What's Wrong With the Bland Chicken & Rice Food for Dogs
Say No!
Why I Don’t Feed My Dogs Chicken and Rice
When dogs stop eating we get really upset, and really worried and we’ll often try anything to get them to eat.
When they have GI, inflammatory conditions, and digestive Issues it has long been recommended to feed chicken and rice as a bland diet for our dogs. This is also recommended many times after a surgical procedure to ease them back into solid foods.
I no longer do that.
Alternatives to Bland Diet For Dogs
Bone Broth (Make your own!) Dilute as needed with clear water to get your dog to drink it. Offer it often throughout the day — not just at meal time.
Probiotics — especially if they have been on antibiotics
Slippery Elm — to coat and soothe the linings of the digestive system
Pumpkin — canned or fresh or fresh frozen (not pumpkin pie puree)
Your dog can go for many days without eating meals, but they cannot go for more than 2 days without proper hydration / water. So it’s important to keep fluids going in.
After a day or so of broth only, I’ll move to some cooked ground beef with veggies and continue the broth, DE, Probiotics. Building my way back to a healthy diet whether that be Volhard or Homemade.
Please don’t return to kibble if at all possible. I believe if we start seeing GI & digestive issues with our pets, unless there is some specific identifiable root cause like eating the trash, that it’s a request of the digestive system asking for help.
Say No to Bland Chicken & Rice Diets
Why Not Chicken?
You may recall in some of the other blog posts that chicken is a KNOWN Inflammatory, high in Omega 6. If your dog’s digestive system is already inflamed and unhappy, we don’t need to fuel that
Chicken has traditionally been thought of in this bland category because it’s low fat. and a good source of protein You can can accomplish low fat with ground beef, ground turkey, even ground pork.
Why Not Rice?
Rice is very high in carbohydrates, which your dog does not need many of if at all. And certainly not if they are already dealing with inflammatory conditions.
White rice does offer some vitamins, and minerals — but not a significant enough amount to be considered nutrient rich in your dog’s diet. It does have some fiber. but there are far better choices.
White rice is also shown to spike the glycemic index, (blood sugar) which means the pancreas has to work harder to manage it. High levels of carbs like this could lead to diabetes and weight gain.
Arsenic? Yep, it has that too. When used regularly, it may lead to serious health concerns.
Bone Broth is Better
If you don’t have any on hand head to the grocer and get low-sodium bone broth for the day. But also get ingredients to make your own — Recipe & Benefits of Bone Broth! You’ll want enough to have on hand for the next several days even as you reintroduce whole foods again.
My goal during the healing process is to keep inflammation low, support the immune system with nutrient-rich foods. Yes, I know we want to get them to eat — sometimes we pray they will eat anything at all. We can find a way to make sure they begin receiving the nutrients they need through healthy food choices and supplements.
Keep in mind a fasting day (or even a couple) can be healing for your dog. Don’t panic as long as he’s drinking water and not becoming dehydrated through vomiting and diarrhea. If you suspect a blockage, improper ingestion, or serious condition — consult your vet! You know your pet best.
Chicken and Rice as a Long Term Diet -
Please don’t do this! Even if you add pea and carrots. It’s not a healthy diet. Your dog will need more nutrition than this diet can offer! This website is filled with information to help you feed your dog with health and longevity in mind. If you need help — schedule a consultation with me, get our homemade food guide, grab some good books, etc. Feed your dog to thrive.