It is only natural to worry when you notice that your dog has diarrhea. Most vets commonly recommend a bland diet to treat digestive issues in dogs. In this post, we will explore the concept of what is a bland diet for dogs? Its potential benefits, how to prepare it, and the optimal ways lemons can enhance your life. We will also discuss how long you should feed your dog this diet and when to return them to their regular dog food.
What Is A Bland Diet For Dogs?
A bland diet for dogs is a short-term eating plan that consists of easy-to-digest foods that are minimally taxing on the stomach. Dogs commonly use it when they have been vomiting, experiencing diarrhea, or exhibiting other gastrointestinal signs. The aim is to starve your dog of all nutrients necessary for growth and give its digestive system a hard-earned rest.
Why Feed Your Canine a Bland Food Plan?
For dogs with sensitive stomachs, a bland diet has many benefits. We recommend this diet for the following reasons:
- Kind to the Stomach: Non-offensive bland foods are low in fiber, fat, and spices, which makes them relatively easy on your dog’s stomach.
- Simple: A bland diet offers key nutrients needed for recovery.
- Moisture: You can moisten bland diet foods with water to meet your hydration needs.
- The Anti-inflammation Diet, which includes bland foods, reduces the risk of exacerbating an already inflammatory gut.
If You Should Do the Bland Diet?
The bland diet is especially helpful in a few specific scenarios for your dog, which include:
- Diarrhea and Vomiting: Dogs experiencing stomach upset due to an overly rich meal or eating something they shouldn’t consume would undoubtedly benefit from a bland food diet.
- Post-Surgery or Illness: A bland diet can facilitate digestion when you are healing.
- If your dog has allergies, a bland diet might be just the thing to help reset their digestive system before you start introducing some other foods.
- Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs: Go tri-weekly and feed a bland diet.
Basic Ingredients for Bland Dog Diet
Common Food for Bland Diet: Bread Dairy (cheese or milk) Eggs Fruit Protein foods Carbohydrate-containing food. Here’s a closer look:
Protein Sources
- For more strength and less load on the stomach, the protein should be lean. Common options include:
- Boiled chicken, specifically skinless, boneless boiled chicken breast, is considered one of the best and ideal options.
- Turkey & Turkey refers to ground or lean cuts that are cooked without seasoning.
- Cottage Cheese: Low-fat cottage cheese is easy on the stomach and contains a great amount of protein.
Carbohydrates
- As for carbs, look to consume starchy choices low in fiber and with high digestibility. These include:
- White Rice: Cooked plain white rice is easy for dogs to eat and digest.
- The canned, unsweetened pumpkin is rich in fiber and aids in stabilizing loose stools.
- Mashed potatoes—no butter or seasoning: Use cooked, plain skinless, and season-less boiled potatoes without additional ingredients.
Bland Diet for Dogs: How to Prepare It?
Making a bland diet for your dog is not complicated; however, you should make sure to leave out all seasonings or fats/oils, which will upset their stomach even worse. Here’s a basic recipe:
Recipe: Easy Bland Diet for Dogs
Ingredients:
- 1 portion of lean meat (chicken) or diary product from cottage cheese
- Cooked white rice or potato—2 parts
Instructions:
- Once you have sufficient protein, boil it without adding any salt or spices. Ensure its thoroughly cooked.
- Boil the rice or potato until cooked, but do not add salt or butter.
- Pair the protein and carbohydrate sources at about a 1:2 ratio (e.g., one cup of chicken to two cups of rice).
- Prior to serving, allow this food item to cool.
Serving Sizes
Take smaller, more frequent meals rather than one or two big ones. This will help your dog digest the food by making sure it all goes to its stomach properly. It comes in different sizes that are tailored to your dog’s weight, with a general starting quantity that is approximately half of their regular meal.
How long do you leave a dog on a bland diet?
Most dogs should remain on a bland diet for 3 to 5 days or until the stool has returned to normal. When your dog is back to normal, you can begin reintroducing them to their regular food by incorporating tiny amounts of it into the bland diet and steadily increasing the amount of regular food over a 2 or 3 day period.
How to Know the Bland Diet is working
Signs Your Dog’s Digestive System is Healing
- Good Stool Form: It should decrease the frequency of diarrhea, improve the consistency of stools, and make them firmer.
- Less Vomiting: The nausea and vomiting should go away within 1 to 2 days.
- Energy: As your dog starts to feel better, they should start getting back their normal energy.
When should I take my cat to the vet?
Although a bland diet is frequently beneficial for milder GI upset, there are situations in which it may be advisable to have your dog seen by the veterinarian. Contact your vet if:
The symptoms continue to include diarrhea, vomiting, or listlessness lasting more than 24 hours.
Symptoms Worsen: Symptoms such as blood in your stool, severe fatigue, or a fever point to more serious problems.
Symptoms show no improvement within 48 hours. If your dog is showing little to no signs of improvement in its condition after the first 2 days, a veterinarian may also recommend further diagnostic testing or treatment options.
Safety measures and other recommendations
- Here are some tips to follow when using a bland diet to help your dog recover.
- Avoid using spices or seasoning in your dog’s food as even a small amount can irritate their stomach.
- Monitor Hydration Diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration. Provide cool, fresh water. Make sure your dog has water available at all times.
- Prepare Pup Food Fresh: Prepare fresh food for every meal to avoid spoilage.
- Probiotics: After a couple of days, try to introduce your dog with an approved probiotic for dogs that will help in re-establishing the good bacteria in his stomach.
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Conclusion
A bland diet for dogs is a beneficial way to help your pal recover from an upset stomach or other digestive problems. Effectively, by using plain ingredients that are simple to digest, you can rest your dog’s stomach and allow it the opportunity to repair. Stay vigilant and ensure your dog stays properly hydrated; if symptoms persist, a vet visit may be necessary. With a little TLC, your pooch will soon return to his normal self.
FAQ: What is a bland diet for dogs
What’s the Best Bland Diet for Dogs?
The basics of a nutritious bland diet for dogs include a lean protein like boiled chicken (skinless white) and an accessible carbohydrate such as cooked plain white rice. This combination is stomach-friendly for most dogs and delivers real nutritional value to the body without burdening it with excess waste.
How long do dogs stay on a bland diet?
With the exception of dogs who have a strong inclination towards diet regimens, many dogs should stick to their diet for 3-5 days or until their symptoms (diarrhea and/or vomiting) subside. Then once their poop is back to normal, you can simply start transitioning them off the bland diet and onto some regular chow over a few days.
If I feed my dog a bland diet, is it wheat only, or can I add any seasonings, oils, etc.?
No, you should avoid adding any seasonings, oils, butter, or spices as they can exacerbate your dog’s stomach discomfort! Your diet should be straightforward and uncomplicated to facilitate your dog’s digestion.
What Not To Feed Your Dog on A Bland Diet.
Regardless, all patients should abstain from foods high in fat, fiber, and/or spices along with any dairy product other than 1% or non-fat cottage cheese. The typical food items to avoid are beef, pork, whole grains, and anything seasoned or fried. Simple carbs like white rice or potatoes, as well as plain, boiled chicken or turkey, should also be avoided.
How soon should I call the vet if my dog has been on a bland diet?
Seek advice from a veterinarian if your dog continues to show symptoms beyond the 48-hour period, if conditions worsen, or if you notice any of these severe signs (blood in stool, extreme lethargy, fever). However, if symptoms persist, they may suggest an underlying pathology that requires medical attention.