Diarrhea in puppies can be concerning for pet owners. A bland diet is often recommended to help soothe their digestive system. This article provides information on bland diets, recipes, and guidelines to help your puppy recover.
Understanding Bland Diets
A bland diet is a temporary feeding plan consisting of foods that are easy to digest and low in fat and fiber. It helps the digestive system recover from issues like vomiting and diarrhea. The goal is to provide nutrition without overloading the digestive system with heavy or rich foods.
General Information
Bland diets are low in fiber, fat, and protein but high in carbohydrates. Because they are low in fiber, stool production slows, and defecation is less frequent.
Key Takeaways
- A bland diet (like boiled chicken and rice) along with probiotics is usually safe if your dog has diarrhea but is not vomiting.
- Fasting may be recommended short-term in some cases, but always consult your vet for puppies, seniors, or dogs with health issues.
- A bland diet helps soothe the digestive system and should be given in small amounts at first, gradually increasing the amount of food over time as the dog’s health improves.
- Persistent diarrhea likely indicates an underlying health condition requiring veterinary diagnosis and a long-term solution like a prescription gastrointestinal diet rather than homemade bland food.
Homemade Bland Diet Recipe
The most common bland diet is a mix of 75% boiled white rice and 25% boiled lean chicken breast (without skin and bones) or lean ground beef (sirloin is best).
Ingredients
- White rice
- Lean chicken breast or lean ground beef
Instructions
- Cook the rice: Cook the white rice per the instructions, until it is fully cooked and soft.
- Boil the chicken: In a medium pot, fill three-quarters with water and add the chicken. Steaming or boiling meat is a healthier way to preserve nutrients. Boiling chicken will cook it at a lower temperature than if you bake it. Gently cooked food is best for dogs for digestion.
- Prepare the ground beef: If using ground beef, make sure the meat is lean and the fat is drained off after cooking.
- Mix: Combine the cooked rice and the boiled chicken or ground beef in a 75:25 ratio.
Why These Ingredients?
- White Rice: The white rice is low in fiber and easy to digest.
- Chicken: Chicken breasts are lean pieces of chicken compared to thighs or drumsticks, giving them lean protein.
- Lean Ground Beef: Provides a good source of protein while being gentle on the stomach.
Other Bland Diet Options
Besides the classic chicken and rice recipe, other options can be used in a bland diet for puppies.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
1. Turkey and Sweet Potato
Turkey is another lean meat option that works well in a bland diet, while sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients and gentle on the stomach.
Instructions:
- Peel and steam (or bake) the sweet potatoes until fork tender.
- Boil and drain the ground turkey.
- Roughly mash the sweet potatoes and mix them with the turkey.
2. Pumpkin Omelette
Eggs are a fantastic source of protein and are easy on the stomach. To further support digestion, use plain pumpkin puree.
Instructions:
- Whip up some scrambled eggs, but don't use any oils or butter. And definitely skip the seasonings.
- Mix in plain pumpkin puree.
3. Meat-Based Baby Food
If you do not have any rice and chicken or ground beef, or if your dog does not like the bland diet, you can try to feed meat-based baby food with no onion or garlic in it. This is very bland, and most dogs find it tasty.
4. Canned Pumpkin
Plain canned pumpkin (without spices, not the pie mix) may further help with diarrhea as it firms up the stools.
Feeding Instructions
How much homemade food should I feed my dog? This all depends on your dog’s size, current weight, and activity level. Always check with your vet to make sure you are feeding your dog the appropriate amount of food for their size and age.
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But a general rule is you should be feeding your dog 2% to 5% of their body weight in fresh food. And small dogs weighing about 20 pounds or less can even get up to 10%!
General Guidelines
- Frequency: Offer the bland diet in three or four small meals throughout the day for a few days until your dog is feeling better.
- Starting Amount: The best way to begin this process is to test whether your dog is ready for food by starting with a small amount such as a tablespoon.
- Increasing Food Intake: If your pet can keep it down successfully, you can then offer more food two hours later. If he’s still doing well on it, the meals can gradually become larger and spaced further apart.
Specific Feeding Amounts
- Dogs weighing <5 pounds: Feed a total of about ½ cup, split into smaller amounts throughout the day.
- Dogs weighing 5 - 15 pounds: Feed a total of about ½ - ¾ cup, split into smaller amounts throughout the day.
- Dogs weighing 16 - 30 pounds: Feed a total of about 1 - 1 ½ cups, split into smaller amounts throughout the day.
- Dogs weighing 31 - 50 pounds: Feed a total of about 1 ½ - 2 cups throughout the day.
- Dogs weighing 51 - 75 pounds: Feed a total of about 2 - 3 cups throughout the day.
- Dogs weighing 76 - 99 pounds: Feed a total of about 3 - 4 cups throughout the day.
