How Can I Help My Dog With Upset Stomach? Dog BRAT Diet Alternatives.
For Tillie we normally are strict about what she eats. But sometimes no matter how strict we are she ends up getting into things that give her a yucky tummy.
In addition to this recipe what works for some dogs is a spoonful of plain, unsweetened yogurt with their regular food. As a probiotic, it can really help.
Another thing that works is Pepto-Bismol. You should only use it in the very short term – no more than one or two days – and the dose is 1/4 tablet every 6 to 8 hours. (You should inquire with your veterinarian if your furbaby is on any meds before using this method as Pepto can interfere with some medications).
Soothe Your Dog’s Tummy Trouble with this Vet Approved Recipe
This is a simple recipe that’s meant to calm down an icky stomach. Consider it the Puppy version of the BRAT diet. (You know… bananas, rice, applesauce, toast)
Sometimes people ask me is there a BRAT diet for dogs, and yes. It just contains slightly different ingredients.
This particular BRAT diet is safe for puppies as well as full grown dogs. It also works well for dogs with diarrhea.
Important! If your dog has diarrhea that lasts for more than a day or so make sure you take them to see your vet. It can be the sign of a bigger problem.
I got this recipe from our vet, so you know it’s a tried and true one. If your Sweet Little Furball gets an upset tummy, try this. It really works for our Tillie so I am happy to share it with our readers.
What exactly is in a bland diet?
Not the exciting topic of TV cooking shows, bland diets have boring ingredients. They consist of foods that are low in fat and fiber and are easy to digest. Effective bland diets usually have a single protein source (no surf and turf) and a simple carbohydrate. Sometimes, bland diets include ingredients that will help the formation of solid stool. Bon appétit!
Bland diets are also boring to prepare. No grilling or pan searing here! The meat source is usually boiled (yuk). Boil boneless, skinless pieces of chicken or turkey in non-salted or lightly-salted water until done. Drain the boiled meat and allow it to cool to room temperature before dicing into small pieces. Even with these very lean protein sources, there will be a little fat produced with boiling, so skim the broth to remove the fat floating on top. Save the skimmed broth to add moisture to the food which may improve palatability. Bland is not appetizing. Bland AND dry….even less so!
As an alternative to boiling meat, you may pan fry lean ground beef or turkey. Drain thoroughly to remove as much fat as possible. Unseasoned scrambled eggs are another good protein source for tummies in turmoil. Protein rich poached fish might appeal to the feline diners. You can also use commercially prepared turkey or chicken baby food or cottage cheese as a protein source, but be aware of the sodium content.
The source of starch in a bland diet can be rice or sweet potato. Steam or boil white or brown rice until tender. Bake the sweet potato, peel it, and cut it into small cubes. Canned sweet potatoes may be used if not too high in sodium. Alternative starches also include cooked oatmeal or pasta.
Regardless of what’s on your menu, combine ingredients in a 2:1 ratio of starch to meat (e.g., 2 cups rice to 1 cup meat). Cooked diets may be refrigerated for several days or frozen for long term storage.
Pets with diarrhea only, often respond to a bland diet that includes pureed pumpkin or bananas. The fiber in pumpkin and bananas is very soluble so it doesn’t overtax the GI tract. Both are good sources of potassium, absorb water, and slow down peristalsis which helps decrease bowel movements. While they may not be a fan of bananas, cats and dogs will usually eat pumpkin quite readily. Just make sure you buy regular canned pumpkin….not pie filling. It’s not dessert time!
BLAND DIETS FOR DOGS: what is a bland diet? When should you give your dog a bland diet?
Diarrhea and vomiting: as much havoc as they wreak on your carpeting, imagine your pup’s gut. Vomiting and diarrhea are some of the most common ailments that we see pets for at an emergency hospital, and they may be accompanied by a lack of appetite and energy. There are steps you can take at home to stop the train before it leaves the station.