The best thing to feed your dog battling diarrhea is a food that is bland and high in fiber. You still want reasonable nutrition, but first you need to get the loose stools under control. Obviously, consulting your veterinarian is wise, and he or she may recommend a medication if the diarrhea is severe (remember, diarrhea dehydrates a dog, just as it does us!). You will probably also be advised to feed your dog oatmeal or chicken and rice. Here’s why those choices are best to help settle your dog’s gastrointestinal tract.
What to Feed a Dog with Diarrhea
Fiber is amazing. It can help with both loose stools and constipation. And it’s a natural food source. Fiber soaks up fluid and slows the food’s passage through the digestive tract, helping to firm up the dog’s stool.
Oatmeal for Diarrhea in Dogs
Fiber is why oatmeal is a good food for dogs with diarrhea: It’s naturally high in fiber! Oatmeal that is minimally processed is your best choice—no packets of instant oatmeal—and that means steel-cut oats are your best choice. You can use plain “quick oats” in a pinch, but they are processed to cook more quickly. Try to stick with steel-cut oats.
Other excellent sources of fiber for dogs include plain (emphasis on plain) canned pumpkin (not baking pumpkin for pies!), 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 (again, no seasoning!). Feed them cooked, not raw.
Kale and green beans are other possible fiber sources. Added vegetables should be plain, not buttered or spiced.
Chicken and Rice for Diarrhea in Dogs
Dogs with diarrhea need foods that are easily digested. But, if they’re on a bland diet for a while, the dog needs a quality protein source, as well as high-fiber food. Boiled chicken with rice is a standby for dogs with diarrhea for good reason. Chicken is a quality protein that is easily digested. Often for dogs battling a GI upset, veterinarians recommend starting with white rice, as it is more bland than brown rice. With diarrhea, however, brown rice adds some nice fiber, too.
Other Bland Food to Feed a Dog with Diarrhea
Scrambled eggs will help dogs with diarrhea, and dogs love scrambled eggs, but stick to just plain eggs. Don’t add butter, milk, or cheese, in case your dog is sensitive to dairy products.
Plain mashed potatoes (even instant ones) are often easy on a dog’s digestive tract. These easily digested foods are also good for a dog recovering from a bout of vomiting.
Metamucil may help a dog with diarrhea as well. You don’t have to feed much. Small dogs only need one-quarter of a teaspoon.
With any of these suggestions, try a small amount first. Not every dog can tolerate all these recommended foods. One of my own dogs responded to potatoes and rice with soft stools and horrible gas!
Finally, if your dog has chronic diarrhea, you must involve your veterinarian. It could be parasites, disease, or a change in your dog’s food formulation you aren’t even aware of, but you need to track down the source.
