Sorry, Carol -- we posted together. :>

It's all good Connie...
I just wanted to see what the answers were. I had mentioned the chicken and rice earlier but it did not sound as though she tried it.
I was wondering if the dog was not eating that.
Sometimes you can lead them to the edge but they don't step off right away.

You were way more thorough than I was.

I thought about the chicken and rice but I wasn't sure how to go about it. How much for how long and if it worked should I go back to regular dog food? I guess we decided that a change in a better commercial dog food was best. I was told by several people that IAMS was not a good food, so I was going for the change in dry food first, if that didn't work than the chicken and rice was my next option. I appreciate all the different ideas and options, thanks.

 Quote: susan clifford

I thought about the chicken and rice but I wasn't sure how to go about it. How much for how long and if it worked should I go back to regular dog food? I guess we decided that a change in a better commercial dog food was best. I was told by several people that IAMS was not a good food, so I was going for the change in dry food first, if that didn't work than the chicken and rice was my next option. I appreciate all the different ideas and options, thanks.

I think that with a puppy who is refusing food, losing weight, and also having diarrhea, the top priorities are

1. vet
2. keep hydrated
3. give a soothing food she will eat and which will help to hydrate her


For a few days, you can safely feed a diet of soothing bland foods, no matter about "balance." It's not long-term.

I would get plain white rice and cook it to death in extra water, and throw in a handful of white meat skinless (so low-fat) chicken.

Give her a small dish of it and see what happens. If she eats it and has no diarrhea, give more in a few hours.

Tomorrow she will see the vet. Meanwhile the watery rice will keep her hydrated, it will help soothe the digestive tract, and she will probably accept it.

Some use this:

Bland diet for dogs with diarrhea:

Mix one and a half cups of cooked white rice with one half cup of cottage cheese. Remove the liquid from cottage cheese by squeezing it between several layers of paper towel.


I prefer the chicken (the chicken makes the rice tempting) because some dogs don't do great with dairy unless it's cultured, like yogurt.

I use some plain cooked pumpkin (not pie filling), canned, for dogs with diarrhea.

The puppy sounds like maybe parasites, so you need the vet. Also, a growing dog refusing food is reason for concern.

Susan, please try the rice and chicken as posted above. Hydration is very important with diarrhea, as was posted, so make sure she drinks lots of water, if she will.

Try to take a most recent fecal sample in with you when you go to the vet. Tell them it's urgent so they'll see you today. If she won't drink water, it's really urgent.

I wouldn't bother to ask the vet about what food to feed in the future. We all know what he'll say. The diet she needs is the one she'll eat with the most healthful benefits, and that's the RAW diet. In fact, the Stock Shop carries Nature's Variety in patties. It's a frozen raw dog food. It's supposed to be one of the best as far as balance is concerned. Extremely easy to feed.

There are different varieties, including lamb, chicken, chicken & turkey, venison, rabbit. Stock Shop doesn't carry all the varieties however. It's got the bone ground in so you won't have to worry about your pup initially chewing on bones if that's a concern for you up front. Once you get used to and comfortable with giving the Nature's Variety patties, you can start giving more of what others feed here on the forum (chicken wings, chicken backs, etc, etc; you can read up on it fully). You won't be sorry feeding raw.

There's really no reason to even try the kibble first, unless you've already opened the bag. Stock Shop will take it back unopened - even known to take back a bag if your dog won't eat it.

Update of the pups. I found a WONDERFUL vet on a reccomendation. They do have a parasite that has infected their intestines. They are on an antibiotic and another medication for the parasite. Chicken and Rice is still the required food for 4 more days. My new vet gave them a thorough check up and says we need to treat this aggressively and immediately. I wish this would of all been found by the last vet 10 days ago. I hope this works and we can finally get to enjoy eachother.

 Quote: susan clifford

Update of the pups. I found a WONDERFUL vet on a reccomendation. They do have a parasite that has infected their intestines. They are on an antibiotic and another medication for the parasite. Chicken and Rice is still the required food for 4 more days. My new vet gave them a thorough check up and says we need to treat this aggressively and immediately. I wish this would of all been found by the last vet 10 days ago. I hope this works and we can finally get to enjoy eachother.

Finding a vet you trust is vital ... good news there!

Most dogs tolerate natural, unflavored, live-culture yogurt (as opposed to some unfermented dairy products), and I give that (if it's tolerated, of course) during and after an antibiotic regimen to help replenish the "friendly flora" the antibiotics can kill indiscriminately.

I'm glad you updated. :>

The male is eating like his usual self, my female eats sparingly. She has really taken to the canned pumpkin (that I froze)Thanks for the great idea! At this point I will try anything just to see her eat and drink after the diarreah.

They both have Giardia with an infection in their intestines. They are being treated with Metronidazole and Amoxicillin. I can only hope the 2 weeks of meds helps them along with the bland diet. I purchased Natures Variety Prarie Chicken Mean and Brown Rice Medley, when they are ready for solid food again. The vet reccomended 4-5 more days of chix and rice before introducing the food.

I am just taking several deep breaths and giving lots of love to aid in their recovery.

 Quote: Susan Clifford

The male is eating like his usual self, my female eats sparingly. She has really taken to the canned pumpkin (that I froze)Thanks for the great idea! At this point I will try anything just to see her eat and drink after the diarreah.

They both have Giardia with an infection in their intestines. They are being treated with Metronidazole and Amoxicillin. I can only hope the 2 weeks of meds helps them along with the bland diet. I purchased Natures Variety Prarie Chicken Mean and Brown Rice Medley, when they are ready for solid food again. The vet reccomended 4-5 more days of chix and rice before introducing the food.

I am just taking several deep breaths and giving lots of love to aid in their recovery.

Ohhhhhhhhh ......... Giardia. Oh, I am SO glad you got it diagnosed!

Oh, yes, I wold not hesitate to let her have a little plain pumpkin or any of the orange-fleshed winter squashes (cooked), even with every meal for a little while. It's kind to the system and rich in nutrients, and it is a humectant (absorbs moisture as it adds bulk, and makes the stool both better-formed but also soft, which is why it helps to regulate the stool with both diarrhea and constipation).

I've never met a dog who didn't like it, either. :> Even a dog with nausea and depressed appetite might be tempted when the food is flavored with just a bit of pumpkin stirred in.

There's enough natural sugar in it that you don't want to make it a big part of the diet, but I always have it on hand for doggy-diarrhea.

BTW, warm food is often more attractive to a dog with little or no appetite. The rice gruel is more tempting if it's slightly warm.

I'm with you -- I'm not a doggy short-order cook, but I'll do pretty much anything to encourage a recovering dog to eat good, healing food and drink plenty of water.

Keep us posted!