homemade dog food for diarrhea

What To Feed a Dog With Diarrhea

At your recent barbecue you asked everyone not to share food with your dog, but now your pup needs to go out more than usual. This last time, you see puddles of diarrhea all over the backyard. Your dog seems to be perfectly normal otherwise and is even asking to be fed.

Now what? Should you feed your dog as usual or not feed anything for a while?

Should You Feed Dogs That Have Diarrhea?

It might seem counterintuitive, but for most healthy adult dogs, the best thing you can do to help get their system back on track is to not offer any food for 24 hours.

For very young puppies (under 3 months), senior dogs, and those with other known health problems, call your veterinarian for advice before fasting. Sometimes a 24-hour fast will be appropriate, but other times, a 12-hour or even shorter fast might be advised. They may not even recommend fasting at all. When in doubt, make that phone call first.

Fasting gets all the bad stuff moving down and out of a dogs system. This gives it a short rest, like rebooting a computer.

Never withhold water, however. Put away the food bowl and do not give treats, but keep plenty of fresh water available to them.

Does a Bland Diet Work for Dogs With Diarrhea?

Yes, a bland diet can help after the fasting period, as long as your dog has had no more episodes of diarrhea and has no other symptoms. If your dog seems ill, is vomiting, or still has diarrhea, call your veterinarian. This is very important, because you dont want to upset their system all over again.

The fasting-plus-bland-diet plan is most appropriate for dogs that simply got into something that upset their system, not for longer-term concerns like chronic conditions.

If your dog seems to be OK and does not have an ongoing health condition or chronic diarrhea, offer a small amount of a bland diet. Bland food is easy for the system to digest and more likely to be tolerated. Small amounts given more frequently are also easiest for the body to process.

For most dogs, an appropriate bland diet would consist of boiled chicken or boiled hamburger plus rice, to provide both a protein and a carbohydrate. Boiling is recommended to boil out as much fat as possible. The idea is to give your dog a very low-fat, easy-to-digest meal.

Its best to start with a very small amountsometimes only a tablespoon or twoto see if your dog is up to eating and able to keep the food down. It is far better to give a small meal every two to three hours than a large one right away, even if your dog is begging for more.

Most veterinarians will recommend a bland diet for three to five days after an episode of mild diarrhea, assuming your dog otherwise seems OK. Any animal that is still sick or vomiting needs additional care beyond the bland diet.

Food for Dogs With Mild or Acute Diarrhea

In most cases, vets consider mild diarrhea to be soft or loose stool that has lasted fewer than three days, with the dog still active and eating and drinking like normal, and no other symptoms.

It is more worrisome if your dog seems to be feeling ill. You may notice that your dog is sleeping more than usual, is not eating well, is quiet, has vomited, has blood or mucus in their diarrhea, or seems sluggish.

Acute diarrhea starts suddenlyin other words, your dog was perfectly normal on their 10 p.m. walk, and at 6 a.m., the floor was covered in diarrhea. Acute diarrhea can be mild or severe depending on additional signs of illness.

If your dog has mild diarrhea, start with a 24-hour fast, but keep the water dish full. If your dog had breakfast at 8 a.m. and started having diarrhea at 9 a.m., dont give any food (including treats) until the next day at 8 a.m.

When you do offer food, use a prescription bland food from your veterinarian (not the pet store) or a home-prepared bland diet. This bland diet should be a 1:1 ratio of boiled meat to rice (for example, 1 cup boiled chicken and 1 cup rice), using the leanest possible meat. The most commonly recommended options are boiled chicken or boiled hamburger.

Begin by feeding 2 tablespoons of the mixture per 10 pounds of body weight. Offer these small meals every two to three hours during the first day. It is better to offer too little food than too much.

Over the next three days, gradually increase the portion size and decrease the meal frequency. Between days 3 and 5, start to blend in some of your dogs regular food. By day 7, most dogs should be back on their regular dog food and feeling fine.

If at any point your dog has more diarrhea, is vomiting, or is not feeling well, call your vet. After the initial fasting period, you should see steady improvement in your pets condition, and any setback is cause for concern.

What To Feed Dogs With Chronic Diarrhea

If your dog is having chronic diarrhea, with ongoing episodes over time, there is probably an underlying medical condition at play. Before you can settle on an appropriate diet, the health condition needs to be identified, diagnosed, and addressedand diet is likely only part of the treatment plan.

