Boiled Chicken vs. Boiled Ground Beef for Diarrhea

[SaschasPet]

Well here we go again, Sascha has another bout of diarrhea. It's not near as bad as the last one but I just don't understand why she keeps getting it. The only change we've had recently is we switched her over to Innova Adult (Green bag) this past weekend and put her on Ester-C. I'm stopping the Ester-C for now until I get her back to normal. I called the vet and of course they want us on another round of Mentronidazole. What I don't get is why it keeps happening! So my question is, we normally do the white rice and boiled chicken but I was wondering for a change would boiled ground beef be ok? As always thanks for your help!!!

[moz205]

Growing up we had a GS who could not tolerate any food other than boiled chopped meat with rice. If he had anything else, he got instant diarrhea. This guy lived for many years on this diet so don't see why for a few days it would cause any harm.

[SaschasPet]

Thanks moz205 - think I'd like to give her a change since we just did the chicken about 3 weeks ago.

[QuietDaze]

Even boiled, the ground beef is going to be greasier than chicken. If her stomach is upset I would think she would probably do better with bland chicken.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by SaschasPet

Well here we go again, Sascha has another bout of diarrhea. It's not near as bad as the last one but I just don't understand why she keeps getting it. The only change we've had recently is we switched her over to Innova Adult (Green bag) this past weekend and put her on Ester-C. I'm stopping the Ester-C for now until I get her back to normal. I called the vet and of course they want us on another round of Mentronidazole. What I don't get is why it keeps happening! So my question is, we normally do the white rice and boiled chicken but I was wondering for a change would boiled ground beef be ok? As always thanks for your help!!!

I like using cooked chicken breast and overcooked white rice. 1:3 ratio ...one cup of chicken breast to three cups white rice. A tablespoon of canned pumpkin may also help to firm things up.
First thing to do with an adult dog is give the tummy 24 hrs of fasting...no food. With a puppy 12 hours. It gives the gut a chance to rest and heal. Then I do the white rice and chicken....small amounts about 3-4 times during the day....if everything is good....then a meal of chicken and rice in the a.m., and slowly add a bit of kibble to the next meal. If all is well half kibble/half white rice and chicken.

The Ester-C may be causing the diarrhea. How much did you give her? Start very slowly with it, and build up the amount so the body learns to tolerate it.

Also, how much of the Adult Innova are you feeding? If you are overfeeding this may be causing the diarrhea. It's very high in calories, and probably 2 to 2 1/2 cup of food per day will be more than enough.

Gina

[SaschasPet]

Originally Posted by QuietDaze

Even boiled, the ground beef is going to be greasier than chicken. If her stomach is upset I would think she would probably do better with bland chicken.

That is true - probably better to just stick with the chicken. Just wanted to give her a little something different. Thanks!

[SaschasPet]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

I like using cooked chicken breast and overcooked white rice. 1:3 ratio ...one cup of chicken breast to three cups white rice. A tablespoon of canned pumpkin may also help to firm things up.
First thing to do with an adult dog is give the tummy 24 hrs of fasting...no food. With a puppy 12 hours. It gives the gut a chance to rest and heal. Then I do the white rice and chicken....small amounts about 3-4 times during the day....if everything is good....then a meal of chicken and rice in the a.m., and slowly add a bit of kibble to the next meal. If all is well half kibble/half white rice and chicken.

The Ester-C may be causing the diarrhea. How much did you give her? Start very slowly with it, and build up the amount so the body learns to tolerate it.

Also, how much of the Adult Innova are you feeding? If you are overfeeding this may be causing the diarrhea. It's very high in calories, and probably 2 to 2 1/2 cup of food per day will be more than enough.

Gina

We had her fast today - I think I will stick with the chicken & rice. Will start tomorrow. I have frozen pumpkin cubes - she loves them. I like your plan better then the vet - they want me to keep her straight bland for almost 10 days that seems a bit much to me but what do I know. I usually just slow boil the chicken then chunk it up for her. Gina, do you use instant rice or slow cook rice?

