Often parasites like giardia or coccidia will present themselves with an onset of diarrhea. If an adult dog has been diagnosed with gastrointestinal parasites or worms and is undergoing treatment, a bland diet might be helpful until medication can kick in. Gastrointestinal Parasites or Worms - Care With Bland Diet We’ll talk more about how to prepare and feed your dog a bland diet for a mild stomach upset, including the recommended fasting period. If you know for a fact that a bland diet will help your dog get over this small hump, then inform your veterinarian of your plans so they can keep a record of it in case the issue does not resolve. The important part is to make your veterinarian aware and get the 'ok' to feed a bland diet. Pet parents are usually pretty good about recognizing that their dog gave himself a temporary upset stomach by eating a new vegetable the dog has never tried, chewing on some grass, or maybe a new treat that didn’t sit well with your dog. In mild cases of digestive upset when your adult dog is under the weather with some diarrhea or vomiting, you can start feeding a bland diet after a fasting period. Mild Cases of an Upset Stomach - Should I Start Feeding Bland Diet? For puppies struggling with digestive issues, it’s best to seek an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Since puppies need particular nutritional requirements daily for growth and development and are prone to illness because of their developing immune system, they need additional medical support to ensure they are on the right path to healing from whatever might be causing their upset stomach. Puppies should be fed a bland diet under veterinary supervision. Especially if your dog cannot keep food down, has persistent diarrhea, is lethargic and/or in pain, has blood in the stool or vomit, you should seek treatment at an emergency hospital and not wait to see if a bland diet might work. Serious gastrointestinal ailments such as pancreatitis, intestinal blockage, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, and other pancreatic conditions such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency should be overseen by a veterinarian with the help of a canine nutritionist. Severe conditions that affect the gastrointestinal system need much more specialized treatment, medication, and diet than a mild case of a one-time upset stomach would need. Before starting any diet change or treating your dog with a bland diet, it’s best to have your veterinarian rule out any major underlying gastrointestinal issues your dog might have. Whether kibble, freeze-dried, raw, or cooked, adult dogs fed any diet can experience digestive issues and may temporarily need a bland diet. These bland foods are fed to your dog as a home remedy to stop vomiting or diarrhea so your dog can return to everyday pet food with regular bowel movements. In the simplest explanation, your dog’s regular pet food will be replaced with bland foods consisting of a lean meat protein source, starchy carbohydrate, with a bit of fiber. The bland diet replaces a dog’s usual food temporarily to calm down a dog’s stomach and allow it a chance to heal. What Exactly is a Bland Diet for Dogs?Ī bland diet is used for a short period to alleviate gastrointestinal upset a dog might be experiencing for many reasons. In this article, we’ll go over how to safely feed your dog a temporary bland diet composed of minimal, highly digestible ingredients as a home remedy for mild cases of gastrointestinal upset. A bland diet is not a diet that should be used long term unless you’ve worked with your veterinarian or canine nutritionist to ensure that the bland homemade diet you’re feeding is meeting all nutritional requirements for your dog, which will require the addition of vitamins and mineral supplements.

The bland diet temporarily replaces a dog’s regular diet to reset the digestive system and provide supportive foods while your dog is under the weather.

When is the bland diet used for pets?Ī bland diet is often used to help a dog’s digestive system get back to normal after a stomach upset, diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal condition. This is when a bland diet can help soothe your dog’s digestive tract. It can be tricky to navigate, especially when it comes out of nowhere. Pet parents are often immediately concerned when their dog has an upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting and want to do their best to alleviate their dog’s upset stomach right away. By Alicia Boemi, Dogly Wellness Advocate & Canine Nutritionist

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