Prescription diets designed for dogs with diarrhea might be more appropriate if your dog has a long-term problem with diarrhea or a health problem such as inflammatory bowel disease. Prescription foods can help with long-term gastrointestinal problems because they are made to meet all nutritional needs over longer periods.

Although a homemade diet like the bland diet is useful in the short term, it is extremely deficient in many of the nutrients needed to keep a dog healthy over the long run. While using it for a few days or a week will do no harm, over long periods it is likely to do more harm than goodwhich is why prescription foods come in to play.

Many prescription foods are available through your veterinarian, with some of the most common being Hills Prescription Diet i/d (intestinal diet) and Purina EN (gastroenteric nutrition). Many other brands and formulas are available, and your veterinarian will help you sort out which is most appropriate for your dog over the long haul, depending on the underlying condition.

Tummy Troubles No More: A Tail-Wagging Recipe Guide!

Hey there, pet parents! Dive into our fresh scoop (pun intended!) on managing your furry friends tummy troubles. Diarrhea can be a real pain in the tail for both dogs and their humans, but fear not! Weve whipped up a guide filled with homemade dog food recipes that are not just tummy-friendly but also tail-waggingly tasty.

1. The Chicken and Rice Charm

Pros:

• Gentle on the stomach
• Easy to digest
• High in protein

Cons:

• Might be bland for picky eaters
• Lacks fiber

2. Pumpkin Patch Pleaser

Pros:

• High in fiber
• Soothes the digestive tract
• Natural deworming agent

Cons:

• Not a complete meal
• Can cause firm stools if overfed

3. Beefy Bliss Broth

Pros:

• Rich in nutrients
• Hydrating
• Tasty and appetizing

Cons:

• High in fat
• Not for dogs with beef allergies

4. Sweet Potato Superfood

Pros:

• Packed with vitamins
• Easy on the stomach
• Supports a healthy immune system

Cons:

• Can be too fibrous for some dogs
• Preparation time

5. Fishy Delight in White Rice

Pros:

• Omega-3 for skin and coat health
• Highly digestible
• Low in fat

Cons:

• Smell might be off-putting
• Risk of bones in fish

Tips from the Dog Dish

Hydration is Key: Always ensure your pooch stays well-hydrated, especially during digestive distress.

Go Slow: Introduce new foods gradually to avoid overwhelming their sensitive stomach.

Balance is Essential: While these recipes are great for relief, long-term health requires a well-balanced diet. Consult your vet for advice tailored to your dogs needs.

Watch the Portion Size: Overfeeding can exacerbate diarrhea. Small, frequent meals are gentler on a recovering stomach.

Final Bark

Creating homemade meals for a dog with diarrhea can provide relief and comfort during their time of need. However, its crucial to remember that while these recipes can help soothe your dogs symptoms, theyre not cure-alls. Observing your dogs overall health and consulting with your vet for persistent issues is paramount.

We hope this guide leaves you feeling prepared and your dog feeling better. Heres to happy, healthy tails and tales of recovery and joy!

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11 Tailor-Made Dog Food Recipes for Gastrointestinal Comfort

Welcome, pet parents! If your four-legged friend is dealing with stomach troubles, finding the right diet can feel like a puzzle. But dont worry, were here to guide you through creating homemade dog food that not only tickles their taste buds but also provides gentle care for their digestive system. Lets dive into some expertly crafted recipes and essential tips that can help soothe your pups tummy woes.

Key Takeaways for Quick Relief

• Low-Fat Ingredients: Opt for easily digestible, low-fat foods like cooked white rice and lean meats.
• Fiber-Rich Veggies: Include pumpkin and sweet potatoes to help regulate digestion.
• Avoid Irritants: Skip fatty, spicy, or overly processed foods that can exacerbate symptoms.
• Hydration is Key: Ensure your dog stays hydrated, especially when theyre experiencing digestive issues.

Why Homemade? A Vets Insight

Homemade dog food allows you to control the quality of ingredients and tailor the diet to your dogs specific needs, making it a superb choice for pups with sensitive stomachs. Heres what a veterinary nutritionist has to say:

Preparing your dogs meal at home can drastically reduce the occurrence of gastrointestinal disturbances by eliminating additives and potential allergens commonly found in commercial dog foods. Dr. Jane Tailwagger, DVM.

Easy-to-Digest Recipes for Comfort and Care

Here are some homemade recipes designed to be gentle on your dogs gastrointestinal tract. These meals are not only nutritious but also aim to mitigate digestive issues.

