We have all heard of rice and gravy, rice pudding, and the custom of tossing rice at the end of a wedding reception; but rice and diarrhea? Surprisingly enough rice is an excellent cure that has been used to cure GI upsets involving members of the canine family. And I serve my own dogs rice for dog diarrhea, matter o’ fact.
And of course, although obvious I’d hope, I am not a licensed veterinarian, thus although this is my experience with my dogs through the years, be wise about it and smartly consult your own dog’s vet prior to changing your dog’s diet.
For a dog having a case of diarrhea often is nature’s way of helping them eliminate something disagreeable from their intestinal tract. This is especially true if you have a normally healthy dog that seems to be his usual happy self except for the loose, watery stools. Adding some rice to their meals might just provide your pet with a quick, healthy fix. Ironically, although this post does discuss dogs, the similarities between dogs and people in this case – - and why it is relevant on the brat diet site – - including those who feed Immodium to their pet, are strikingly similar.
Of course if you have a young puppy or an older dog with chronic health problems you should take them in to be checked by a vet because they are at higher risk from developing dehydration as a result of the diarrhea
The basic diet of a dog with GI upsets should focus on replacing proteins that they are losing through their loose stools. Providing your pet with a meal that contains equal amounts of cooked meat and rice can help soothe the irritable digestive tract while giving the animal bulk and fiber. If it seems as though you have a dog with an irritable bowel disease some ground flaxseed mixed with regular food will also prove helpful.
The Easy 5 Day Diet: Rice for Dog Diarrhea:
Day 1 – Provide your dog with plenty of water, but no food because it would only irritate his digestive system even more.
Day 2 – Cooked Rice can be given to your dog to eat and they are also allowed water to drink. In fact, make sure they have plenty of water, as rice absorbs it, and the point here is to push “the bad” out of your dog, regulating their upset stomach and diet.
Day 3 – Your dog’s meals should consist of equal portions of baked, stewed or grilled chicken (skinned) and cooked rice. Provide a portion that’s a bit less than their normal meal.
Day 4 - You can now feed your pet a meal that is made with equal portions of cooked rice and the regular dog food that you purchase. Dry is better than wet or soft. Serve mixed, so they don’t just eat one or the other. Rice is sticky, so mixing should be easy.
Day 5 – Advance your pet’s diet so that he is now restarted on his normal meals.
*If your dog is better by the beginning of the 3rd day, and the GI problems seem under control, you can skip the meal plan listed for Day 3. This changes the Rice Diet for Dogs to a 4 day plan instead.
You can make healthy, easy to digest doggie meals at home. Here are some good recipes to use that include meat, rice and yogurt. These are simple and easy to prepare and they promote better digestive health for your pets, but in my experience, this is an especially advanced treatment that honestly I don’t do. I have found that herbs, although o.k. for people, often have adverse effects with my own dog. Even a chicken or beef broth with herbs, although not turned away by most dogs goes down easy, but the side effects can make it not worth their initial pleasure.
I’ll be adding some more rice recipes for your dog’s diarrhea in future posts, or as you let me know. This should give you a good place to start, however.
Sandy