- Dogs weighing >100 pounds: Feed a total of 4 - 5 cups throughout the day.
Take your total amount & break it into 4 - 6 meals per day (i.e., if your total per day is 3 cups, then feed your dog ½ cup 6 times a day, allowing about 2 hours between each meal).
Additional Tips
- Hydration is key: Make sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water. Dehydration is a common issue with vomiting and diarrhea, so keeping your dog hydrated is critical.
- Skip the Seasonings: The key word in bland diet is bland. Homemade bland diets should be free from salt, pepper, oils, and any other seasonings. Stick to plain, boiled, or steamed ingredients.
- Warming the food: Warming the canned food up or adding a little bit of warm broth (again, with no onion or garlic in it) may make the food more enticing.
Transitioning Back to Normal Diet
Once stools are back to normal & have been for at least 24 hours, begin reintroducing your dog’s normal diet. Begin mixing normal diet with the bland diet. Each day that passes, you will reduce the amount of bland diet & increase the amount of regular dog food, but still keeping up with the total per day & the frequency guidelines. Continue restricting treats, table scraps & bones until 1 week has passed without signs of diarrhea.
Gradual Transition
The bland diet should be fed strictly (no other treats, table scraps or bones) for the entire regimen. The “typical” bland diet regimen lasts about 10 days; however, this timeline may be adjusted to meet the individual patient’s needs.
Importance of Hydration
Ensuring your dog is properly hydrated is crucial, especially when dealing with diarrhea. Dehydration can be a common issue, particularly for dogs on a kibble-based diet.
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP
Hydrating Kibble
For dogs on a kibble-based diet, dehydration is a common issue. The reason? Dry kibble absorbs moisture during digestion, potentially leading to a state of chronic dehydration. This occurs as the body compensates by diverting water from internal organs to aid in the digestion process, which can result in mild dehydration-even if your dog appears to be drinking water throughout the day.
One of the simplest yet most effective strategies for pet owners feeding kibble is to ensure their dog's food is hydrated. Moistening your dog's kibble not only eases digestion but also helps maintain hydration levels in your dog's body.
Liquids to Hydrate Kibble
To hydrate kibble, consider adding:
- Filtered Water
- Coconut Water
- Bone Broth
- Goat's Milk
- Decaffeinated Green Tea (which also helps in cancer prevention)
Pro Tip: Try freezing these liquids in ice cube trays or silicone molds.
When to Consult a Veterinarian
If soft stools are not starting to resolve within 72 hours or worsen, please call your vet. If at any point your dog has more diarrhea, is vomiting, or is not feeling well, call your vet. After the initial fasting period or change to a bland diet, you should see steady improvement in your pet’s condition.
Underlying Health Conditions
Persistent diarrhea likely indicates an underlying health condition requiring veterinary diagnosis and a long-term solution like a prescription gastrointestinal diet rather than homemade bland food.
Intestinal Parasites
Another cause of diarrhea can be intestinal parasites. This is why we recommend bringing a fecal sample in to be tested for microscopic parasites.
Commercial Bland Diet Options
Your veterinarian may prescribe a commercially available bland diet (such as Hill’s i/d or Royal Canin GI diet) or ask you to prepare a homemade bland diet. Prescription foods can help with long-term gastrointestinal problems because they are made to meet all nutritional needs over longer periods. Many other brands and formulas are available, and your veterinarian will help you sort out which is most appropriate for your dog depending on their underlying condition.
Examples of Commercial Bland Diets
- Under the Weather Bland Diets for Dogs: Made with human-grade ingredients like chicken, rice, and electrolytes. Designed to offer simple and gentle nutrition to dogs that need a little time to recover, these freeze-dried meals are easy to prepare and feed.
- Grandma Lucy's Simple Replacements: Offers a wholesome, freeze-dried bland diet designed to soothe your dog’s digestive system.
- Koha Limited Ingredient Bland Diets for Dogs: Crafted to provide gentle, easy-to-digest nutrition for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues. These bland meals all share a common formula, which is one lean protein and one complex carbohydrate.
What Not to Include in a Bland Diet
No, a bland dog diet should not include any seasonings, oils, or butter. Plain, unseasoned foods like boiled chicken, rice, or ground beef are the safest choices for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Additional Considerations
Special Considerations for Puppies
For growing puppies or dogs with food allergies, special considerations may need to be taken for the homemade version of the bland diet. Your veterinarian/ technician will discuss this with you. We strongly recommend purchasing the below prescription diets for puppies, instead.
Diet Changes
We often see diarrhea when an owner wants their dog to have a different diet. A dog’s stomach is very sensitive and does not adjust well to sudden changes in diet. When changing your dog’s diet, take your time to make the change. Some dogs need 2-3 weeks for this change. Very gradually start reducing the old food and adding the new food. If you notice a loosening of the stools, slow down even more.