The BRAT Diet

As promised, I’m following up a previous post with some more recipes that include rice for dog diarrhea to get your dogs back to their normal diet.

Chicken with Rice for Dog

4 ounces of a low fat meat product that is boiled or baked.

8 ounces of white rice (white rice is preferred if treating active dog diarrhea, otherwise you can substitute cooked oatmeal or cottage cheese).

*Whatever total weight portion of rice and meat you use the ratio of meat to rice should be 1:2.

Combine these ingredients with 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt, (or a pro-biotic powder made especially for dogs) and 2-4 heaping teaspoons of boiled or baked sweet potato.

Chicken and Rice for Dogs- Version 2

Soft boil 2 egg

Boil a pound of fresh chicken livers in 2 cups of chicken stock for 15 minutes. Drain the excess liquid and allow the livers to cool to room temperature.

Prepare a cup of cooked rice (white or brown).

Coarsely chop the chicken livers and eggs and mix these ingredients together with the rice. You can store this in a container in the refrigerator for up to 72 hours.

Feed 2 tablespoons of the mixture to your dog every 3-4 hours for the first 12-24 hours. Increase the amount of food at each feeding during the following 12-24 hours according to how well your pet is doing. Once his GI problems are eliminated you can restart your dog on his normal diet.

The Ralston Purina Dog Food Manufacturers have one type of dog food that is made with extra starches and protein that may help prevent dog diarrhea. The name of this dry dog food product is Purina’s CNM /HA Special Formula.

There are also some herbs that can be used to treat dog diarrhea. You can add these herbs to your dog’s diet or purchase some prepared formulas that contain a combination of natural organic substances that are known to help reverse diarrhea and restore normal function to the GI tract. I’ll write more about these herbs and dog blends specifically if there is enough interest.

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