Get in My Belly, Rice!

Does your Dog have an Upset Tummy, Diarrhea, or is Just Not Feeling Good? If so, try adding some Rice to their diet. 

There are so many causes of diarrhea in dogs.  Here is a brief list of causes of diarrhea.

• Parvovirus Infection:  usually in younger dogs. Vomiting and Diarrhea. Fever. 

• Parasites in dogs: You dog may have parasites such as: Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia, Giardia, tapeworms. 

• Bacteria in dogs. This is a challenge because many dogs carry these bacteria without it causing them disease. Bacteria may include: Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Spirochetes. 

• Inappropriate ingestion. Let’s face it, dogs eat anything from other animals’ feces to grass trimmings and garbage. This is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in dogs. My bull terrier Homer loves Kong Toys. It usually takes him a couple of days to demolish one Kong. This is gross, but he poops out the bits and pieces of Kong. Once our female, Hera ate his poop (containing the pieces of Kong) and ended up in the Vet getting her stomach pumped. Yeah, so dogs eat anything and everything. 

You can add rice to your pup's meals to help with tummy issues, the runs, and etcetera. It's likewise a solid staple in their eating routine. Also, Pooches adore the taste...even if a few of us may think of it as tasteless.

My two (2) Bull Terriers love rice. I've added a scoopful to their meals for a while now (usually organic Brown Rice or Jasmine Rice), and I can definitely attest to the many advantages of it. I seriously cannot remember the last time either of them had diarrhea. I started feeding them a combo of rice, sweet potatoes, Beans, protein, veggies, and fruit in November of 2014, and they have not been sick since. 

It's said that dogs don't do grains well, but Brown Rice is a complete whole grain and has many benefits for your Dog. 

Brown Rice is a great source of Fiber, which is  help enhance intestinal consistency. 

Fiber works as a bowel regulator and can be effective for diarrhea. Diarrhea occurs when there is too much water in the colon. Fiber can definitely help get your dog's system back in order. Brown Rice contains soluble fiber, which absorbs excess fluids in the bowl and helps firm up loose stool. It has a sponge effect. 

When to Throw in the Towel

Diarrhea and/or vomiting can be signs of serious intestinal obstruction that may even need surgery. Weakness, pain, vomiting, or agitation are serious signs that the dog needs medical attention. 

You might want to hit up your vet if your dog has diarrhea. In mild cases, where your dog is acting normal otherwise, try the brown rice or withholding food for 24 hours. However, if other symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, depression, or pain accompany their diarrhea, then you should call your veterinarian to rule out more serious causes.

I'm not a veterinarian or nutritionist. I'm only a gal obsessed with dogs and doing what I can to help other dog lovers out there.