Should you offer your dog food during bouts of diarrhea, and if so, which ones are best? Many veterinarians prescribe bland foods like beef and rice, but I recommend two other foods that do a better job of soothing irritated bowels and delaying gastric emptying to help stop loose stools.
Many veterinarians have updated their bland diet recommendations, replacing the old school recipe of ground beef-and-rice bland diets for diarrhea. An increasing number of hospitals are recommending 100% pumpkin in place of white rice, and ground fat-free turkey in place of hamburger.
The subject of fiber is certainly confusing, but a basic knowledge of the different types is important in understanding what effect each will have on an animal’s body.
Fiber (the tiny threadlike structures in fruits, vegetables, and grains) has historically been defined as the remnants of plant cells that are resistant to digestion, which includes lignans, cellulose, and the indigestible carbohydrates found in plants.1
However, this narrow definition omits indigestible carbs found in animal sources, such as chitin, as well as fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and other indigestible carbs that are resistant to an animal’s digestive enzymes.
For this reason, in 2001 the Institute of Medicine developed definitions of fiber that distinguished between fiber that naturally occurs in foods (“dietary fiber”) and other isolated fibers that may be added to foods or dietary supplements (called “functional fiber”).
Some examples of specific types of dietary fiber found in plants are cellulose, hemicellulose, lignins, beta-glucans, and resistant starches (found in green bananas and legumes). Examples of functional fiber are inulin, oligofructose, plant gums and pectins.
Diarrhea is an uncomfortable condition that most dogs experience at some point. When your furry friend has an upset stomach, you want to help get his digestive system back on track as quickly as possible. One of the best ways to do this is by feeding a bland diet to give the GI tract a rest. But what exactly should you feed a dog with diarrhea? Is ground turkey a good choice?
Ground turkey can be an excellent option for dogs with diarrhea when prepared properly. Below, we’ll explore the benefits of ground turkey for diarrhea, how to prepare it, and some important guidelines for feeding dogs with upset stomachs.
Why Choose Ground Turkey?
Ground turkey is a lean low-fat source of protein that is gentle on your dog’s digestive system. Here are some key reasons why it works well for diarrhea
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Highly digestible protein: Ground turkey is easy for dogs to digest, which is crucial when the GI tract is irritated or inflamed.
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Low fat: The reduced fat content puts less strain on the digestive organs. Excess fat can exacerbate diarrhea.
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Contains zinc: Turkey is a good source of zinc, which helps repair intestinal lining damage.
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No seasonings or spices Plain ground turkey has no ingredients that could further upset your dog’s stomach
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May relieve inflammation: Turkey contains the amino acid tryptophan which helps produce serotonin, a chemical that reduces intestinal inflammation.
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Inexpensive and convenient: Ground turkey is affordable and easy to find at any grocery store. No hunting around for special dog food.
So in most cases, ground turkey makes an excellent choice when your dog has diarrhea but still needs highly digestible nutrition.
How to Prepare Ground Turkey for Dogs
To make ground turkey safe and palatable for your pup, follow these preparation guidelines:
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Choose 93% lean or higher. You want very lean ground turkey with minimal fat since fat is harder to digest.
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Cook thoroughly. Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria. Cook the ground turkey until well-done, with no pink showing.
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Plain only. Do not use ground turkey that contains any seasoning, broth, or gravy. Stick to 100% plain.
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Mash or shred. For easier eating, mash the cooked ground turkey with a fork or shred it into small pieces.
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Avoid cold. Serve the ground turkey slightly warm or at room temperature. Cold food can shock your dog’s digestive system.
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Pair with pumpkin. Mixed with canned pure pumpkin, the ground turkey makes a tasty bland diet for diarrhea.
By following these tips, you can prepare gentle, nutritious ground turkey meals to help get your dog’s tummy troubles under control.
Feeding Guidelines for Diarrhea
Along with choosing the right ingredients like ground turkey, there are some important rules to follow when feeding a dog with diarrhea. Here are some top vet-recommended guidelines:
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Fast for 12-24 hours first to give the GI tract rest, but provide ample fresh water.
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When reintroducing food, start with small, frequent portions of bland food.
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Mix the ground turkey with pure canned pumpkin to add fiber.
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Avoid any fatty, spicy, or processed human foods which can further irritate the intestines.
