FEEDING DOGS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL ISSUES

Dogs with diarrhea or vomiting are a challenge to feed. Few foods stay in the digestive system long enough for nutrients to be absorbed. The objective is to provide nutrition without causing further stomach upset, so make any diet changes gradually.

The foods selected for this diet are limited because they are highly digestible. Eggs are the best source of digestible protein and require few enzymes to be digested. Chicken breasts are another good source of protein because they are low in fat and high in protein. For grains, use rice which is well cooked with lots of water.

By reducing fat, the likelyhood of intestinal inflammation and diarrhea is decreased. However, dogs do need a small amount of fat, so oil is added, but in small amounts. Salmon oil or sardines will reduce inflammation and provide vitamins A, D, and E. Canola oil will add vitamin K and Vitamin E.

Dogs with compromised systems will need additional supplementation because of the reduced nutritional absorption. Zinc and a salt substitute, potassium chloride, are added to bolster the immune and digestive systems.

1. It is VERY IMPORTANT to feed smaller meals more frequently. Feeding 3-4 times a day will ease the workload on your dog’s digestive system.

2. Steer clear of dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt or cottage cheese.

3. Instead of the usual treats use the Sardine Crouton Recipe below.

4. An occasional can of pumpkin puree may help ease the diarrhea. Add in small amounts to prevent adding too much fiber at once. You can also eventually add 2-3 teaspoons of psyllium fiber to your dog’s diet as he recovers.


Beginning Recovery Recipe:

2 cups chicken stock
2 cups water
1 cup rice

Bring stock, water and rice to a boil. Decrease heat and allow to steam to escape. Simmer for 30 minutes or until rice is creamy and thick. Allow to cool.

Additions: 1 cup diced cooked chicken breast or 1/2 cup 90%+ ground beef boiled and drained.

Rice and Egg Recipe:

8 cups water
4 cups rice
12 large eggs
Combine water and rice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until all water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.

Separate egg whites from 6 eggs and set aside. Discard or save yolks. In a medium bowl, add remaining whole eggs to the egg whites and beat lightly until combined.

Cook or add to rice mixture raw.

Supplements: (add daily)

vitamin/mineral tablet
50 mg zinc
2 tbs salmon oil
1 tbs eggshell powder or bone meal
1/2 tsp potassium chloride (salt substitute)
Digestive enzymes and probiotics


Sardine Crouton Treats:

1 sardine (packed in water)
1 whole wheat bread

Mash sardine with a fork until reduced to a paste. Toast bread lightly and cut into cubes. Add bread cubes to mashed sardines and mix well to coat the bread. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

How to strengthen your dog’s immune system naturally

Instructions

1. Begin a raw food diet of the type of raw foods your dog would find in the wild, including raw meats (chicken, lamb, pork, fish, rabbit and quail), raw bones, raw vegetables (carrots, spinach, broccoli), raw fruits (apples, oranges, pears) and raw eggs.

Note: Not all dogs might be in the condition to jump into this natural diet, due to possible compromised immune systems. Also, the raw food you give your dog should be in good hygienic and eatable conditions. Consult your veterinarian if in doubt.

Your dog's stomach is naturally designed to digest raw foods. Do not feed your dog unnatural, processed and chemical carrying canned or dry food. These are generally the causes of allergies and other deficiencies.

2. Add garlic to his food two to three times per week. It strengthens his immune system, since garlic acts as a natural antiviral and antibacterial agent. Dice a garlic clove into small pieces and add it to his meal. Be sure to mix it well with the rest of the food to hide the strong smell of garlic a bit.

3. Add some of the following types of herbs to your dog's diet periodically ( one or two times a week or as your herbal vet considers appropriate): echinacea, olive leaves or astragalus. These herbs in general, and especially the astragalus, help bring balance to your dog's adrenal glands, blood pressure and sugar levels.
Astragalus membranaceus, also known as Huang Qi in traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for thousands of years to fortify the immune system and fight diseases. It provides antioxidants for the body, fights respiratory infections, protects the liver, and it often treats diabetes and high blood pressure.
These herbs are available in tablets or in liquid form. Find them by consulting an herbalist or herbal veterinarian.

4. Add herbs like dandelion periodically (once a month). It cleans your dog's blood-stream, helps his liver detoxify itself from artificial foods and chemicals, sustains the potassium levels in his body and provides important vitamins and minerals for healthy hair growth.

Carotenoids: Kale, Spinach, Carrots, Squash, Sweet Potatoes
Vitamin C: Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, Brussels sprouts
Vitamin A: Liver, eggs, cheddar cheese, greens, carrots, pumpkin
Lutein: Green leafy vegetables including spinach, broccoli
Vitamin E: Spinach, sweet potatoes
 

Inflamatory Bowel Disease Diet Recommendations for Canines

If you prefer a cooked diet, use a low fat, low glycemic diet. This diet is 75% animal protein and 25% low glycemic (low sugar) carbohydrates. Use a variety of proteins, such as beef, chicken, turkey and pork. Remove the chicken skin and trim extra fat from the other meat choices. You may also use low or nonfat yogurt and cottage cheese and egg whites, as they are also low fat. Low glycemic vegetables include broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower, green beans and dark leafy greens. 

In raw diets, use a menu of half raw meaty bones and half muscle and organ meat. For raw meaty bones, I suggest skinless chicken necks, turkey necks and pork neck bones. For the muscle/organ mix, I would use low fat hamburger, white meat chicken (no skin), nonfat yogurt or cottage cheese and wild game (venison, elk) which is naturally lean. More fat can be introduced to the diet later, but while the digestive tract is healing, higher fat diets should be avoided.

For both home cooked or raw diets, it may be best to start with three or four smaller meals per day for the first few weeks. Additionally, adding the supplements below will help during the transition of the diet and help heal the digestive tract.

Feed diets free of preservatives, additives and coloring agents, and contain protein sources such as cheese, rabbit, venison, cottage cheese, or duck, or contain proteins that are hydrolyzed into small non-antigenic component molecules. It can take several months to see improvement. Some dogs with IBD see improvement with high fiber diets. Others do better when fiber is reduced. In addition, some dogs have less diarrhea when the fat content in their diet is reduced. It can be hard to tell which is beneficial since high fiber diets (typically designed for pet to lose weight) are also lower in fat.

Click here to view a complete list of Real Foods for your dog

I suggest giving your dog an immune boosting supplement also. You can mix your own or simply order one made exclusively for canines. There are a few others out there, but my picky dog will only eat the NuVet.