Soft Diet & Electrolytes for Dogs
Dealing with a dog's upset stomach can be a worrisome experience for any dog parent. When your dog is suffering from issues like diarrhea or vomiting, it's crucial to take action promptly. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into practical solutions to alleviate your dog's digestive woes, ensuring their well-being and comfort during this distressing period.
Give food instead of fasting
Completely avoid the 12-hour fasting that was previously recommended. Fasting is not good for the intestinal cells. The stomach and intestines need nutrients to recover.
Preparation of shoe food
The safest option is to provide the dog with a bland diet purchased from the veterinarian. It is well-balanced and contains everything the stomach and intestines need to heal. If you don't have access to it, you can prepare your own until you can buy it.
If you prepare your own, be very careful with hygiene. Prepare enough food for one day and store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Do not cook food for several days in a row, as it may risk bacterial growth that could worsen your dog's condition in this critical situation.
How to prepare your own shoe food
Rice. Rinse the rice thoroughly and then slowly cook it in double the amount of water. For example, cook 3 dl of rice in 6 dl of water. Cook it for 30-40 minutes if the packaging recommends a 20-minute cooking time. You want to overcook the rice slowly.
Easily digestible proteins. Boil chicken, boiled egg white, or white fish.
Composition. Give 75% rice and 25% chicken/fish. Do not add fats or oils.
Storage. Store the food in the refrigerator and prepare one day's ration at a time. It is important to keep the food fresh.
Small and frequent feedings
Give a couple of teapoons every other hour if you have a small dog and a couple of tablespoons if your dog is larger. This allows the intestines not to work too hard at each feeding.
Personalized dosing and hydration
Ensure that your dog consumes approximately the same amount of bland diet as they usually eat of their regular food. When your dog's stool becomes firmer, you can reduce the number of feedings to three times a day, then twice a day.
You can moisten the food with water to ensure that the dog gets enough fluids. Make sure they have free access to water.
Gradual transition to regular food
Continue to give bland diet for seven to ten days after recovery. Then gradually mix in your dog's regular food. Do this slowly, letting the transition take time. During this period, keep an eye on the stool to ensure that it remains firm.
There is bland diet available for purchase in the form of dietary food for sensitive stomachs if you prefer not to prepare your own.
Addition of fiber and probiotic
Combine the bland diet with over-the-counter supplements like Canikur, Pro-kolin+, or Diarsanyl (which contains no fat and is preferred for pancreatitis). These supplements contain fibers, probiotics, and prebiotics that strengthen and protect the intestines and restore intestinal function during acute diarrhea.
You can purchase them at the pharmacy. The fiber supplement Pro-Fibre is also an excellent choice as it contains probiotics.
Make sure you have enough fluids
It's essential that your dog gets enough fluids—0.5 dl per kilo of body weight per day. Dehydration can be life-threatening. If your dog refuses to drink, you can try mixing water with a little blood powder.
How to check your fluid balance
Check if your dog is dehydrated by touching their gums; they should be moist and not sticky. You can also lift the skin on the neck, top of the head, or lower back. The skin should quickly fall back when you release it; if dehydration is present, a fold of skin may form.
Use fluid replacement if necessary
There are over-the-counter fluid replacements for dogs that you can buy, which are good to have in your dog's home pharmacy!
- Oralade (no withdrawal period for competition)
- Aptus Nutrisal (7-day withdrawal period for competition)
- Aptus Pro-X (no withdrawal period for competition)
How to mix your own liquid substitute
You can also prepare your own. Here's how:
- Fill a container with one liter of water.
- Mix in a tablespoon of glucose (or honey if you don't have glucose at home).
- Stir in a teaspoon of salt.
- You may need to heat the water to dissolve the honey; in that case, make sure the liquid has cooled to body temperature before giving it to the dog.
Place a bowl of the fluid replacement and see if the dog drinks it voluntarily.
Help your dog to hydrate
If the dog does not drink, fill a dosing syringe and insert it into the corner of the dog's mouth, slightly elevate the head, and administer it slowly so that they have time to swallow.
You want to avoid forcefully injecting the fluid, as it could enter the windpipe, risking pneumonia. If you don't have a syringe, you can try dribbling in small amounts with a spoon.
Give small amounts often
Give small amounts of the replacement at a time—one teaspoon at a time for a small dog and one tablespoon at a time for a larger dog. Administer the fluid three times an hour.
Contact a veterinarian in case of deterioration
If your dog's general condition is affected, always contact a veterinarian. And read up on what you should have at home in case accident or illness knocks on Home First Aid Kit for Dogs – Essentials to Keep on Hand.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
Fact-checked by: Sofia Nälgård
Sofia Nälgård is a licensed veterinarian with degrees from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Copenhagen. She runs Smådjursdepån in Växjö, where she offers professional and personalized care.
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