Bland Diet Recipe

Dogs

A bland diet is commonly recommended as a first-line nutritional approach following illness, surgery, or uncomplicated vomiting and diarrhea (gastroenteritis). These diets are designed to be gentle, easy to digest, and supportive while the gastrointestinal tract recovers. They are also meant to be temporary.

We typically recommend a 50:50 ratio of carbohydrate to protein. Common protein options include lean ground meats (such as chicken, turkey, or beef with excess fat drained). Carbohydrate sources may include plain white rice, pasta, or boiled potatoes. All ingredients should be fully cooked and prepared without added seasonings, butter, or oils.

Because a bland diet is less calorie-dense than most commercial diets, we typically recommend feeding approximately double your pet’s normal food volume while on the bland diet. For example, if your dog normally eats 1 cup per meal, you would feed approximately 2 cups of the bland diet per meal.

For additional support in simple gastroenteritis cases, we often recommend FortiFlora® Pro SA, which we prefer over standard FortiFlora® due to its well-researched blend of probiotic strains and documented immunomodulatory effects that support intestinal immune health. It is also highly palatable, which can be especially helpful for dogs and cats with reduced appetite. Other high-quality probiotic options we commonly recommend include Proviable® and Visbiome®. You can purchase this at our office or through our online pharmacy at any time.

We also offer Endosorb® for dogs experiencing mild, uncomplicated gastrointestinal signs at home. Endosorb is an oral gastrointestinal protectant that works by binding toxins, bacteria, and inflammatory byproducts in the gut, helping to reduce diarrhea and support intestinal recovery. Endosorb is not a medication, but a purified natural clay (similar to activated charcoal or kaolin-based human products).

For additional fiber support, plain canned pumpkin may be helpful for some dogs and should be introduced in small amounts if tolerated. Avoid rich foods, heavy oils, treats, and returning to a regular diet too quickly, as this can delay recovery or cause symptoms to recur.

We typically recommend feeding a bland diet exclusively for 2–3 days, followed by a gradual transition back to the regular diet over an additional 3 days:

• Day 1: Mostly bland diet with a small amount of regular food
• Day 2: 50% bland diet / 50% regular food
• Day 3: Mostly regular food with a small amount of bland diet

If vomiting, diarrhea, or reduced appetite returns at any point, we recommend slowing the transition further — sometimes extending the return to a normal diet over up to one week.

This bland diet is not complete or balanced and is not intended for long-term feeding (generally no more than 1–2 weeks). If your dog appears to do better on home-prepared food long term, a veterinary nutrition consultation is recommended to develop a safe, balanced at-home meal plan.

Cats

Cooking for cats at home can be challenging, and cats often do not tolerate home-prepared bland diets as well as dogs. In cases of intestinal upset (vomiting or diarrhea), we typically recommend a prescription gastrointestinal diet rather than a home-cooked option. These diets are formulated to be highly digestible, nutritionally complete, and more consistently accepted by cats, making them a safer and more reliable first-line approach during recovery.

Probiotics are also commonly recommended for cats with mild gastrointestinal upset. Products such as FortiFlora® Pro SA as described above, Proviable®, and Visbiome® may help support intestinal balance and stool quality and are often better tolerated when mixed with prescription diets. We find most cats like the taste of FortiFlora Pro SA best.

When to Seek Veterinary Care

For both dogs and cats, any gastrointestinal signs that persist longer than 24 hours, worsen, or are accompanied by poor appetite, lethargy, pain, dehydration, or changes in attitude should prompt a veterinary appointment. A physical exam is important to assess overall comfort and hydration, and to determine whether additional diagnostics or treatment are needed.