NUTRITION is the MOST important part in BOOSTING the IMMUNE system!
Click here for a full list of IMMUNE BOOSTING REAL foods!
TIPS FOR 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. Raw 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 or bone broth.
- 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.
- Steer clear of dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt or cottage cheese.
- 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.
- Your vet can prescribe medications which will help settle your dog’s stomach. These medications include Sucralfate (slurry), Cerenia, Metoclopromide/Reglan, or Metronidazole/Flagyl.
Beginning Recovery Recipe:
- 2 cups bone broth (See Recipe below for dogs – be careful with broth/stock for humans as it can contain onions which are toxic to dogs)
- 1 cup organic 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: Spinach, greens and/or 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 organic rice
- 12 large farm 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.
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.
LIQUID GOLD – bone broth FOR DOGS!
- Raw Bones: beef, deer, or lamb bones; turkey, chicken or fish carcasses (minus the innards!)
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Water (preferably filtered)
- For beef or lamb bones, coat in tomato paste and roast in oven at 450 degrees until browned.
- Place all bones in a pot (preferably ceramic or enamel coated steel – a crockpot is perfect) and add enough filtered water to cover bones by about an inch.
- Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar for every 2 lbs of bones.
- Bring water slowly to a slight boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Spoon off the scum that rises to the top. DO NOT BOIL!
- Simmer for 12-48 hours depending on the size of the bones. Fish bones cook the fastest. Large beef bones need much longer than smaller bones such as chicken.
The apple cider vinegar helps pull the minerals and nutrients out of your bones. Using a crockpot maintains a constant temperature and makes cooking very easy. With a crockpot start on the high setting for an hour and then reduce to low for the remaining time.
NOTE: I prefer to use a ceramic, clay or enamel lined stockpot for cooking times over 12 hours. Aluminum or other metals may leach from the pot due to the long cooking times involved in cooking bones.
Add water to keep bones covered as necessary. When bones are nearly dissolved, cool and strain into containers. You can keep refrigerated for 3-4 days or freeze for up to a year.
OPTIONAL ADDITIONS:
- Feet, joints, and/or knuckles
- Egg shells
- Vegetables: Celery, carrots, spinach, parsley or greens (add near the end of the cooking time to soften but not deplete their nutrients)
- Spices: Turmeric root, Ginger root
Bone broth is rich in collagen, amino acids, and healthy fats which are easy to digest. It is a good first food for dogs recovering from surgery or GI illness.
It is NOT a balanced diet but can be used as an addition to any regular diet. It provides very concentrated nourishment and helps get the intestinal tract functioning due to the high concentration of collagen it contains. Homemade bone broth will contain more gelatin and collagen than anything you can purchase online or in a store. BEWARE OF BROTH/STOCK MADE FOR HUMANS AS IT MAY CONTAIN ONION WHICH IS TOXIC TO DOGS!
Supplements: (add daily)
- B12
- Omega 3 oils (Krill oil or 2 sardines)
- Digestive enzymes (Raw Green Tripe)
- Probiotics (yogurt or kefir)
- 1 tbs dried kelp
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- Fiber (ground psyllium or sweet potatoes)
Click here for a full list of REAL FOOD Supplements
I suggest giving your dog the immune boosting supplement above, or you can mix your own. There are several immune supplements on the market made exclusively for canines. You can do your own research or order the NuVet which I use on my dogs.
NuVet Plus® is a high quality product that incorporates a precise formula of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, herbs and antioxidants that performs synergistically to bring together all the vital ingredients required to improve your pet’s health and keep them healthy. NuVet Plus® is made using only Natural, Human Grade ingredients that are formulated in a FDA registered Pharmaceutical Laboratory. We use a special “paddle dried”, whole chicken liver that provides vitamin potency as well as a taste your pet will love.
Call them at 800-474-7044 and give the code 31666 or
