Chicken and Rice

Chicken and rice in dog nutrition and what we really need to know. One of the most entrenched myths about what a dog should eat when it has digestive problems is the 'almighty' chicken and rice. This combination is widely recommended by veterinarians and most dog owners. It is widely believed that this is the best combination you can offer your dog when it comes to symptoms such as:

• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
•  food allergies.

The combination of chicken and rice is often recommended by veterinarians as an attempt at an elimination diet. Especially when dogs are picky, as food in postoperative treatment, etc. Although many veterinarians and owners can confirm that with this combination they have had a lot of success in curing problems such as diarrhea and vomiting in dogs, we will explain why we should give up the old proven recipe.
Why is rice not the best choice?
Rice is a grain and the dog's digestive system is actually very burdened by digesting rice, and what it gets from its digestion are carbohydrates that are completely unnecessary and often harmful (in the dog's digestive system, carbohydrates will only further stimulate inflammatory processes). White rice contains very little raw fiber and too much starch, and it certainly should not be a food present in a dog's diet every day, and especially not in the diet of dogs suffering from digestive problems.
Why is chicken not the best choice?
Next to beef, chicken is the protein most often used in the production of dog food and as such is the most common cause of food allergies. Standard, intensive breeding of chickens implies the mandatory use of antibiotics, vaccines, and very often growth hormones. All these substances remain in the meat and you definitely do not want to feed your sick dog such meat. If we are talking about cooked food, what better option?
Combination of lightly cooked turkey and pumpkin.
 Turkey is considered a hypoallergenic meat for dogs, and it is also less fatty than chicken. Cooked pumpkin is an excellent source of crude fiber, it contains almost six times more crude fiber than white rice. It is especially rich in soluble fibers, which dissolve in water to create a viscous gel that coats and soothes irritated intestines. Soluble fibers slow down gastric emptying and intestinal peristalsis (diarrhea frequency decreases). Pumpkin is an excellent source of potassium. Prolonged diarrhea can cause loss of electrolytes, it is especially dangerous if there is a loss of potassium. Hypokalemia is manifested by cramps, fatigue, weakness and irregularities in the work of the heart. For diabetic dogs and dogs with pancreatic problems, pumpkin is a far better choice than rice. Transition to Barf diet. Read more on that topic.