When your dog experiences gastrointestinal (GI) upset, a bland diet can be a helpful way to soothe their digestive system and promote recovery. The two most common signs of GI upset are vomiting and diarrhea, which can be caused by various factors, such as eating too quickly, consuming spoiled food, a rapid change in diet, intestinal parasites, hairballs, or, more seriously, intestinal blockages, viral or bacterial infections, organ disease, or cancer.
What is a Bland Diet?
A bland diet is soft, highly digestible, and low in fiber, fat, and protein, while being high in carbohydrates. These diets typically consist of a single carbohydrate source and a single lean protein source. The most common bland diet is boiled white rice and boiled lean chicken breast, without skin and bones. Because bland diets are low in fiber, stool production slows down, and defecation becomes less frequent.
Bland diets are designed to rest the gastric system and promote normal stool formation. However, it's important to note that animals that are physically sick should not be fed bland diets as a method of treatment. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of action for your pet's specific condition.
Why Feed a Bland Diet?
Your veterinarian may recommend a bland diet if your pet has an upset digestive tract. A few meals of a bland diet may help soothe the intestinal tract until your pet stops vomiting, has normal stool movements, and feels better.
How to Feed a Bland Diet
While many bland diet options can be found online, consulting with your veterinarian about the appropriate ingredients for your dog is best. Here are some general guidelines that veterinarians typically recommend:
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Water Trial
If your pet has been vomiting, starting with a water trial before reintroducing food is important. After a period of 12-24 hours without vomiting, offer a couple of teaspoons of water or one ice cube. Wait at least 30 minutes. If your pet does well, repeat with a slightly larger amount. If there is still no vomiting after several hours, begin with a couple of tablespoons of the bland diet and wait an hour. If no vomiting occurs, give a slightly larger amount. Repeat this several times until a normal-sized meal is given.
Basic Boiled Rice and Chicken Bland Diet Recipe
- Carbohydrate Source: Boiled white rice
- Lean Protein Source: Chicken breast, no skin or bones
Instructions:
- Boiled Rice: Combine 1 part white rice with 3 parts water and boil for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is easily crushed.
- Boiled Chicken: Defat chicken breast and boil in water for 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken meat is easily pulled apart and cooked through.
- Mixing Instructions: Finely chop the lean protein and mix 2 cups of the carbohydrate source with 1/2 cup of the lean protein source.
Storage Instructions: Bland diets can be premade and stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 48 hours. For longer storage, cook the bland diet in a batch and freeze it in feeding-sized portions to minimize preparation time. Thaw and warm the frozen diet before feeding.
Permitted Substitutions
- Lean Protein Substitutions: Pork loin, egg whites, low-fat cottage cheese, 7% low-fat hamburger, plain low-fat yogurt.
- Carbohydrate Substitutions: Boiled potatoes (white), boiled spaghetti.
Commercial Bland Diets
Consider commercially available bland diets such as Science Prescription Diet I/D, Purina EN, or Royal Canin Gastrointestinal.
Feeding Instructions
Estimate 25% of your animal’s normal diet and feed that amount of the bland diet every 6-8 hours. Smaller animals will require less, and larger animals will require more, while adhering to the same carbohydrate-to-lean-protein source ratio. The bland diet should be fed for 4-5 days with no treats or other food sources until stools are firm.
A basic feeding schedule is as follows:
- Day 1: For each 20 pounds of body weight, feed 1/8-1/4 cup every 4 to 6 hours.
- Days 2-3: For each 20 pounds of body weight, feed 1/3-1/2 cup every 6 to 8 hours.
- Days 4-5: For each 20 pounds of body weight, feed ¾ to 1 cup every 12 hours.
- Days 6-8: Mix the bland and regular diets in a 50/50 portion for a few days before switching back to the regular diet. The total amount fed should be about what your pet would normally eat.
Transitioning Back to a Normal Diet
Never transition back to a regular diet rapidly. Transition back to the regular diet over a 1 week period (some pets may need longer). Start by adding 25% of the regular diet to 75% of the bland diet and feed that combination for 2 days. If stools continue to be firm then continue substituting the regular diet in 25% increments and feeding the combination in 2 day time intervals until the diet is 100% regular diet. Minimize treats for 1 week after moving the diet back to 100% regular diet.
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When to Feed a Bland Diet
If your pet is experiencing GI upset, consulting with your veterinarian is essential, as various causes may require more complex treatments than just a bland diet. However, some general guidelines you can follow are as follows:
- If your pet vomits, withhold food for 12-24 hours and contact your veterinarian for further advice.
- Do not withhold water, as it is crucial to prevent dehydration. Wait about 2-3 hours after a vomiting episode to offer water, providing about ¼ cup at a time to ensure vomiting is not triggered again. After 1-2 hours of no vomiting, you may offer further water in the same increments.
- Once your pet can hold down water, you can move to a more solid bland diet, gradually introducing it in small increments to allow the GI tract to rest. Several small meals per day are better than two large meals.
- Start by offering 1-2 tablespoons of food every 2-3 hours to ensure your pet can hold food down without triggering vomiting. If your pet tolerates this, gradually increase the amount and decrease the frequency of food (offer ¼ - ½ cup every 3-4 hours).
How Long to Feed a Bland Diet
Each case is different, depending on the underlying cause. It is best to consult with a veterinarian if possible. On average, it is good to keep the pet on a bland diet for at least 3-5 days beyond the resolution of the vomiting/diarrhea. Once things have stabilized, you can then start mixing the bland diet with your pet’s normal food as described above. Transitioning back to normal food is essential, as a bland diet is not nutritionally complete and is not designed to be fed long term. A bland diet is meant to provide some of the caloric intake and nutrients a pet needs while allowing the intestinal tract to recover.
Additional Tips for Encouraging Your Dog to Eat
When a dog is eating a bland diet, they are usually not feeling their best and may need a little encouragement. Consult your veterinarian to see if these methods are ideal for your dog. Your vet may also recommend offering your dog smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. If the symptoms last longer than 48 hours, call your vet.
Importance of Hydration
Keeping your dog well-hydrated is essential, especially during times of GI upset. For dogs on a kibble-based diet, dehydration can be a common issue, as dry kibble absorbs moisture during digestion. To help maintain hydration levels, consider moistening your dog's kibble by adding filtered water, coconut water, bone broth, goat's milk, or decaffeinated green tea. You can also freeze these liquids in ice cube trays or silicone molds for added convenience.
Other Considerations
Bland diets are helpful but do not solve all GI problems. If the vomiting/diarrhea continues or worsens, contact your veterinarian for further instructions. Seek emergency care or contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice any blood in the vomitus or stool. If your pet becomes weak or pale, seek emergency care immediately. Your veterinarian can help monitor your pet’s hydration status, and you can help keep your pet hydrated by encouraging them to drink water or prescribed electrolyte supplements. Some pets may require IV fluids for hydration.
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