet about safety and dosages before giving your dog Pepcid.
✅ Prilosec: Similar to Pepcid, Prilosec is a human medication often used to treat stomach ulcers. The active ingredient, omeprazole, also decreases stomach acid production, but over a longer duration. Unfortunately, this also means it can have a more lasting negative impact on the gut microbiome and digestive function. So while Prilosec can be safe for use in dogs, it’s a good idea to talk to your vet about supporting their gut health at the same time.
❌ Imodium: Commonly used as an antidiarrheal in humans, Imodium’s active ingredient is loperamide. This chemical slows the movement of the intestines to treat diarrhea. It is not safe for use in dogs, and can even be life-threatening for certain herding breeds, including Collies and Australian Shepherds. Never give your dog Imodium without consulting your vet.
Safer Alternatives to Pepto-Bismol: How To Help a Dog With an Upset Stomach
As we mentioned before, Pepto-Bismol isn’t the only way, nor the best way, to relieve your dog’s GI discomfort at home.
“While Pepto-Bismol may provide short-term relief for mild gastrointestinal issues in dogs, it doesn’t address underlying causes like gut microbiome imbalance or inflammation in the digestive tract. It can also interfere with other medications or diagnostic imaging,” explains AnimalBiome’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Holly Ganz.
“Natural alternatives such as Saccharomyces boulardii, slippery elm, and digestive enzymes not only offer fast relief from diarrhea and stomach upset, but also support long-term digestive health by restoring gut balance,” Dr. Ganz says.
“S. boulardii is a unique yeast-based probiotic that remains effective during antibiotic treatment, while slippery elm helps calm inflammation and protect the gut lining,” she explains. “Used together, these ingredients offer a safer, more holistic approach to managing your dog’s digestive discomfort without the risks of over-the-counter human medications.”
Let’s take a closer look at S. boulardii, slippery elm, and digestive enzymes, and see how they can help safely relieve your dog’s upset stomach:
🦠 S. boulardii provides fast relief from diarrhea. Unlike Pepto-Bismol, which is a synthetic substance, S. boulardii is a natural yeast probiotic that’s safe for use in dogs.
In addition to effectively treating diarrhea:
- It has anti-inflammatory properties that help calm the digestive system.
- It’s not impacted by antibiotics, so it can be used during antibiotic treatment to ease common side effects like diarrhea.
- It’s also great for restoring healthy gut bacteria, especially when imbalances may be contributing to your dog’s upset stomach.
S. boulardii’s properties as a freeze-dried powder make it much more resilient to the stomach acid and bile that are encountered during digestion. This is unlike many bacterial probiotics, which often die before they ever reach the gut.
Once in the gut, S. boulardii increases the production of friendly compounds called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These support a diverse microbiome, a strong gut barrier, and a well-functioning immune system, all of which help to relieve your dog’s GI distress.
S. boulardii comes in a powder that can simply be added to your dog's food. This makes it much more palatable than the liquid Pepto-Bismol, which some dogs may refuse.
🌳 Slippery elm gently calms inflammation and promotes a healthy gut lining. When your dog’s stomach is upset, their GI tract becomes inflamed, contributing to their discomfort. Slippery elm quickly coats the digestive tract with a mucilage (a thick, gooey, soothing substance) to reduce inflammation.
- Prebiotics in the slippery elm feed friendly bacteria, helping promote a more balanced gut for your pup.
- Slippery elm also encourages the production of healthy mucus, which protects the gut from future episodes of GI distress.
Like S. boulardii, slippery elm comes in a powder form that’s easily mixed with food or liquids. Try it in AnimalBiome’s Gut Defender supplement, which contains a blend of ingredients to protect and soothe the gut.
If your dog often eats things they shouldn’t, or gets an upset stomach during travel or stress, it’s a good idea to keep these supplements on hand so that you can quickly help to relieve their discomfort.
⚡Digestive enzymes provide an extra boost for your dog to allow them to more effectively break down protein, fat, fiber, and simple carbohydrates. Digestive enzymes generally come as a powder that can be added to the food right at mealtime.
AnimalBiome’s Daily Digest supplement incorporates all three of the recommendations above: S. boulardii, slippery elm, and digestive enzymes. It can serve as a more natural alternative that provides effective relief for mild digestive discomfort.
What To Feed a Dog With an Upset Stomach
Common advice is to feed your pet a “bland diet” when they have GI distress.
But these diets are often high in carbohydrates like white rice or pumpkin, which can actually do more harm than good, because:
- Feeding high-carbohydrate foods encourages the growth of unfriendly (inflammatory) bacteria, which can make GI distress even worse.
- Vegetables like pumpkin and sweet potato, often recommended for an upset stomach in dogs, actually contain lots of sugar and not a lot of “good” (prebiotic) fiber.
Instead, our veterinary team recommends avoiding high-carbohydrate foods and feeding your dog smaller meals more often when they have an upset stomach. Consider adding bland proteins like boiled chicken and, of course, the safe supplements mentioned above.
How To Prevent a Dog From Getting Stomach Upset
Mild tummy troubles aren’t uncommon in dogs. But if they crop up often, it can point to a larger issue. Luckily, there are natural and safe ways to help prevent your dog from getting an upset stomach in the first place. Especially if your pup is partial to the odd forbidden snack or gets a bit stressed in new or exciting environments.
It all boils down to this: The healthier your dog’s gut microbiome is before they are exposed to any triggers, the less likely they are to get an upset stomach. And the unfortunate truth is: nine in ten dogs experience at least one symptom of a gut microbiome imbalance every year.
But with a little bit of preventative care, your dog can be the one in ten that doesn’t. For many dog parents, it can be as simple as adding a daily science-backed supplement to their meals. You can learn more about some of those supplements here — and your pup will be primed for a lifetime of perfect poops.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can dogs have Pepto-Bismol? In general, an ordinarily healthy dog suffering from mild stomach upset can safely take Pepto-Bismol.
- How much Pepto-Bismol should I give my dog? The safe dosage for dogs is 1 teaspoon of liquid Pepto-Bismol for every 10 pounds of body weight.
- What dogs should not take Pepto-Bismol? Pregnant, lactating, and nursing dogs should not take Pepto-Bismol; neither should dogs on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Rimadyl or Deramaxx. Check with your veterinarian before administering any over-the-counter medications to your dog.
- How long does it take Pepto-Bismol to kick in for dogs? Pepto-Bismol should start improving your dog’s symptoms within 24 hours.
- What is the best antacid for dogs? Pepcid (famotidine) is generally safe for dogs and is gentler on the gut microbiome than many other options.
- What can you give a dog that's throwing up? For mild, intermittent vomiting, Pepto-Bismol can be a safe option to settle an upset stomach. If your pup’s vomiting becomes more frequent or is accompanied by symptoms like lethargy or abdominal pain, a vet visit is the best option.