Dietary changes are an unavoidable part of a dog’s life. It’s possible that the change was planned, like going from puppy food to food for adults; or it could be that something unexpected happened, like an illness or a food recall.
In either case, knowing the right way to switch your dog’s food can make the process easier for both of you.
Once you start giving your dog regular dog food again after giving them bland foods like boiled chicken and rice to help with stomach problems, you’ll need to do it slowly. A sudden change can throw their body off and make them vomit or have diarrhea. Follow these tips for a smooth switch.
Why Chicken and Rice?
Vets often recommend feeding dogs cooked chicken breast and plain white rice for a few days when they have
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Loss of appetite
- Need to fast before a procedure
This simple food combination is gentle on the gut. The rice acts as a binding agent to firm up loose stools while the chicken provides lean protein.
While fine temporarily, chicken and rice lacks complete nutrition for the long-term. Dog foods are formulated to give dogs all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need.
Dangers of Abrupt Changes
Dogs do best on a consistent diet Their digestive systems need time to adjust to changes in food composition
Making a sudden change from chicken and rice to kibble or canned dog food can be hard on the system, just like when we go from bland foods to spicy foods.
Possible consequences include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Gas
- Loss of appetite
- Irritation of the intestinal tract
Gradual changes over 5-7 days give the digestion time to catch up.
Tips for Transitioning to Dog Food
Follow these tips to change your dog from bland chicken and rice to their regular dog food:
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Transition over 5-7 days. Take it slowly to allow the stomach time to adapt.
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Substitute kibble for rice first. Kitty food and rice both bind, so this step gets the digestive system used to more complex foods.
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Then add kibble protein. Finally swapping the chicken for dog food protein sources like lamb, chicken, beef completes the switch.
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Stick to their regular food. Choose their normal dog food to avoid additional change.
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Slow down if needed. If digestion seems upset, stretch out the transition and move back a step.
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Mix the foods. Combining the old and new foods eases the adjustment.
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Gradually change ratios. Slowly decrease the bland diet while increasing the dog food.
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Watch stool consistency. Loose stool means the switch is too fast. Back up a step.
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Give smaller portions. Several small meals daily can be easier to digest.
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Avoid sudden food changes later. If you want to keep their digestive health, don’t let them switch back to their old food.
Sample Transition Schedule
Here is a sample 7-day transition schedule from chicken and rice to dog food:
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Day 1: Feed 3/4 chicken + rice, 1/4 dog food kibble
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Day 2: Feed 1/2 chicken + rice, 1/2 dog food kibble
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Day 3: Feed 1/4 chicken + rice, 3/4 dog food kibble
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Day 4: Feed 3/4 dog food kibble + rice, 1/4 dog food canned
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Day 5: Feed 1/2 dog food kibble + rice, 1/2 dog food canned
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Day 6: Feed 1/4 dog food kibble + rice, 3/4 dog food canned
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Day 7: Feed 100% dog food (kibble + canned)
This gradual shift from the bland diet to their regular food minimizes stomach upset. Monitor stool quality and slow down if needed.
When to Call the Vet
Consult your vet if your dog has ongoing diarrhea or vomiting after transitioning to dog food. There may be an underlying health issue to address.
Most dogs do well transitioning from bland chicken and rice to their regular dog food when done gradually over 5-7 days. Take it slowly and let their digestive system adapt for a smooth switch.
Steps for Switching Dog Foods
Some dogs seem to have an iron stomach. They can eat almost anything and do just fine. But others have a more delicate constitution.
It’s best to err on the side of caution, since the potential downside of making a diet change too quickly is unpleasant for everyone.
Here are two good ways to switch your dog’s diet that reduce the chances of food refusal, diarrhea, vomiting, and gassiness.
Gradual Dog Food Switch
Whenever possible, take at least a week to switch your dog to a new diet. Mix the new and old foods in these ratios:
- Day 1 – 10% new food / 90% old food
- Day 2 – 20% new food / 80% old food
- Day 3 – 30% new food / 70% old food
- Day 4 – 40% new food / 60% old food
- Day 5 – 60% new food / 40% old food
- Day 6 – 80% new food / 20% old food
- Day 7 –100% new food
It’s even better to go slowly if your dog has had problems with changes in the past or if the new food is very different from the old one (like going from a dry salmon-based food to a wet chicken-based food).
If your dog stops eating, throws up, or has diarrhea at any point during this process, go back to the old food and make the switch even more slowly. Call your veterinarian for advice if your dog’s symptoms continue after switching back to their old diet.
Can I Feed My Dog Chicken & Rice Every Day?
FAQ
How do I transition my dog from chicken and rice to regular food?
Substitute 10% kibble in the Chicken & Rice for a few days. Then 25% for a few days. Then 50%, then 75%. The slow transition will work.
When to stop chicken and rice for dogs?
How long should your dog be on chicken & rice? Typically, a bland diet of chicken and rice for dogs with diarrhea or vomiting is required for a short period of time. Most of the time, it is stopped three to four days after stomach upset or when the dog stops vomiting and has normal stools again.
What is the 80/20 rule for dog food?
Simply put, the 80/20 rule suggests that 80% of your dog’s diet should come from commercial dog food, while the remaining 20% consists of treats or human food. Jan 17, 2025.
How long should a dog be on a chicken and rice diet?
You can cook it up once weekly and then reheat the rest of the week. You should not have to keep him on this chicken/ rice diet forever. We only feed them this for a few days until the GI signs go away because it’s not a complete and balanced diet. After that, we switch them to their normal diet.