Recipe 1: Soothing Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 3 ounces boiled chicken breast (no skin)
• cup pureed pumpkin

Directions:

1. Cook the rice and chicken thoroughly.
2. Mix the rice, chicken, and pumpkin puree together.
3. Serve at room temperature to avoid shocking your dogs system.

Recipe 2: Tender Turkey and Potato Dinner

Ingredients:

• 1 cup boiled potatoes, mashed (no butter or salt)
• 3 ounces cooked ground turkey (lean)
• cup steamed carrots, mashed

Directions:

1. Boil the potatoes and carrots until soft, then mash them without additives.
2. Cook the turkey thoroughly, ensuring no pink remains.
3. Combine all ingredients and serve lukewarm.

Recipe 3: Digestive Gentle Fish Meal

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked oatmeal
• 3 ounces steamed cod (no bones)
• cup cooked zucchini, mashed

Directions:

1. Cook oatmeal and let it cool slightly.
2. Steam the cod gently and flake it, ensuring no bones.
3. Mix oatmeal, cod, and zucchini together and serve warm.

Recipe 4: Healing Beef and Sweet Potato Mash

Ingredients:

• 1 cup boiled sweet potatoes, mashed
• 3 ounces lean ground beef, cooked thoroughly
• cup green beans, steamed and chopped

Directions:

1. Boil the sweet potatoes until tender, then mash them without adding butter or milk.
2. Brown the ground beef in a pan, ensuring all the pink is gone and its well-cooked.
3. Steam the green beans until soft, then chop them into small pieces suitable for your dog.
4. Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Allow the food to cool to room temperature before serving.

Recipe 5: Gentle Lamb and Rice Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 3 ounces lamb, cooked and chopped (trim off all fat)
• cup peas, cooked

Directions:

1. Cook the brown rice according to package instructions.
2. Cook the lamb in a pan over medium heat until no longer pink, making sure to remove all fat.
3. Boil or steam the peas until soft.
4. Mix the rice, lamb, and peas together. Ensure the mixture is cool before serving to your dog.

Recipe 6: Easy Digestible Egg and Vegetable Scramble

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, scrambled
• cup diced cooked carrots
• cup cooked quinoa

Directions:

1. Scramble the eggs in a non-stick skillet without oil or butter.
2. Steam or boil the carrots until they are tender.
3. Cook the quinoa as directed on the package.
4. Combine the scrambled eggs, carrots, and quinoa in a bowl. Let the mixture cool to room temperature before serving.

Recipe 7: Sensitive Stomach Fish and Oatmeal

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked oats
• 3 ounces poached salmon (ensure all bones are removed)
• cup diced cucumbers (skin removed)

Directions:

1. Prepare oatmeal according to the package directions, ensuring it is plain with no added flavors or sugar.
2. Poach the salmon gently in water or steam it until it flakes easily. Be vigilant about removing all bones.
3. Dice the cucumber after peeling it to avoid any hard-to-digest skins.
4. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mixing thoroughly. Cool the mixture to room temperature before feeding.

Recipe 8: Quinoa & Turkey Patty

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 3 ounces ground turkey, cooked until no pink remains
• cup pureed pumpkin
• A pinch of dried parsley (optional for flavor)

Directions:

1. Cook the quinoa according to package instructions.
2. Cook the ground turkey thoroughly in a skillet, making sure its fully done.
3. Mix the cooked quinoa, ground turkey, and pureed pumpkin together.
4. Form small patties and sprinkle a little dried parsley for added flavor.
5. Serve the patties at room temperature to ensure theyre easy on your dogs stomach.

Recipe 9: Whitefish and Potato Flake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup boiled potatoes, mashed smoothly
• 3 ounces whitefish (like cod or tilapia), cooked and flaked
• cup finely chopped cooked spinach

Directions:

1. Boil the potatoes until very soft, then mash them without any additives.
2. Cook the fish gently until it can be easily flaked with a fork, ensuring no bones are present.
3. Steam or boil the spinach and chop it finely.
4. Combine all ingredients thoroughly and allow to cool before serving.

