Gastrointestinal (GI) upset is a common illness for both dogs and cats and the most common symptoms that owners report are a decrease in appetite; vomiting or regurgitation; and diarrhea.
There are many potential causes of GI upset and your veterinarian may recommend several tests to get to the bottom of it. One thing that all dogs and cats with GI upset have in common is that they need proper nutrition to recover and resume their normal behavior.
Why do I need to feed my pet with GI upset?
Years ago, it was common practice for veterinarians to recommend fasting pets with GI upset (no food and only small amounts of water) for 24 to 48 hours because it was believed that the gut needed rest to heal. Now, it is better understood among human and veterinary doctors that the gut needs nutrients while it is recovering and withholding food can cause more damage and delay the time it takes to feel better.
There are some instances where your veterinarian might recommend fasting (e.g., before a procedure requiring fasting, or for profuse vomiting), so be sure to follow your veterinarian’s specific recommendations for your pet.
What is the best diet for my pet with GI upset?
There are several options for veterinary therapeutic gastrointestinal diets that have been formulated specifically for cats and dogs with GI upset. They differ in nutrient content, ingredients, and other indications, so the best one for your pet depends on the suspected cause of GI upset. Features of some of these diets include:
Highly digestible: Your pet will be able to digest and absorb a larger percentage of the nutrients in these diets compared to less digestible foods.
Low in fat: For dogs with chronic pancreatitis or other chronic GI disease, a lower fat diet is better tolerated. Sometimes these diets need to be fed long term.
High in fiber: For some GI conditions that respond to fiber, which can help normalize gut motility, a high-fiber GI diet might be recommended.
Hypoallergenic: When an underlying food allergy is suspected, or chronic GI inflammation due to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a diet with either hydrolyzed protein or novel protein is recommended. Hydrolyzation is a process that breaks down proteins into much smaller pieces so they are more digestible and less recognizable by the immune system. Novel proteins are proteins that your pet has never been exposed to. They can be exotic proteins like kangaroo or venison, or can be things like pork or beef if your pet hasn’t eaten those proteins before.
Energy dense: Some GI diets have a high number of calories per cup, can, or per 100 grams. This dense energy is ideal for dogs and cats that have a reduced appetite. They can be fed a smaller volume of food but still meet, or get close to, their daily calorie requirement.
Some additional benefits of veterinary therapeutic GI diets compared to other options are:
- They are complete and balanced. They contain all the essential nutrients for your dog or cat and in the correct proportions.
- Some have been formulated to be appropriate for growing puppies and kittens.
- They have undergone clinical testing to demonstrate they work in the way they are intended.
- They have undergone palatability testing and most have a palatability guarantee. Often, you can return the food for a refund if your pet won’t eat it.
Should I feed a bland diet?
The term “bland diet” has lost favor in the veterinary world because it is not specific. Does bland mean low calories and low fat? Limited ingredients? Free of any flavoring or palatability enhancers? Or something highly digestible?
The traditional bland diet used to be boiled chicken breast and cooked white rice. We now have much better options and so this type of diet is no longer the best recommendation. Feeding this type of home-prepared bland diet is risky for several reasons.
- It is not complete (containing all essential nutrients) or balanced (in the correct proportions). Cooked chicken breast and white rice is deficient in more than 10 essential nutrients for dogs and cats.
- It has a variable calorie content. The food’s nutrient profile could vary depending on which part of the chicken is used (thigh meat has twice as much fat compared to breast) and the proportion of chicken to rice.
- It could contain bacteria. The chicken must be cooked thoroughly and uneaten portions must be stored properly to avoid bacterial contamination.
- It is hard to measure. It is difficult to determine how many calories your pet is eating during its illness if they are fed varying amounts of human foods.
- It may be difficult to transition back. You may decide that feeding cooked boiled chicken and rice is acceptable for a couple of days while your pet starts to feel better, but it may be difficult to transition your pet back to its original diet if it starts to prefer human foods.
If your veterinarian recommends a bland diet for your pet during GI upset, be sure to clarify exactly what they mean. Keep a food diary and record exactly how much of each food item you offer (use a kitchen gram scale to weigh) and whether there is any left over.
How do I feed the GI diet?
Feeding management (how food is fed) is often just as important as what food is fed during times of illness. Even though your dog or cat’s gut needs nutrients during times of upset, its capacity to digest and absorb nutrients might be reduced. The speed at which food moves through your pet’s intestines might also be affected.
Your veterinarian might instruct you to reduce the amount of food you offer to your pet during recovery, especially if they are less active. You can also offer smaller amounts of food more frequently during the day. For example, if your dog typically eats twice each day, consider dividing his meals into four or more meals per day. Your pet may or may not eat the prescribed food right away. Consider these strategies to try at home, and if they are not eating, be sure to inform your veterinary team.
- Try hand feeding, putting food on a plate, or putting food on the floor.
- Feed in a quiet and calm space.
- If your pet is drinking, try soaking food in water.
- Add some flavored broth or a probiotic (check with your veterinary team first).
How long do I need to feed my pet a special diet?
The length of time your pet needs a special diet depends on how quickly they recover and what caused the GI upset. If your pet recovers quickly and the cause was something treatable like parasites, a foreign body, or a self-limiting virus, your pet can likely go back to its regular diet immediately, if diet is appropriate. If the GI upset was due to a diagnosed medical condition (pancreatitis, IBD, food allergies, kidney disease, etc.), the diet change might be longer term.
Is there anything else I can do to support my pet with GI upset?
Often, pets with GI upset just need time to heal. The nutrition you give them during this time can help them feel better, sooner. Some pets with GI upset need to be hospitalized and will be fed by the veterinary care team. If you can provide supportive care for your pet at home, there are a few other things to remember:
- Make sure your pet continues to drink well to stay hydrated. If you are feeding a canned GI food, they will get a lot of their water requirement from the canned food, but multiple bowls of fresh water should still be available.
- Only keep food out for short amounts of time to prevent it from going bad (or being eaten by another pet).
- Keep a food diary to record the amount of food offered and any leftovers so your veterinarian can assess your pet’s calorie intake.
- Weigh your pet regularly (at home or at the vet clinic) to ensure they are maintaining weight during illness.
- Avoid feeding your pet any treats or table scraps while they are recovering from GI upset in case this makes them feel worse.
- If your pet is not eating the prescribed amount, has any changes in their appetite or symptoms, or if you are concerned about anything else, be sure to update your veterinarian.