Started her off with 1 1/2 pills of the Ester-C for a few days then upped it to 3 1/2 - I think this may have caused the issue - never even considered it might and combined with switching her food. I'm going to keep her off it for a day or two then slowly (more slowly then the first go around) introduce back.

She is only getting about 2 - 2 1/2 cups a day. At least that is what I told the hubby and hopefully he listened! As always, thanks for the advice! Truly appreciate it!!!

[brunie's mom]

I use Uncle Ben's long grain rice. Rice usually only takes about 15 minutes to cook. I've never used instant rice...so I don't know? I think the long grain rice has more starch (which is what you want).

The Ester-C, does cause loose stools...so go very slowly with it.

Hopefully she will be back on the mend soon.

Gina

[frontierrots]

How many milligrams are the C pills?

IF she is not used to getting C, then I would have her take 500 mg/day for 3-5 days, then 500 mg twice a day for 5 days and so on. At any time she gets diarrhea then back off 500 mg for 10 more days. EVERY dog tolerates a different level of c so you go like this til you find THAT dog's bowel tolerance

[sweetlee]

OH yes, the chicken and rice diet. Actually when I start this, I make the rice and replace the water with chicken broth, Dodge loves it.
I don't add in the actual boiled chicken breast for 24 hours after that and then start with a small amount.
Another thing I have used is oatmeal in place of the rice, and this too I cook with chicken broth. The oatmeal has a good amount of fiber and will absorb some of the excess liquid in the digestive tract.
I have also heard that pasta cooked so gummy that you would not want to eat it is another option.
I wouldn't use beef because of the higher fat content, but if you wanted to buy 95% fat free ground sirloin and then rinse it, most of the fat would be gone.
I think I will just always use chicken because I KNOW the white meat has little fat in it, and it always seems to work.
I also give Dodge one immodium AD tablet day for the first couple of days.
Probiotics help also. You can buy acidophillus at walmart.
I use a product called Dogzymes from naturesfarmacy every day to help keep the diarrhea away, and have good luck with it. When Dodge does get a bout of it, I give him double amounts of this mixed into his rice mixture.
I would eliminate the Ester C for a bit and see what happens. If it comes again, you may have to find another dog food. I know Innova is a great food, but I am afraid it would send my dog into total digestive upset.
Good luck and keep us posted.

Sharon

[Crzycwgrl79]

I'm new to the message boards so you may have already stated this, why does she have diarrhea in the first place?

[Lola B Marie]

I always have to include this after a diarrhea discussion only because no one could figure out the cause of Lola's diarrhea for almost a year. The conclusive blood test finally showed bacterial overgrowth in her belly and she needed amoxicillin to tame and eventually kill it. She was on every diarrhea med available and still it kept coming back until the vet finally did this blood test.

[Crzycwgrl79]

Did you try probiotics?

[SaschasPet]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

I use Uncle Ben's long grain rice. Rice usually only takes about 15 minutes to cook. I've never used instant rice...so I don't know? I think the long grain rice has more starch (which is what you want).

The Ester-C, does cause loose stools...so go very slowly with it.

Hopefully she will be back on the mend soon.

Gina

Sorry, been off for a while trying to do everything from the week crammed into the 2 day weekend.

I bought Carolina Long Grain yesterday and it's definitely more starchy and she seems to love it. So far so good with the chicken and rice, going to introduce the kibble back in for dinner tonight. Have also been giving her frozen yogurt & pumpkin. I think I over did it with the Ester-C and changing her over to the adult. I feel so bad that I gave her a tummy ache. Thanks for your help! I think she's starting to feel better.

[SaschasPet]

Originally Posted by frontierrots

How many milligrams are the C pills?

IF she is not used to getting C, then I would have her take 500 mg/day for 3-5 days, then 500 mg twice a day for 5 days and so on. At any time she gets diarrhea then back off 500 mg for 10 more days. EVERY dog tolerates a different level of c so you go like this til you find THAT dog's bowel tolerance

Each pill is 250mg. Not sure if I should start her back on them today or give it another day or two. I hate to throw her back into a bout of the squirts already.