Bland diet for dogs without rice: turkey and potato
Bland diet for dogs without rice: boiled turkey with mashed cooked potato. For mild diarrhea, with how many days to feed it and how to switch back.
- Time
- 35 min + 15 min resting
- Makes
- About 870 g / 1.9 lb (a day and a half to two days for a 10 kg / 22 lb dog, in 3-4 meals a day)
- Type
- Short-term diet
- Difficulty
- Easy
- 60 % peeled potato
- 40 % turkey breast
Follows THE RULE. All 2 ingredients are on our safe list: nothing that could harm your dog.
This bland diet for dogs without rice is for dogs that refuse rice, vomit it or do not tolerate it: boiled turkey breast with peeled potato, cooked until it falls apart and mashed like a purée. You feed it for 2-3 days when an adult dog has mild diarrhea but is still alert, and it works just like chicken and rice: little fat, no tough fiber and very easy to digest.
The potato has to be overcooked, with no hard bits at all, and mashed while hot with a fork; mixed with the shredded turkey and a little of the cooking water, it becomes a soft paste you can offer by the spoonful to a dog with little appetite.
Why it works
Skinless turkey breast provides protein with very little fat, even less than chicken. Peeled, well-cooked potato is almost all starch and water: energy that is digested with very little effort and helps firm up the stool, with the advantage that many dogs accept it better than rice. No skin, no oil, no salt and no supplements: this is a diet for a few days, not a complete meal.
Talk to your vet first. A bland diet is for mild 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
Boil the turkey
Put the breast in a pot, cover it with 1 liter (about 4 cups) of water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until it is white inside with no pink areas.
Skim the water
Take out the turkey and spoon off the little fat that rises to the surface of the water.
Cook the potato in that water
Peel the potatoes, remove any green parts or eyes and dice them. Cook them in the turkey water until they fall apart when pierced.
Mash and shred
Drain the potato (keep a cup of the water) and mash it while hot with a fork, with no lumps. Shred the turkey into fine strands with two forks.
Mix and cool
Combine the turkey and potato in a ratio of one part turkey to a little under two parts potato and add cooking water until you have a soft paste. Let it cool to lukewarm before serving.
Divide into small meals
Divide the day's portion into 3-4 meals. On the first day you can stay a little 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 | 240 | 355 | 595 | 810 | 1,005 | 1,360 | 1,690 |
Puppy, senior, very active or on a diet? Calculate the exact portion.
- Energy
- 106 kcal/100 g
- Protein
- 59 % dry matter
- Fat
- 4 % 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 3 days in an airtight container. Freezer: up to 2 months; the potato changes texture a little, but stirring in a splash of hot water is enough. Thaw in the fridge and serve lukewarm.
If you don't have…
- You cannot find turkey breast
- Skinless chicken breast, in the same amount and cooked the same way
- Your dog does not tolerate poultry
- Boneless hake or fresh cod, in the same amount, poached for 6-8 minutes
- You want a version richer in soluble fiber
- Swap 200 g (7 oz) of the potato for 200 g pumpkin, cooked with it
Cooking tips
- Water always available: diarrhea dehydrates. If he drinks little, offer him the skimmed cooking water, lukewarm.
- How many days: 2-3, until his stools have shape again. If he does not improve within 48 hours, see your vet.
- Back to his usual food over 4-5 days: on day one, three-quarters bland diet and one-quarter his food; on days two and three, half and half; on day four, one-quarter bland diet; on day five, only his food.
- Keep a couple of portions in the freezer: next time you need it, you will not have to cook while your dog is unwell.
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.
- Potato always peeled and well cooked: raw, or with green parts and sprouts, it contains solanine, which is toxic.
- No salt, oil, butter, milk or store-bought broth or bouillon in the mash, and no human medicines for diarrhea.
Frequently asked questions
What can I give my dog with diarrhea if he will not eat rice?
The simplest alternative is peeled, well-cooked mashed potato, with boiled turkey or chicken breast. Potato provides easily digested starch, just like rice. Cooked pumpkin also works and adds soluble fiber. All of it with no salt or oil, in small meals and for 2-3 days.
Can dogs with diarrhea eat boiled potatoes?
Yes, peeled, well-cooked potato is a good base for the bland diet of a dog with diarrhea: it is easy to digest and helps firm up the stool. It must be skinless, with no green parts, no salt and no butter or milk. Raw potato, French fries and instant mashed potatoes are not suitable.
Is turkey or chicken better for a bland diet?
Both work equally well if they are boiled and skinless. Turkey breast has a little less fat than chicken breast, and it is a good option if your dog does not tolerate chicken or you have already tried it without improvement. What does not work is deli turkey: it contains salt, sugars and additives.
How do I switch my dog back to regular food after a bland diet?
Gradually, over 4 or 5 days. Start by mixing three-quarters bland diet with one-quarter of his usual food, move to half and half for two days, then to one-quarter bland diet and, on the fifth day, only his food. If the diarrhea comes back, go back a step and, if it persists, call your vet.
What's in it, in detail
If they liked it, try
Special needs
Homemade dog food for weight loss: turkey with sweet potato and green beans
40 minMain meal
The fridge list
The foods your dog can eat, can have in moderation and must never eat, on a single printable page.