Many dogs suffer from diarrhea. If you’re wondering if rice will help your dog’s diarrhea, the answer is yes! Rice can help because it contains a carbohydrate that slows down digestion and can also absorb water in a way similar to a sponge. It may even be helpful for dogs who have inflammatory bowel disease or other causes of chronic diarrhea. Read on to learn about how to use rice to solve this messy problem.
Does Rice Help Diarrhea in Dogs?
The best thing for dogs with diarrhea to do is eat a bland diet for a few days. It’s likely that they’ve eaten something rich such as fatty table scraps that have upset their stomach. Rice is a good choice for a bland diet because it’s gentle on the stomach and easy to digest.
Give your dog the same portion of rice as he would normally eat in regular food. For example, if your pup normally eats a cup of wet dog food each meal, give it one cup of rice instead.
Batch-cook enough rice to feed him for one or two days, depending on the severity of his diarrhea. You can use white rice because this is the easiest type for your pup to digest. Don’t add anything but water to the rice so you can make sure there aren’t any other irritants such as seasonings or other ingredients.
If his diarrhea has resolved after a day or two, gradually reintroduce rice and other food so your dog’s digestive system can get back to normal. This slow transition will help to prevent future bouts of diarrhea.
If your dog’s diarrhea doesn’t improve after a day or two on a bland diet, take him to the vet for an examination. There could be another underlying cause that needs treatment.
Does Chicken Help Diarrhea in Dogs?
Chicken can be a safe and nutritious part of a dog’s diet. It contains large amounts of protein that provide energy as well as essential amino acids for healthy muscle development, but it doesn’t have the same high-fat content that red meat can have.
Chicken is also easy to digest, so your pup should be able to tolerate small portions without any problems even if he has diarrhea.
If your dog is suffering from chronic diarrhea, try giving him boiled chicken instead of his regular food for a few days. It’s best to cook it without any seasonings so you know exactly what your pup is being exposed to and how much fat and sodium there is in each serving.
You should also give your dog cooked white rice as part of his bland diet. This will help absorb water in the digestive tract so he’ll have less diarrhea after meals, while also being gentle on his stomach and easy to digest.
Create a blend of 2 parts rice to 1 part shredded chicken for a nutritious bland meal that will help to ease your dog’s diarrhea. Make sure to trim the fat from the chicken before cooking it, and don’t season it.
If his condition improves after a few days, gradually introduce chicken and white rice in different combinations so you can determine which is the best fit for his stomach. You should be able to find something he can tolerate even when experiencing chronic or acute bouts of diarrhea.
Gradually reintroduce rice and other foods after a few days of bland dieting so your dog can get back to his normal meals over time. If he develops diarrhea again, you’ll know that this is a food intolerance rather than something more serious such as inflammatory bowel disease or pancreatitis.
What Kind of Rice Helps Diarrhea in Dogs?
It’s best for dogs with diarrhea to eat white rice because it’s the easiest type for them to digest. Don’t add anything but water to the rice so you can make sure there aren’t any other irritants such as seasonings or other ingredients.
If you feed your dog wild rice, black rice, or brown rice, it may be difficult for him to digest. Wild rice is particularly hard on the stomach, so you should avoid it if your pup has diarrhea or any other digestive issues.
If you must use heartier rice such as brown rice, try to overcook it so that it’s mushy and easy for your dog to digest. If you have a pressure cooker, it is quick and simple to prepare with just a few minutes of high-pressure cooking time.
If soaked overnight before boiling, the rice will soften so it’s easier on his stomach even if he has diarrhea or other digestive problems. This also helps to remove toxins and make the nutrients in the rice more available. It can also lightly ferment the rice, having a mildly probiotic effect.
In any case, don’t add salt or other seasonings to the rice while it’s cooking. This can make your dog more nauseous if he has diarrhea, and won’t be helpful for his stomach at all. Dogs are allergic to many seasonings, including onion powder, garlic powder, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and many others.
Make sure that you’re not using a pre-seasoned rice cooker or rice blend, as they often contain ingredients that your dog may be allergic to. If you’re not sure, read the label carefully or call the manufacturer to ask about the ingredients.
What Else Can Help With Diarrhea in Dogs?
Luckily, there are other options for food that you can feed to your dog if he’s suffering from diarrhea.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin puree is a good option because it contains soluble fiber which can help to soothe the digestive tract and absorb water. It’s also high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Pumpkin is easy to digest and can help to firm up your dog’s stool. It also has a natural sweetness which many dogs enjoy.
You can give your pup canned pumpkin or cooked pumpkin puree that you’ve made yourself. Add it to his food in small amounts, or mix it with water or chicken broth to create a bland gruel that he’ll love.
Broth
Chicken or beef broth is a good choice for dogs with diarrhea because it’s high in protein and easy to digest. It also contains minerals and electrolytes which can help to replace what he’s lost through dehydration.