Recipe 10: Chicken Digestive Broth

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces chicken breast, cooked and shredded
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth (ensure its onion- and garlic-free)
• cup cooked carrot slices
• cup cooked barley

Directions:

1. Cook the chicken breast thoroughly and shred it into small, manageable pieces for your dog.
2. Prepare a low-sodium chicken broth, making sure it contains no harmful additives like onion or garlic.
3. Boil the carrots and barley separately until soft.
4. Combine the chicken, broth, carrots, and barley in a pot and simmer together for a few minutes.
5. Let the broth mixture cool to room temperature before serving; this can also be served slightly warm to help soothe the stomach.

Recipe 11: Sensitive Stomach Veggie and Beef Mix

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces lean beef, finely chopped and cooked
• 1 cup cooked rice
• cup pureed butternut squash
• cup finely chopped and steamed kale

Directions:

1. Cook the beef thoroughly in a non-stick skillet without oil.
2. Cook rice as per usual methods.
3. Steam the butternut squash and kale separately, then puree the squash and finely chop the kale.
4. Combine all ingredients ensuring everything is well mixed.
5. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature for serving.

Pro Tips for Serving and Storage

Serving Size: Consult with your vet to determine the appropriate portion size based on your dogs weight and activity level.

Storage: Store leftover food in the refrigerator for up to three days. Always discard any uneaten food after 30 minutes to prevent spoilage.

Closing Thoughts

Each dog is unique, and while these recipes are designed for gentleness, its crucial to monitor your dogs response and consult with your vet to ensure these meals are suitable for your pets specific health conditions.

Remember, transitioning to a new diet should be gradual to avoid further upsetting your pets stomach. Start by mixing small amounts of the new food with their current food, slowly increasing the proportion over several days.

Your dedication to your dogs diet is admirable, and with these gentle, homemade meals, youre on the path to soothing your furry friends gastrointestinal issues. Tail wags are on the horizon!

Insights from Dr. Barkley, Veterinary Nutrition Specialist

Q: Dr. Barkley, many pet owners are turning to homemade dog food, especially for dogs with gastrointestinal issues. What makes homemade food a potentially better option for these conditions?

Dr. Barkley: Absolutely, theres a growing interest in homemade diets, and for good reason. When you prepare your dogs meals at home, you have the ultimate control over what theyre ingesting. This means you can avoid common irritants found in some commercial foods, such as certain proteins, gluten, and artificial additives. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, this can mean fewer flare-ups as their diet can be fine-tuned to exclude any ingredient that doesnt agree with them.

Q: Regarding nutritional balance, what are the key components that should be included in a homemade diet to support a dog with gastrointestinal problems?

Dr. Barkley: Nutrition is crucial. For dogs with GI issues, the diet must be not only palatable but also highly digestible and low in fat. Protein sources should be lean, like cooked turkey or skinless chicken. Carbohydrates should be simple and cooked wellthink boiled rice or mashed potatoes. Including soluble fiber sources like pumpkin or carrots can help stabilize the gut motility. Importantly, every meal should be balanced with the right amount of vitamins and minerals. I usually recommend consulting with a vet to tailor supplements to the dogs specific needs.

Q: Could you elaborate on the common mistakes owners might make when switching to homemade dog food, particularly for sensitive stomachs?

Dr. Barkley: One of the biggest mistakes is making a sudden dietary change. This can upset a dogs digestive system even more. Transitioning should be gradual, mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the old across several days. Another error is not consulting a professional. Without proper guidance, its easy to prepare meals that are unbalanced, which over time can lead to nutritional deficiencies or excesses. Lastly, overlooking the importance of hydration is common. Dogs with digestive issues need plenty of water, as some may be prone to dehydration.

Q: With advancements in veterinary nutrition, how do you see the role of homemade diets evolving in the management of canine gastrointestinal health?

Dr. Barkley: The future looks promising. Were seeing more research into how different ingredients affect gut health and how we can utilize food as a form of therapy. For example, the role of prebiotics and probiotics in promoting beneficial gut bacteria is a hot topic. As we gain more insight, I believe homemade diets will become more sophisticated and personalized, possibly integrating specific nutrients that can enhance digestive health based on a dogs genetic makeup or microbiome profile.

Q: Finally, any parting advice for owners considering this route for their pets with gastrointestinal distress?

Dr. Barkley: Start with your veterinarian. Discuss your pets specific symptoms and get a thorough health evaluation. From there, consider working with a veterinary nutritionist who can help develop a personalized feeding plan. Patience is keymonitor your dogs response to the new diet closely and be ready to adjust as needed. And remember, while food is crucial, overall wellness, including stress management and regular exercise, also plays a significant role in your dogs digestive health.

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