If your dog cannot tolerate chicken then better alternatives are boiled turkey mince or boiled white fish (such as haddock, cod, pollock) if not, chicken is a great go-to. So what alternative can we use instead of the rice? Sweet Potato, Butternut Squash or Pumpkin.
Dogs suffering from diarrhea and digestive upset need a gentle diet with essential nutrients. Prebiotic fiber-filled pumpkin or sweet potato is a good go-to for dog diarrhea or constipation.
Once the gastrointestinal signs have resolved, experts advise a slow transition back to your dog's regular diet. First, replace a quarter or third of the chicken and white rice with your dog's typical food. Then, increase the amount each day until your dog is fully back on a normal diet.
If you want something similar to chicken to feed to your dog, we recommend turkey. There's a high chance that a dog allergic to chicken won't be allergic to turkey, making it a great alternative. Turkey is very healthy meat packed with protein and other nutrients essential for your dog's health.
With the dramatic rise in demand for grain and gluten free pet foods over the past decade, potatoes were found to be a great nutritional carbohydrate source to use in place of rice, barley, and oats. Potatoes are very easily tolerated and digestible for most dogs and cats.
A common recommendation is to feed boiled chicken and rice if your dog has an upset stomach, but turkey is also a great protein option. It is easy on the digestive tract and can also be combined with pumpkin or sweet potato for a highly digestible bland diet.
Dogs do no not digest rice too well. It takes a lot of work for the body to break down. Rice is a carbohydrate and we know dogs have little nutritional requirement for carbohydrates in their diet. White rice has a high glycemic index, meaning it will cause a rapid spike in blood glucose levels.
While this might make them more appetizing, it could also irritate your pup's already upset stomach. If your pup doesn't like plain rice, you can try plain, baked sweet potato, oatmeal, or plain pasta. You can use canned sweet potato as long as it is not loaded with sodium.
Opt for rice if possible.
While plain pasta might not cause any problems for your dog, brown rice and white rice might actually soothe their stomach. If you'd still rather use a more processed form of pasta as a treat, opt for simple chickpea, lentil, or whole wheat pasta recipes.
White Rice or Brown Rice
Rice is a typical staple for a bland diet because rice is easily digested by dogs and easy on an upset stomach. However, there is one thing that many pet parents overlook when feeding their dog white or brown rice - you must overcook the rice in order for it to be highly digestible for dogs.
Chicken is one of the most common food allergens in pets – although food allergies are rare in comparison to environmental allergies, a cause of GI upset is food sensitivities and should always be considered particularly if the pet has regular flare ups.
Oatmeal for Diarrhea in Dogs
Other excellent sources of fiber for dogs include plain (emphasis on plain) canned pumpkin, beet pulp, brown rice, carrots, and apple slices. Many dogs like sweet potatoes, and they have plenty of good nutrients as well as healthy fiber (no seasoning!). Feed them cooked, not raw.
Boiled chicken is the first thing most pet parents try for dogs with an upset stomach. Choose low-fat white meat with no bone or skin. Lean ground hamburger or turkey is also a great option. At Open Farm, we have high-quality cooked foods for dogs, ideal for upset stomachs.
“We use rice as a carb source when dogs are on a bland diet after a GI upset,” says Dr. Steve Weinberg, DVM and medical director/CEO of 911Vets, a mobile veterinary service in the Los Angeles area. “Rice helps to bind the stool in cases of diarrhea.”
Rice and chicken are a great combination for dogs, and they can be a part of a healthy diet if you feed them in moderation. If your dog is overweight, you should try to limit her carb intake, but if she's healthy she can eat a moderate amount of carbs and still be healthy.
Fiber: Pumpkin Vs Rice
Since soluble fiber slows down GI transit times and coats and soothes irritated bowels, you can start to see why pumpkin is better than rice for diarrhea. Additionally, dogs with diarrhea are at risk for dehydration due to the loss of important electrolytes, like potassium.
The basic bland diet is made of boiled unseasoned white rice and boiled, diced, and unseasoned chicken breast with skin and bones removed. As an alternative to boiling meat, you can pan-fry lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken—but drain it thoroughly to remove as much fat as possible and, again, don't season it.
Cook small carrot pieces to give your dog as a treat. Mix some cooked carrots pieces with cooked rice or other dog-safe cooked vegetables like green beans, potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, celery, or broccoli.
We've looked at both rice and oatmeal. It's easy to see that both are healthy and can serve a purpose in boosting your pooch's nutrition. To determine what is better for your dog, have a chat with your vet and go over your dog's nutritional needs based on age, health status, and activity level.
Good news: vets give the OK when it comes to dogs and sweet potatoes! In fact, sweet potatoes are considered a healthy treat for dogs and offer lots of nutritional value for your pooch. Just be careful how you go about introducing this fiber-rich starchy root to your pooch.
Finally, there is a convenient and healthy bland diet option without all the prep! This hamburger, rice and sweet potato formula will help to soothe your dog's tummy until healthy digestion is restored, or for as long as your veterinarian recommends.