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My 8-week-old puppy started having loose stool and gas after I mixed cooked barley into his kibble — is barley bad for puppies?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

Barley is not toxic to puppies, but cooked barley is quite fibrous and some young dogs simply do not tolerate it well. Loose stool and gas within a few hours of eating it point to a mild intolerance rather than poisoning. Stop the barley for now and switch back to his regular food; the gut should settle within 24 hours. If the diarrhoea persists beyond a day, or if he becomes lethargic or stops eating, call your vet for advice.

Barley — Food safety facts

Safe to share · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Cooked plain barley is safe and a decent fibre source.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Safe to share), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Barley is not toxic to dogs. The real limit is calories, fat and salt, so treat it as a small extra alongside the normal ration rather than a meal in itself.

There is no poisoning risk here, and the usual problem is simply eating too much at once: a heavy fat or salt load can bring on loose stools or a single vomit. Offer water, keep an eye on the pet for 24 hours, and do not induce vomiting.

Barley can stay on the rotation, but only as an extra mouthful: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Barley food facts page.

Open the full food page: Barley food facts →