The boiled chicken and plain white rice diet has been the go-to remedy for dogs that are unwell or have an upset tummy.
This is a meal that I will feed my dog when his appetite isn’t as good as usual.
If your dog is currently on the chicken and rice diet but isn’t pooping much or not at all, does that mean something is wrong?
When introducing the chicken and rice diet to your dog, it can take a while for your dog to start pooping again. Most dogs can take up to 72 hours to accumulate and empty their bowels when recovering from a bad tummy upset.
So chicken and rice slowed things down in your dog but what exactly in this diet mix causes such a delay?
Let’s unravel this dietary mystery.
What Is The Chicken And Rice Diet For Dogs?
The chicken and rice diet is basically a bland diet for dogs that aren’t in the best of health.
It consists of cooked chicken which is lightly boiled or steamed and a small serving of cooked rice.
Please do not feed your dog rotisserie chicken as the meat contains ingredients that can be unhealthy and toxic to your dog.
There are many iterations of this diet that can comprise other meats and grains such as brown rice.
When Do Dogs Poop After Eating Chicken And Rice?
“The reason for a dog’s efficient digestive system is due to its powerful stomach acid and shorter digestive tract.”
The digestive system in a healthy dog is rather efficient.
It can take anywhere between 8-12 hours for a dog to fully digest its food and eliminate whatever that’s not digested.
This is a lot faster than humans which can take between 24-48 hours.
The reason for a dog’s efficient digestive system is due to its powerful stomach acid and shorter digestive tract.
There are other factors that can also determine how fast your dog needs ‘to go’ after a meal such as:
- Breed
- Age
- Amount of physical activity
- Gut microbiome
Not much attention is paid to a dog’s gut microbiome but it can largely dictate your dog’s current digestive health.
There are millions upon millions of bacteria, fungi and viruses that live in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract.
They help with your dog’s digestion and other important bodily functions.
This ecosystem in your dog’s stomach can get disrupted when it is in poor health, age or on medication (especially antibiotics).
You can expect your dog’s digestive system to be much less effective during this period.
Do Dogs Poop Less On A Bland Diet?
Based on my experience, it does happen more often than not.
The last time my dog was on chicken and rice, he didn’t use the toilet for a good 2-3 days.
There are a couple of reasons for this.
A chicken and rice meal is very low in fiber. The more fiber your dog has in its diet, the more frequently it will want to move its bowels.
This is good if your dog has been having diarrhea as it will slow down the stool production in the intestines.
You can’t expect your dog to have the same potty frequency when it was on its regular diet of kibbles and canned food.
Chicken and rice diets are also very low in fat which is easier on your dog’s stomach and makes the ingredients a lot easier to break down and digest.
This helps to reduce intestinal contractions and gives the GI system a much needed break.
Digesting food does take a lot of energy.
Can Chicken And Rice Cause Constipation In Dogs?
I don’t see how such a bland diet can make your dog constipated. But there are some ways that it can mess up your dog’s tummy.
This is when your dog has an existing reaction to chicken or white rice.
It is possible that the chicken and rice diet can give your dog some degree of constipation or even diarrhea for that matter under such a scenario.
You can change out the meat to something which is more agreeable such as lean beef or rabbit meat.
Cooked fish can also work during this period if your dog is fine with it.
It is better to choose fish that is lower in fat content like cod and halibut than salmon.
For dogs that are allergic to grains like rice, you can use sweet potato or pumpkin instead.
I am a big fan of adding some fresh pumpkin to my dog’s diet every now and then as it helps to firm up the stool and helps to promote regular bowel movements.
How Much Chicken And Rice Should You Feed A Dog?
“I wouldn’t advise feeding your dog too much rice as its digestive system is still more effective at digesting aminal protein.”
If your dog isn’t eating well then you should feed it as much food as it can handle.
But if your dog is eating normally, a good rule of thumb would be about 25-30 calories per pound of body weight.
90-95% of your dog’s meal should contain protein and the rest in rice.
Although some studies have shown that dogs have the ability to digest carbohydrates better than wolves, feeding a carb rich diet might not be best for your dog.
I wouldn’t advise feeding your dog too much rice as its digestive system is still more effective at digesting aminal protein.
Too much rice can put more stress on the digestive system and cause diarrhea or constipation.
Some dog owners say not to rinse the rice before cooking, as it is the starch that you want as a binder and rinsing the rice removes it and other water-soluble nutrients.
I wash my rice all the time to wash away the contaminants, if any, just to be safe.
Is It OK To Feed My Dog Chicken And Rice Every Day?
You can still continue to feed your dog chicken and rice for its usual meals if there aren’t any adverse effects.
However, remember to still keep the rice portion small compared to the meat.
You can also switch out the rice for other types of plant matter such as pumpkin or sweet potato.
My dog is on a 95% raw meat diet with the remaining 5% coming from healthy carb sources.
I find that this is the best ratio for dogs to have the best of both worlds.
Why Is The Chicken And Rice Diet Recommended?
The chicken and rice diet can be good for dogs who are recovering from surgery or have an upset stomach.
Dogs in this state usually don’t have much of an appetite or are not able to consume their regular dog food.
It is also common for dogs to not be drinking enough water after their surgery.
I doubt that many of us will find a fat, juicy and oily burger appealing when we are ill.
What makes this bland diet suitable for such dogs is how simple it is.
There’s only one source of protein and carbs for the dog to digest.
Furthermore, it is low in fat and doesn’t contain a lot of filler and preservatives that you find in most pet foods.
The whole idea of this chicken and rice dish is to make the dog’s diet palatable and easy to digest.
Why Is My Dog’s Stool Orange In Color After Eating Chicken And Rice?
Orange or yellowish stool in dogs means that the tummy is still in upheaval and has yet to settle.
Sometimes it can be caused by having too much bile in the stomach or the food passing too quickly from your dog’s digestive system and out its rear end.
There isn’t sufficient interaction with the bile in the dog’s stomach which gives fecal matter its brown color.
If the stool color doesn’t revert back to brown after a few days, please let your vet know about it.
How Long Can A Dog Go Without A Bowel Movement?
A dog who is healthy and in decent shape should need the toilet on a daily basis or more than that.
My dog goes about twice a day on most days.
If your dog is sick or recovering from surgery, it is normal to notice a slow down in its bowel movements.
For one, your dog might not even be eating enough to produce stools. And secondly, his gut microbiome is messed up at the moment.
But if your dog isn’t defecating after 48 hours, I would suggest taking it to the vet to make sure there’s nothing serious.
The vet might have to perform an enema on your dog or prescribe some laxatives to get the bowels moving.
FAQ
Can Rice Make My Dog Constipated?
Too much plant matter such as rice in your dog’s diet can lead to constipation. Although dogs can digest carbohydrates to a certain degree, too much of it can start to cause digestive issues.
Why Hasn’t My Dog Poop After Having Diarrhea?
After experiencing diarrhea, your dog has likely emptied its bowels and may need time to accumulate fecal matter before resuming normal elimination. As long as your dog isn’t straining or appearing unwell, there’s no immediate cause for concern.
How Can I Stimulate My Dog To Have A Bowel Movement?
Ensure that your dog gets regular exercise and plenty of fresh drinkable water. Adding some fiber-rich foods, like pumpkin or oats its diet can help too.