Rice For Dog Diarrhea

Table of Contents

Overview | Meal Recipes for Your Dog | Commercial Food & Natural Support

Summary:

"Plain white rice is safe for dogs and can help with diarrhea. Learn about rice and other diet approaches when dealing with canine diarrhea."

Overview

If it was only as simple as serving rice for dog diarrhea. No matter what form of diarrhea your dog has, diet adjustments are usually called for.

If your dog is acting close to normal, with diarrhea being the only symptom, the diarrhea is probably nothing to be overly concerned about (except in young, old and small dogs which should see a Veterinarian immediately - or if your dog is behaving differently due to dehydration and other concerns). What we mean is that diarrhea is your dog's way of getting rid of things that they may have eaten that they shouldn't have. Grass, leaves, bugs, and anything else out of the ordinary could result in diarrhea.

The easy way to tell if this is the kind of diarrhea your dog has, cut back their food intake for a 24 hour period. Some of my friends cut the amount of food in half, others don't feed their dog for a 24 hour period (water of course is essential to avoid dehydration, unless the diarrhea is possibly caused by intake of contaminated water, in that case water should be boiled and left cold, filtered before drinking).

Diet Changes to Control Canine Diarrhea

Dogs with digestion problems or with chronic diarrhea sometimes need to replace protein and fibre. To identify the source of diarrhea it helps to reduce food intake to two components:

  • One source of protein (cooked meat)
  • One source of gluten-free carbohydrate (rice)

If there is a colon issue, fiber should essentially be served to your dog. A great source of fiber for an IBD (Irritable Bowel) dog is flaxseed. Just buy ground flaxseed and add to diet. Other sources can be canned pumpkin and seed. The fiber can help bulk up loose stools.  

Diet for Dog With Diarrhea - 5 Day Diet

Here's an approach we have used successfully to help our dog with a mild case of diarrhea (ate too much grass and whatever else is outside, it's what happens when dad is left alone with the dog). Remember to consult with your Veterinarian.

                             5 Day Diet

  • Day 1 - Water only, no food (just to be cautious, water can be treated - boiled, filtered before giving it to dog)
  • Day 2 - Cooked Rice Only plus water (quantity equal to normal portion)
  • Day 3 - 1/2 portion cooked chicken / turkey (you can prepare at home), 1/2 portion rice
  • Day 4 - 1/2 portion regular dog food, 1/2 portion rice
  • Day 5 - Normal diet

Skip Day 3 if your dog seems to be doing better. Rice (preferably plain white rice) for dog diarrhea often works well.

Home Cooked Dog Food Recipes to Control Dog Diarrhea

It is possible to prepare a meal yourself or purchase a bland diet in the pet food store. A typical bland diet consists of a meat, grain (such as rice) and yogurt to aid digestion.

If you want a home cooked dog food recipe this is a good simple approach try (we have to give credit to wellvet.com for this excellent advice).

Recipe 1 - Meat and Rice

                                                Recipe 1 - Meat and Rice

Mix together:

  • Meat - 1/3 of total portion: Low fat cooked meats such as chicken (or boil hamburger to lower fat content). 
  • Grain - 2/3 of total portion: Grain such as white rice, cooked oatmeal or cottage cheese (select white rice for dog diarrhea)

Then Add:

  • Yogurt (2 to 3 tablespoons)
  • Probiotic (natural supplement found online or in pet store to aid digestive balance)
  • Boiled sweet potato (2 to 4 teaspoons)

Recipe 2 - Chicken Liver and Rice

                                                Recipe 2 - Chicken Liver and Rice

  1. Prepare 1 cup rice (brown or white) according to package directions.
  2. Boil a pound of chicken liver, and 2 eggs.
  3. Peel, then chop the eggs into fine pieces or use a food processor to make small crumbly pieces, then mix it into the cooked rice.
  4. Do the same with the chicken livers.

Store in the fridge.

Give your dog a couple tablespoons at a time, every few hours to start, and work up to about 1/4 cup as he tolerates things better.

When your dog is eating well, start adding dry food.

Commercial Diet to Control Dog Diarrhea

Several commercial dog foods, particularly those with starch and protein, may help control dog diarrhea. One example is Ralson Purina CNM HA-Formula.

Natural Dietary Supplements

Herbal and homeopathic ingredients have been shown to promote digestive balance, support the production of firm stools, and support healthy bowel functioning. PetAlive makes a natural remedy made for this purpose that is worth exploring.

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