Your dog no longer eats properly, complains of discomfort or reacts unusually when touched on the stomach and abdomen? Digestion is often to blame. In addition to a visit to the vet, one thing above all is called for: a gentle diet for your dog. This is how gentle nutrition works for your four-legged friend.

My Dog Does Not Eat! – This Can Be The Reason

Dogs are sensitive creatures that react to every change in their living conditions and physical well-being, often with a loss of appetite. Then often even the favorite food does not taste good, no matter how juicy, fresh or appetizingly seasoned it is. This is not yet a reason to panic.

When to give the dog a special diet and whether it is effective depends on the reason for the reluctance to eat. If you have tried everything for two days, but nothing helps to stimulate hunger and appetite, you should visit the vet with your dog. Diseases, deficiencies, injuries in the mouth or digestive tract are reliably determined here in most cases.

But there is not always a clear reason like an acute illness or organ problems. Also possible are

• Stressful situations due to new family members or guests.
• Stress after a move or renovation.
• Grief after the death of a conspecific or other pet.
• Side effect of medication.
• Undiscovered problems with the teeth.
• Worsening of an esophageal dilatation.
• Advanced age.

However, your dog needs food to regain physical and mental fitness. Freshly prepared Schonkost for the dog helps to fill the stomach and stimulate the circulation.

What Does Schonkost Mean For The Dog?

As good as Schonkost is for dogs and humans with stomach upsets, the associations surrounding the term “Schonkost” are negative. For us humans, the word reminds us of rusks, chamomile tea and broth. Many owners associate the Schonkost for the dog above all with rice and lean curd. They are not completely wrong, but dog food is much more than that.

Dogs, when they are healthy and in a good mood, eat many different food groups and do not stop at dishes for humans when we are not looking. However, a major component of their diet is usually meat from farm animals such as beef, duck, venison, and various fish such as salmon and trout. Those who opt for vegetarian diet in dogs feed a wide range of vegetables such as peas, potatoes, carrots and also cabbage.

If a gentle diet is planned for the dog, the first thing that should be eliminated from the menu are those foods that can cause flatulence and stomach problems. These include hard-to-digest meats, grains and legumes. You should also avoid highly processed snacks, such as those made from cheese powder, for the time being.

Avoiding these ingredients soothes the stomach and intestines while providing your dog with vitamins and nutrients. So he recovers from the situation that led to his lack of appetite and recharges his batteries for upcoming challenges. Many dogs love their new temporary menu from the first day, as it visibly strengthens them while being less heavy on the stomach.

These Foods Belong In The Schonkost For The Dog

The appropriate bland food diet depends heavily on what ailments your dog is experiencing. Does he have stomach pain and digestive problems or is the lack of appetite due to his emotional state?

Gentle Diet For The Dog With Lack Of Appetite

The vet could not find any physical complaints, but your dog does not touch even his favorite food? Then the first thing to do is to stimulate the appetite with anything that satiates quickly and contains lots of important proteins. Nevertheless, the stomach and digestion should not be burdened.

For example, the dog’s diet can be based on soft boiled rice and potatoes and enriched with carrots, low-fat curd cheese, brewer’s yeast, honey and oatmeal. Lean chicken and well-cooked turkey also make full and stimulate the circulation.

Large dogs in particular also need large amounts of food if they are to take part in walks, walk rounds, play sessions and socializing. These interactions then also improve their mood, which in turn stimulates hunger. So this type of gentle diet for the dog is all about getting as many calories into the weakened dog’s body as gently as possible.

Feed your dog small portions four times a day, so that he can feed on the nutrients for a long time and has plenty of time for digestion.

Gentle Dog Food For Stomach Problems

Stomach pain and digestive problems add an additional problem to the diet. The process of digestion or eating itself is already perceived as unpleasant. The actual condition is the discomfort, which should not worsen. The dog should already notice after a few bites that the new diet suits him better than his usual food.

Cottage cheese, low-fat curd cheese, rice pudding (without sugar), carrots and apple are ideal for this. A little flaxseed oil can add extra fats and get the digestion going. But beware, this can be a problem especially if you have diarrhea. No matter what ingredients you choose, first try out what a small portion of the food does to your dog’s condition.

If your dog lies down in his bed or on a blanket whining after eating the gentle food and this condition does not improve despite digestive sleep, you must switch to the basic ingredients: Rice and low-fat curd. Both should be completely free of spices. If the health does not improve over days, you should ask the vet for liquid food and vitamin shots.

This Changes The Gentle Diet For The Dog

Gentle food is called gentle food because it is easy on the digestive tract. It is easier to chew, swallow smoothly and break down into its components with little effort. Foods such as rice and potatoes also soften the stool, making it easier to walk the dog.

Appetite stimulants such as yeast and honey, which are also available in liquid snacks, also help to stimulate salivation. So your dog gets an appetite for the food he is a little afraid of in the current situation, because it might be heavy in his stomach or hurt him. He overcomes this moment and then realizes that the Schonkost is perfectly suited to his body.

Schonkost is fed in small amounts throughout the day. Also make sure that the dog drinks a lot. Especially when he is sick or recovering from an illness, the body of both dogs and humans has a high fluid requirement in order to completely flush out pathogens and pollutants, but also residues of medication.

Is Soft Food Unpleasant For Dogs?

All owners love their dogs and always want to offer them only the tastiest, best food. The four-legged best friend should like it and have fun eating it. Every dog has its favorite snacks, which we also rely on during training and sports with the animals. And all this he should give up in favor of cottage cheese, rice, potatoes and apple?

Sometimes, soft food is the only way for the dog to get his digestion back under control. In the case of older and emotionally stressed dogs, it may even be necessary to feed gently on a permanent basis. It’s certainly uncomfortable at first, but once the dog realizes it’s okay with him, everything is fine. Many dogs love cottage cheese and curd, others can’t get enough of carrots.

For your dog, the diet is a necessary evil, but it is usually quickly accepted. If the animal is better later, it is all the more happy about the beloved snacks.

FAQ

What Kind Of Meat Should I Feed With Bland Food?

If you want to enrich your dog’s diet with meat, pre-cook chicken breast or turkey breast and offer your dog small pieces of it.

Is There Any Food That Is Suitable For The Dog’s Diet?

Yes, manufacturers such as Petbalance and Royal Canin offer various diet foods that are specially designed for bland diets.

Can A Permanent Special Diet Become Necessary?

In the case of older and chronically ill dogs, a permanent switch to a gentle diet makes sense. Depending on the disease, treats can of course still be fed.

Is Gentle Food Healthy For Puppies?

If puppies are ill, the veterinarian must decide whether gentle food can be fed. It should then be enriched with vitamins and minerals to guarantee healthy growth.