Bland diet for dogs with fish: cod and rice
Fish bland diet for dogs with vomiting or diarrhea: fresh cod with white rice. How to make it, how many days to feed it and when to see the vet.
- Time
- 40 min + 15 min resting
- Makes
- About 900 g / 2 lb (about 2 days for a 10 kg / 22 lb dog, in 3-4 meals a day)
- Type
- Short-term diet
- Difficulty
- Easy
- 60 % white rice
- 40 % fresh cod
Follows THE RULE. All 2 ingredients are on our safe list: nothing that could harm your dog.
This bland diet for dogs with fish swaps the usual chicken for boiled fresh cod, with very well-cooked white rice. You feed it for 2-3 days when an adult dog has mild vomiting or diarrhea but is still alert and drinking, and it is especially useful if he does not tolerate chicken or you have already tried chicken without results. Fresh cod has even less fat than chicken breast, so it is about as gentle as food gets.
The cod cooks in just 6 minutes in unsalted water and is flaked with your fingers while you check for bones. The rice is cooked in that same water until it is overdone, almost mushy, and it picks up a mild fish flavor that often tempts dogs who have just been sick and are eyeing the bowl warily.
Why it works
Fresh cod provides very easily digested protein with less than 1 % fat, which puts the least strain on an irritated stomach or gut. Very well-cooked white rice is almost all starch: energy that is absorbed with very little effort and helps firm up the stool. There is no oil, tough-fibered vegetables, salt or supplements: this is a diet for a few days, not a complete meal.
Talk to your vet first. A bland diet is for mild vomiting or diarrhea in adult dogs that are still alert and drinking. If there is blood, repeated vomiting, lethargy or it is a puppy, see your vet first.
Step by step
Poach the cod
Bring 1 liter (about 4 cups) of unsalted water to a boil, lower the heat so it barely simmers and poach the cod until it is white and opaque in the center and separates into flakes.
Flake it and check for bones
Lift the cod out with a slotted spoon and, once you can handle it, flake it with your fingers, checking every flake. Remove any bits of skin.
Cook the rice in that water
Cook the rice in 700 ml (3 cups) of the cod water (top up with water if there is not enough) for 20-25 minutes, longer than usual, until it is very soft and a little mushy.
Mix one part fish to two parts rice
Combine the cod with the cooked rice. Let it cool: it should be lukewarm or at room temperature, never hot.
Start small
If he has just been vomiting, offer him one or two spoonfuls first and wait an hour. If he keeps them down, continue with small meals every 3-4 hours; on the first day you can stay below his full portion.
How much should I feed?
Approximate daily portion for a "spayed or neutered adult" profile. Split it into two meals (three or four for puppies).
— g a day
| Weight | 3 kg | 5 kg | 10 kg | 15 kg | 20 kg | 30 kg | 40 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grams/day | 225 | 330 | 555 | 750 | 930 | 1,260 | 1,565 |
Puppy, senior, very active or on a diet? Calculate the exact portion.
- Energy
- 114 kcal/100 g
- Protein
- 30 % dry matter
- Fat
- 1 % dry matter
Values estimated from the ingredients (BEDCA/USDA data). For a few days only. It isn't meant as a long-term diet.
Storage
Fridge: up to 2 days, because it is fish. Freezer: up to 2 months; it is worth keeping a couple of portions frozen for next time. Thaw in the fridge or in the microwave on the defrost setting, and serve lukewarm.
If you don't have…
- You cannot find fresh cod
- Boneless hake, in the same amount and cooked the same way
- Your dog will not eat rice
- 600 g (1.3 lb) peeled potato, well cooked and mashed, instead of the rice
- His stools are still very liquid
- Swap 100 g (½ cup) of the uncooked rice for 300 g (10.5 oz) peeled pumpkin, cooked with the rice until it falls apart
Cooking tips
- Water always available, in small amounts and often if he has been vomiting: if he drinks a lot at once, he may vomit again.
- How many days: 2-3, until there is no more vomiting and his stools have shape again. If he does not improve within 24-48 hours, see your vet.
- Back to his usual food over 4-5 days: each day, mix in less bland diet and more of his usual food, until he is eating only his own.
- It is normal for him to take a day or two to poop again: this diet leaves very little residue.
Safety
- Go to the vet without waiting if there is blood in the stool or vomit (red, or black, tar-like stools).
- Also if he vomits several times in a row, especially if he cannot even keep water down, or if he tries to vomit and nothing comes up while his belly is swollen: it could be a twisted stomach (bloat).
- Puppies, older dogs and dogs with existing illnesses dehydrate within hours: call your vet from the first day.
- If you suspect he has eaten something toxic or swallowed an object, do not wait to see if he gets better and do not try to make him vomit at home: call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet; in the US you can also contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or the Pet Poison Helpline.
- No salt, oil, butter or store-bought broth or bouillon, and no human medicines for vomiting or diarrhea.
- Cod always fresh or plain frozen: salt cod, even after soaking, can contain so much salt that it makes dehydration worse.
Frequently asked questions
What should I feed my dog after vomiting?
If he is an adult and still alert, wait until a few hours have passed without vomiting and offer him small amounts of water. Then one or two spoonfuls of a bland diet, such as cod or chicken with rice, and if he keeps them down, small meals every 3-4 hours. If he vomits several times, there is blood or he is lethargic, see your vet.
Is fish or chicken better for a dog's bland diet?
Both work well. Boiled skinless chicken is the most common; white fish, such as fresh cod or hake, has even less fat and is a good alternative if your dog does not tolerate chicken or you have already tried it without improvement. What matters is that it is boiled, skinless, boneless and unsalted.
Can dogs eat cod?
Yes, cooked boneless fresh cod is a very good fish for dogs: lots of protein and almost no fat. What they cannot eat is salt cod, not even after soaking it at home, because it keeps too much salt. Nor battered or fried cod, or fish cakes and fritters. Cook it in plain water and check for bones.
How many days should a dog be on a bland diet after vomiting?
Usually 2 or 3 days, until he has gone at least a day without vomiting and his stools are normal. Then switch back to his usual food gradually, over 4-5 days. If the vomiting comes back when you reintroduce his food, or it lasts more than 24 hours from the start, do not prolong the diet: take him to the vet.
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