Best Homemade Diet For Dog With IBD: If your dog suffers from IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), you can treat that quickly at home by paying close attention to their symptoms. While going to the vet might be a necessity as well, that doesn’t mean you can’t take immediate measures to help your dog feel better, even without professional help.
A lot of the help you can give your dog if they have IBD comes through the food you feed them. A healthy diet can make miracles not only in treating IBD but also in preventing it. Not to mention that if your dog has a balanced diet, they will avoid other digestive issues, and they will feel and look healthy!
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How do dogs get an IBD?
IBD is a general term of a category of digestive issues that your dog might develop over the years. These digestive issues could include vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, general discomfort in their stomach, tummy pain, excessive gas, and even a complete loss of appetite.
Inflammatory bowel disease happens naturally as your dog gets older. It is common among middle-aged and older dogs, even if not all of them suffer from it. The causes of these digestive issues are not established yet, so it is all about the aging process. The problems listed can happen simultaneously, or your dog could suffer from only one or two of those digestive conditions.
IBD can’t be fully treated, but it can be kept under control with antibiotics and a healthy diet. In this case, the purpose of antibiotics is to inhibit the production of antigens that can be excessive as your dog ages. However, antibiotics can create many other problems, and most vets would choose to recommend the homemade diet instead.
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What to feed a dog with inflammatory bowel disease?
The diet for adog with IBD will differ according to their age and breed and other health conditions they might have. This is why talking to your vet can offer you precious information regarding what meals you should feed your furry friend. But there are also general rules that apply to all dogs who suffer from such digestive issues.
- For instance, a dog with Inflammatory bowel disease should have a diet that contains plenty of fats, protein, and fiber. Therefore, you can add plenty of omega-3 fatty acids to their diets, such as fish and dairy ingredients, along with meat that comes from ducks, rabbits, or venison.
- All dogs tend to love such foods, so you shouldn’t worry about them not eating their meals.
- The omega-3 fatty acids will help alleviate the symptoms of IBD and reduce the inflammation in their intestines.
- Some dogs prefer fiber-rich foods. If that is the case, you might give them an increased amount of veggies or add fiber supplements to their diet.
- It is essential to not give your dog any human treats if they suffer from IBD. As tempting as this might be, it is not an option. These foods can have ingredients that will aggravate your dog’s condition and endanger their health even further.
Raw food and food that you prepare, especially for them, remain your best options.
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5 Best Homemade Diet For Dog With IBD
If you are not sure what food to give your dog if they have IBD, here are 5 best recipes that will help you keep them on a healthy path.
1) Rice with chicken and veggies
Rice, chicken, and veggies are an excellent combination for your dog. It is effortless to prepare this recipe as well.
- All you need is to boil all the ingredients and add them together into a mix.
- For this recipe, you will need about two cups of white rice, half a pound of chicken meat, and a cup of the vegetable mix along with water as needed.
- You can add any type of rice if you don’t have white rice, but when it comes to chicken, the best to use is chicken breast.
- You can also increase the quantities of the ingredients according to how many portions you want to make.
2) Chicken with mashed potatoes
If this sounds like a delicious food for you, know that your dog will love it just as much. And the preparation of this dish is as simple as it sounds.
- You will have to boil the chicken in a bowl and potatoes in a different bowl.
- When your ingredients are boiled, cut the chicken into little bites and mash the potatoes.
- The mashed potatoes recipe for your dog is not different than the one for you. However, you should skip the seasonings altogether.
- The main ingredients for this recipe are chicken and potatoes. You can use about half a pound of chicken and two, three large potatoes.
- The ingredients are not set-in stone as it depends on how much you want to make.
- If you want, you can add carrots to your mashed potatoes, as well as they will give it a nice flavor.
3) Ground Beef with rice and veggies
This might seem a more complex recipe as it requires more ingredients, but it is very easy to cook in reality.
- You will need to cook the ground beef in a pot for up to 7 minutes and drain it afterward.
- Boiling the rice is following the same recipe you would use to prepare your own rice.
- Furthermore, you will blend the veggies you use and some eggs until you obtain a creamy texture.
- When everything is cooked, you will have to mix all the ingredients and portion the food for your dog.
- The ingredients you need for this recipe are two pounds of ground beef, six eggs, four cups of brown rice, 13 ounces spinach, 15 ounces pumpkin puree, one sliced carrot, and freshly cut rosemary.
- You can modify the quantities according to your dog’s preferences and the amount of food you want to prepare.
4) Beef stew for dogs
An excellent dish for dogs with digestive issues is the beef stew. It is easy to make, and they will surely love it!
- It is vital to cut the veggies into cubes so that your dog can quickly eat them, same with the beef.
- Cook the beef in a pan until it turns a brown color, and add water and veggies.
- Let all the ingredients cook for at least 30 minutes until they become soft in texture. There is also an oven version of this dish, and it is up to you if you choose to prepare it on the stove or bake it.
- You will need about 2 lbs of beef, two or three potatoes that are medium size, one carrot, one cup of green beans, two cups of water, a glug of canola oil, and some thyme leaves.
5) Turkey with veggies
Turkey is one of the best meats you can cook for your dog, especially if it’s lean Turkey. And making a delicious meal out of pork and veggies is easier to make than you would imagine.
- You will mix the Turkey, rice, and rosemary into a pot until everything is evenly spread.