You can buy prepared chicken or beef broth from the store, or make your own at home by boiling bones or meat in water. Add a small amount of cooked white rice to the broth to make it more palatable for your dog.
Remember that seasonings can be dangerous for your dog. Find or make a broth that doesn’t contain any added salt, onion powder, garlic powder, or other spices that your dog may be allergic to.
Green Beans
If your pup is feeling up to eating something a little more solid, try giving him some cooked green beans. They’re high in fiber and vitamins C and A and are easy for dogs to digest.
You can give your dog cooked or canned green beans. If you use canned, be sure to rinse them well before serving so that the sodium isn’t too high for him.
Remember never to give your pup uncooked green beans because they are toxic and he could become very sick if he eats them.
Bananas
You can give your pup a small piece of ripe banana to help soothe the stomach and reduce diarrhea. Bananas contain soluble fiber and pectin, which are very helpful for soothing the gut and absorbing water.
Bananas also have potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, B vitamins (niacin), iron, and other minerals that can be beneficial to your dog.
Cottage Cheese
If you want something gentle with high protein, cottage cheese is another good choice for dogs with diarrhea. It’s high in protein, which will help him recover from his illness faster than if he were just fed carbs like rice or pumpkin puree. Cottage cheese is also easy to digest and contains probiotics that can help the digestive tract recover.
Don’t give your dog too much cottage cheese because it’s high in fat, even if those fats are “good” for him. Cottage cheese is a good option as long as you keep his portions small and don’t let him eat more than an ounce or two at a time.
Yogurt
Like cottage cheese, yogurt is high in protein and probiotics, which can help to soothe the gut and promote healthy digestion. It also contains calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals that can be beneficial for your dog.
You can give your pup plain yogurt of any kind. Just make sure that the yogurt doesn’t contain any added sugars or artificial sweeteners since these could make his diarrhea worse.
If your dog doesn’t like the taste of yogurt, you can also add it to his food in small amounts or mix it with water or chicken broth.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is another good choice for dogs with diarrhea because it’s high in soluble fiber and easy to digest. It also has a bland, slightly sweet flavor that most dogs like.
You can give your dog plain oatmeal, or add some broth to it to make it more savory and appealing for your pup.
Cooked Noodles
If your pup is feeling up to eating something a little more solid, cooked noodles can be a good choice. They’re high in carbs and easy to digest, making them a good option for dogs who are struggling with diarrhea.
Eggs
Eggs are another high-protein, easy-to-digest option for dogs with diarrhea. They’re also a good source of vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, selenium, phosphorus, and choline.
You can give your pup boiled eggs or scrambled eggs. Make sure not to overdo it, since eggs contain a decent amount of fat, which may further upset your dog’s stomach.
Fasting
If your dog is very weak and isn’t eating anything, you may want to fast him for a day. If he can keep down water, let him drink as much as he wants but withhold food completely.
Then slowly introduce small amounts of bland foods like white rice (easy to digest), boiled chicken (easier than beef or turkey), or cottage cheese the next day.
Prescription Dog Food
If your dog isn’t eating any of the foods you’ve tried or is losing weight, it’s probably time to consult with a veterinarian about putting him on special food for dogs with diarrhea.
Your vet can recommend high-fiber canned foods that are easy to digest and contain nutrients like amino acids, antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamins A, B, C, and E.
Probiotic Supplements
If your dog is still having trouble with diarrhea, you may want to ask about giving him probiotic supplements. Probiotics can help restore healthy bacteria in the gut and promote better digestion.
The vet will be able to recommend good quality brands without additives or fillers that are safe for dogs with diarrhea. Make sure not to buy human probiotics, which can be harmful to your pup.
What to Do if My Dog Has Diarrhea?
If your dog is having diarrhea, there are a few things you can do to help him feel better:
- Keep him hydrated by letting him drink lots of water and broth. You can also give him ice cubes or popsicles made from broths or diluted fruit juice.
- Offer small, frequent meals of easily digestible foods like cooked white rice and boiled chicken. Avoid giving him fatty or greasy food, milk products, or other dairy products that could further upset his stomach.
- Consult with your vet about putting your dog on a bland diet of prescription dog food to ease symptoms until he feels better.
- Give your dog probiotic supplements as recommended by your vet to help restore healthy bacteria in his gut and promote better digestion.
- Keep him away from stress as much as possible and make sure he gets plenty of rest. Diarrhea can be very exhausting for dogs.
- Don’t feed him table scraps or human food, which could contain ingredients that are difficult for dogs to digest.
If your dog’s diarrhea continues for more than a day or two, becomes bloody, or contains chunks of undigested food, take him to the vet immediately. He may have a more serious illness that requires treatment.