If your pup has diarrhea, rice is one of the best things you can feed them to help recover faster. Start giving small portions as soon as they show signs of appetite or no longer vomiting.
This food is easy to digest, feeds beneficial bacteria, and helps bulk up loose stools.
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Bland Diet
A bland diet can help provide relief to a dog’s GI tract. Veterinarians have often recommended this home remedy consisting of easy-to-digest foods like white rice and plain boiled chicken or ground beef without added fats or seasonings.
Vegetables that are easy to digest such as potatoes are also recommended for creating a bland diet for your dog. Potatoes provide readily digestible starches while boasting plenty of dietary fiber that helps improve stool consistency.
A bland diet shouldn’t be considered as a long-term solution, so work with your vet to gradually introduce some of your dog’s regular food over a week to see how their stomach responds. Be careful that any changes don’t create further irritation for their stomach lining and, during this phase, offer only water rather than treats to keep hydration levels at optimum.
Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help restore balance to the GI tract of dogs. When harmful organisms such as E coli or Salmonella overgrow inside their systems, leading to diarrhea. Probiotics restore this equilibrium with healthy intestinal bacteria that help restore equilibrium within their systems.
When selecting a probiotic, look for one with a high CFU count — this indicates the number of live bacteria cultures contained within. Many probiotic products provide this number on their ingredients label directly – for instance Vibeful Probiotic Gastrointestinal Support Powder Digestive Supplement for Dogs contains 200 million CFU from S. boulardii, B subtilis, and L acidophilus probiotics alone!
This formula features the powerful probiotic strain Bacillus Coagulans, which can withstand stomach acid to reach the intestines where it helps with stool quality and promotes healthy flora. Furthermore, papaya provides digestive enzymes while pumpkin provides fiber and prebiotics to aid with your pet’s gut health. Plus, all this without fillers, potential allergens or GMO ingredients which could worsen his/her diarrhea symptoms!
Over-the-Counter Medications
Bismuth subsalicylate (PeptoBismol or Kaopectate), is an over-the-counter medication that can help improve the consistency of diarrheal stool for dogs when taken according to its recommended dosage. While safe for canines, cats should avoid this medication due to it containing salicylic acid which can be toxic if given in excess.
Loperamide (Imodium(r)) can also be an effective medication to combat diarrhea in dogs. It works by decreasing gut motility and allowing more fluid and salts to reenter their bodies; additionally it may alleviate abdominal pain; however this should be monitored carefully by your veterinarian to make sure it’s helping without creating further issues.
Rice is a highly digestible starch that can help bulk up and solidify your dog’s stool, so offer it to him in ratio of one cup of plain rice for every piece of chicken or lean hamburger meat boiled up and fed to him.
Prescription Diets
Many pet food brands offer therapeutic lines designed to address specific health conditions, like diarrhea. These require a valid veterinarian prescription and should typically be given in smaller portions more often. Examples of such brands are Hill’s i/d Digestive Care and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Formula.
As not all foods contain prebiotic or probiotic additives, they may still prove useful when combined with other treatments like hydration and bland diets for treating canines with diarrhea. Such diets may also help identify possible food allergies or gut imbalances and lead to faster recovery timeframes.
As well as offering your dog a bland diet, it’s essential that they avoid scavenging and drinking from the ground while suffering from diarrhea. Doing so can cause further stomach distress as well as possible blockages in their intestines. When outside or in a cage setting, use a muzzle on them – this may also prevent them from chewing up bones that might further irritate their stomach or bowels.