- Boil everything together for up to 20 minutes and add the veggies. You will cook it for another five minutes and you are done.
- You will need 1 lb of ground Turkey, 2 cups of brown rice, 1 package of frozen veggies, and rosemary.
- The quantities are irrelevant as you need to focus on the amount of food you want to cook. But it is vital to keep the proportions.
Home-cooked foods for dogs with IBD
Cooking your dog’s food with IBD shouldn’t be a problem as long as you follow the best recipes. You should consider the personal needs of your puppy as well.
- Not all dogs are the same, and their nutrition needs differ as well. This is why it is essential to consult your vet before starting a new diet for your furry friend.
- Generally speaking, the best food combinations for dogs with digestive issues are lean meat and veggies. This is a great combination of high-quality protein and fiber that your dog will appreciate for sure. And you can simply boil the meat and the veggies separately and mix them together into a delicious dish.
- You can also give your dog stews of meat and veggies or combinations of meat and rice. As long as you are aware of your pet’s needs, you will find plenty of combinations to apply.
Stay away from fatty foods as they can only make the IBD symptoms worse. Carbs are not a good idea either, but they could add some diversity to your pet’s diet in moderation.
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Top 5 Homemade Treats for Dogs with IBD
Treats are just as an essential part of your dog’s diet as are the rest of the meals. And when it comes to treats for dogs that suffer from IBD, you have plenty of options!
1) Chicken Treats
- To make some tasty chicken treats for your dog, you need one cup of a diced chicken, 3 or 4 tablespoons of rice flour, a pinch of parsley, and one egg.
- Place the mix in molds and bake for about 30 minutes.
- You can dice up any other type of meat your dog prefers instead of chicken too.
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2) Sweet Potato Treats
One of the best vegetables for your dog is sweet potato. You can make them delicious fries with no hassle at all.
- You will need sweet potatoes, cinnamon, coconut oil, and turmeric.
- Cut the potatoes into fries and mix them with the rest of the ingredients.
- Once they are evenly covered in the mix, bake them for 15 to 20 minutes, and there you have a delicious treat for your puppy.
3) Frozen Apple Treats
All you need for this treat is apples and yogurt.
- You can use a cup of greek yogurt and one or two apples, depending on their size.
- Blend the apples and the yogurt with a bit of water and put the mixture in a mold.
- Freeze the treat for a minimum of two hours before you give it to your dog.
4) Apple and Carrot Treats
Like the previous recipe, you can use apples in combination with carrots to create a delicious treat for your dog.
- You will also need 1 cup of brown rice flour, applesauce, a cup of grated carrots, and one egg.
- Mix everything into a creamy blend and add to a mold shape.
- Bake for about 10 minutes, and you got your treat ready.
5) Cookie-Like Dog Treats
This is a reasonably easy dog treat recipe as well.
- You will need 1 cup of peanut butter, 2 cups of flour of any kind, a tablespoon of baking soda, and a milk cup.
- Mix the ingredients and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Your dog will feel spoiled and loved snacking on these tasty cookies.
Home Cooked Food for Canine Colitis
You might be amazed to discover that not only humans suffer from Colitis. Even dogs have to deal with this condition every now and then, and when that happens, you will have to monitor their diet carefully.
- Colitis is an inflammation of the colon that can give your puppy unpleasant side effects such as diarrhea, constipation, and tummy pain.
- The leading cause of Colitis in dogs is severe stress, but this is not the only cause of this condition.
- Irritable bowel syndrome is also a cause of Colitis and intestinal parasites, food allergies and injuries, or poor eating habits.
- If your dog suffers from Colitis because of an underline infection, your vet might prescribe them an antibiotics treatment.
- But in most cases, Colitis could be kept under control at home by feeding them the right types of food.
Fasting for two days would be a good start. This period will allow your dog to rest their system and get ready for the healthy food you will introduce to their diet.
Once the fasting is over, you can start with fiber-rich foods as these are the best for dogs with Colitis.
- If your dog suffers from Colitis, you better keep them on a grain-free diet.
- Add fiber-rich foods such as veggies and nuts, and stay away from flour-based foods.
- Lean meat is also the right choice for dogs with this condition. In terms of seasonings, you don’t have to add any.
- Your dog will be more than happy with any of the recipes in this guide as the same diet for OBD will work for Colitis.
Can Dogs Die From IBD?
IBD is such a complex range of gastrointestinal conditions that it might be challenging to say how your dog will respond to the symptoms.
- Some dogs can live for many years with this disease as long as it is kept under control with proper diet. Other dogs might reach a fatal state due to the severity of the disease.
- If you start the treatment that your vet recommends in the early stages of the IBD condition, your pet will have a better chance of a healthy life.
- However, ignoring the incipient signs will only generate the symptoms’ aggravation and result in a worse condition.
- In some cases, surgery might be required, and in severe cases, your dog could lose its life.
- So, it is essential to talk to your vet as soon as you notice any IBD signs and try to address them before they get any worse.
The bottom line is that IBD doesn’t have to be a condition that will endanger your pet’s life. If you pay attention to the first symptoms of this disease, you will treat them more efficiently.
Talk to your vet as soon as you notice any IBD signs in your dog’s lifestyle and adjust their diet according to their needs.
By doing so, you will not only avoid potential complications, but you will also offer your dog a better life.
Key References
- “Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospital”. Accessed December 27, 2020. Link.