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Stick to the bland diet for several days until stools return to normal.
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If diarrhea persists more than 2 days or other symptoms arise, contact your vet.
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Always consult your vet before giving any over-the-counter medication for dogs.
By following these feeding tips, ground turkey and pumpkin can get your four-legged friend back to normal faster. Just be sure to check with your vet if the diarrhea persists or if your dog shows any signs of lethargy, vomiting, or loss of appetite.
Other Bland Diet Options
While ground turkey works great for many dogs with diarrhea, it’s not the only option. Some other gentle, digestible foods suggested by vets include:
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Cooked white rice mixed with boiled chicken or turkey without skin or bones
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Canned pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
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Oatmeal or mashed potatoes
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Low-fat cottage cheese
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Scrambled eggs
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Baby food with meat but no onions or garlic
Talk to your vet about which bland diet ingredients may be best for your individual dog. If his diarrhea continues long-term, you may need to transition to a hydrolyzed or veterinary prescription diet under your vet’s guidance.
The Takeaway: Use Ground Turkey for Mild Diarrhea
When your dog has a minor bout of diarrhea but is otherwise feeling normal, ground turkey makes an excellent choice as part of a bland diet. Just be sure to choose 93% lean or higher and thoroughly cook plain ground turkey with absolutely no seasonings. Combined with canned pumpkin, ground turkey provides gentle nutrition to help resolve diarrhea quickly in dogs. Follow your vet’s advice and start reintroducing your dog’s regular food slowly once stools return to normal.
Ground Turkey vs. Ground Beef
My reason for recommending turkey is simple: it has the lowest fat content. Hamburger has more fat, which can worsen GI upset in some cases, and boiling ground beef doesn’t always substantially decrease the fat content.
Boiling the meat for a bland diet is important because it’s the cooking technique that removes the largest amount of fat. Meat must reach 464°F for the fats to melt away from the flesh. Boiling water only reaches a temperature of 212°F, so it may only slightly reduce the overall fat content of the meat. The remaining fat can exacerbate pancreatitis and GI symptoms.
Baking the meat at 470°F may seem like a better idea, but it’s impossible to remove the fat during baking. Rinsing boiled or baked meat removes surface fat, but it can’t remove the fat that remains in the flesh (not to mention the detrimental advanced glycation end products that are produced when cooking food at such high temperatures).
For this reason, I recommend poached fat free meat for bland diets. You can easily find fat free ground turkey or turkey breast in most grocery stores, along with 100% solid packed pumpkin in the baking isle (make sure it’s not pumpkin pie filling).
Many people (including me) prefer to buy organic and non-GMO foods whenever possible. So, if you prefer, you can buy fresh, organic pumpkin, steam or boil it, and can it or freeze it for later. If you also have access to fresh, organic turkey meat, even better. Mix the cooked turkey with the pumpkin 50/50, and feed very small meals throughout the day, adding in slippery elm, activated charcoal or other GI nutraceuticals, as recommended by your vet.
Why I Recommend Pumpkin Over Rice
Canned pumpkin (100%) provides about 80 calories and 7 grams of soluble fiber per cup, compared to 1.2 grams of fiber in a cup of cooked white rice. Pumpkin is especially rich in soluble fiber (the type that dissolves in water to form a viscous gel, which also coats and soothes irritated bowels). Soluble fiber delays gastric emptying, slowing down GI transit times (and the number of episodes of diarrhea).
When animals have diarrhea, they can lose important electrolytes, including potassium, which puts them at risk of dehydration. Hypokalemia, or low potassium levels, can result in cramping, fatigue, weakness, and heart rate irregularities. Pumpkin is an excellent source of potassium, with 505 milligrams of naturally occurring potassium per cup.
Pumpkin is also safer for diabetic patients. Rice is a high glycemic grain and will ultimately break down into sugar that can tax the pancreas, whereas pumpkin extracts may restore beta cell function (beta cells are the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas).6
Rice is a bland grain, but in my opinion, it isn’t the most species-appropriate choice for a recovery diet for facultative carnivores. The FDA has issued a potential warning about arsenic loads in white rice,7 and rice is very often passed out whole in the stool, giving rise to the question of how much digestion and absorption of this carbohydrate is occurring.
You’re Feeding Your Dog With Diarrhea WRONG (Home Treatment Vet Advice)
FAQ
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