Bland Diet for Dogs: How to Make Chicken and Rice

When a dog has a mild upset stomach, vets often suggest a short-term bland diet. The classic combination is plain boiled chicken and white rice. It’s easy to digest, gentle on the gut and usually tempting for dogs who feel a bit off. Here’s how to make it correctly and when it’s the right choice.

When can a bland diet help?

A bland diet may help a dog who has:

• Mild diarrhea or soft stool
• Vomited once or twice but is otherwise bright and alert
• Mild stomach upset after eating something new or rich

A bland diet isn’t a cure. It gives the gut a rest while it recovers. Always check with a vet first if your dog has a health condition, is very young or old, or has more than mild symptoms. Our guide to dog vomiting once vs. multiple times can help you decide what’s serious.

When not to use a bland diet at home

Contact a vet instead if your dog:

• Is vomiting repeatedly or can’t keep water down
• Has blood in their vomit or stool, or black, tarry stool
• Seems weak, lethargic or painful
• Is a puppy, a senior or has diabetes, kidney disease or pancreatitis
• Has diarrhea lasting more than 24 to 48 hours

Our article on when diarrhea in dogs is an emergency explains urgent signs.

How to make chicken and rice for dogs

What you need

• Boneless, skinless chicken breast (or lean ground turkey or very lean ground beef)
• Plain white rice
• Water

Steps

1. Boil the chicken in plain water until fully cooked, with no pink inside.
2. Shred or chop the chicken into small pieces. Remove any fat, skin or bones.
3. Cook white rice in plain water until soft. White rice is easier to digest than brown rice.
4. Mix about 1 part chicken to 2 parts rice.
5. Let it cool to room temperature before serving.

Don’t add salt, butter, oil, onion, garlic or seasonings. These can upset the stomach further or, in the case of onion and garlic, be toxic.

How much bland diet should I feed?

• Start small. Offer a few spoonfuls first, then wait an hour or two to see if it stays down.
• Feed small, frequent meals, such as 3 to 4 a day.
• Keep the daily total roughly similar to your dog’s normal amount of food, unless your vet suggests otherwise.
• Keep fresh water available at all times.

How long should a dog eat a bland diet?

Most dogs need a bland diet for only 2 to 3 days. Chicken and rice isn’t nutritionally complete, so it shouldn’t be fed long term without vet guidance.

Switching back to regular food

Once stools are firm again, slowly mix your dog’s regular food back in over 3 to 5 days:

• Days 1 to 2: 75% bland diet, 25% regular food
• Days 3 to 4: 50% each
• Day 5: 25% bland diet, 75% regular food, then fully back to normal

Our article on diarrhea after switching food explains why gradual changes matter.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use canned pumpkin too?

A small amount of plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling) may help firm stool. Ask your vet first.

What if my dog is allergic to chicken?

Ask your vet about another lean protein, such as white fish or turkey.

Upset stomach? Ask a vet now

Talk to a licensed vet 24/7, even on holidays, by chat, voice call or video call. Your first month is free with code FREEMONTH, then US $9.99/month, at NYPTeleVet.com. One membership covers up to 6 pets, and you can cancel anytime.

Our vets can’t prescribe medication, but they’ll tell you what’s likely needed and when an in-person visit is the next step.

Sources

• Six Foods to Feed Your Dog When He’s Sick, American Kennel Club
• Bland Food for Dog Diarrhea, Vetstreet
• People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, ASPCA