Species Appropriate Diet: Dealing with illness / Sickness recovery

At some point, every dog will experience sickness or diarrhoea. While these symptoms can be alarming, they are often nothing to panic about. Understanding the possible causes can help pet parents determine when to monitor at home and when veterinary care is necessary.

🔍 Common Causes of Sickness & Diarrhoea

Cause	Description
General Bug	Picked up on walks or in daycare settings.
Reaction to Cleaning Products	Exposure to household cleaning chemicals.
Non-Natural Food or Treats	Consumption of inappropriate foods or poorly sourced treats.
Bile Vomit	Also known as hunger pukes—occurs when the stomach is empty.
Regurgitation	A natural behaviour, often happening after eating too quickly.
Recent Vaccinations/Treatments	Vaccines, flea, or worm treatments may trigger mild reactions, including vomiting, diarrhoea, or hot spots.
Protein Intolerance/Allergy	Rare in raw-fed dogs but still possible.
Stress & Anxiety	Behavioural changes can lead to digestive upset, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

💡 Our blog about vomit types and all things poop can help to understand more around potential causes

🚨 When to Seek Veterinary Care

While occasional sickness is normal, certain symptoms warrant immediate veterinary attention. Contact your vet if:

✔️ Your dog vomits or has diarrhoea 3+ times in 24 hours.

✔️ Any vomiting or diarrhoea occurs in a dog with an existing health condition or medication regimen.

✔️ Signs of lethargy, pain, or noticeable behaviour changes are present.

✔️ There is any visible blood in vomit or diarrhoea.

💡 Avoid relying on social media for medical advice! Contact your vet directly or use emergency vet triage services for guidance. Some insurance policies now offer video vet consultations, making expert help more accessible when needed.

🛠 The Recovery Process – What Works Best?

For years, veterinarians recommended chicken & rice as a recovery meal, but science has evolved—showing that dogs struggle to digest rice effectively.

🚫 Rice is high on the glycaemic index, increasing blood sugar levels and causing inflammation in the digestive tract.

Instead, RFFDMSUK has tested and refined the following recovery plans to ensure safe and effective healing.

🥩 Up to 5 Days Recovery Plan

✔️ Use boneless food (chunks, mince, fillets, or breasts) with no salt or additives.

✔️ Boil & feed one of these boneless options:

• Chicken

• Turkey

• White Fish

✔️ Include cooled cooking liquid to help rehydrate and replenish lost fluids.

🔹 Gut Support Recommendations (UK-based options):

✔️ Dorwest Tree Barks

✔️ River & Wren Botanical Digestive Blend

✔️ Proflax Tummy Tastic

💡 If your dog is on antibiotics, Four Leaf Rover Saccharomyces Boulardi is clinically proven to support gut health without interfering with medication.

🔹 Bone Broth for Extra Hydration & Gut Healing

✔️ Homemade bone broth or pre-made options such as:

• Alexander’s Natural

• Karnlea

💡 Small, frequent meals (5-6 per day) help reluctant eaters regain their appetite after illness. weigh the raw produce out to their usual feeding allowance before cooking.

🥗 Up to 10 Days Recovery Plan

If a vet recommends cooked food for up to 10 days, add to the 5 day plan the following, from days 1-10:

✔️ Fruits & Vegetables (See our guide for popular options).

✔️ Karnlea Pumpkin Powder & Spice (Great for digestive health, with reduced sugars—ideal for yeasty dogs).

✔️ Raw Meaty Bone  (for calcium needs—never cook bones!) alternatively, use ground bones:

• Aniforte Ground Beef Bones

• Aniforte Ground Horse Bones (Less beneficial than raw meaty bones but still a safe substitute).

✔️ Offal requirements:

• Liver: 5%

• Secreting organ (kidney, spleen, pancreas, etc.): 5%

✔️ Cook food lightly—do not overcook!

✔️ Include an egg (soft-boiled or lightly scrambled) 2-3 times per week.

✔️ Add raw oily fish (or algae oil if fish isn’t available).

🔹 Additional Gut Support Add-ons

✔️ Aniforte Colostrum

✔️ Bovine Blood (Both excellent for microbiome recovery).

🌿 Over 10 Days Recovery Plan

If recovery takes longer than 10 days, consider a gently cooked, lightly steamed pre-made meal such as Nutriment or Different Dog, before transitioning back to raw.

🐾 Returning to Normal Diet

✔️ Once symptoms fully resolve, transition back to a normal diet.

✔️ For raw-fed dogs, start with gentle proteins (turkey or chicken) using the 80.10.10 formula.

✔️ Support detoxification with:

• River & Wren Botanical Detox

• or Prodog Raw Revive (helps cleanse the body post-medication).

  
  

🚫 The Truth About “Commonly Recommended” Recovery Foods

Some foods recommended on social media may actually worsen digestion during illness:

❌ Rice – High glycaemic index, spikes blood sugar, increases gut inflammation.

⚠️ Sweet Potato – Great nutrients but contains natural sugars, potentially contributing to yeast infections. (If feeding, steam lightly for better digestion.)

⚠️ Pumpkin Flesh – While rich in soluble fibre, some dogs experience itchiness or yeast build-up. (Avoid pie filling, which contains additives.)

❌ Human Gravy – High salt & fat, contains palm oil, starch, and onion—all unsafe for dogs.

🔹 Bonus Recovery Boosters

✔️ Wormcount Kit – Test for parasites & giardia to rule out serious issues.

✔️ Eggs – Soft scrambled for hydration & digestive support.

✔️ Prebiotics – Help control inflammation & enhance nutrient absorption.

✔️ Probiotics – Rebalance gut flora—Kefir (formulated for dogs) contains 61 strains of beneficial bacteria!

✔️ Vitamin Water – Inspired by Stef’s Pet Pantry, use dog-safe fruits & herbs (blueberries, cranberries, nettle, cucumber, etc.) for an immunity boost. (Avoid in dogs with specific health conditions.)

🐕 Final Thoughts – A Thoughtful Approach to Recovery

✔️ Understand common sickness triggers—knowing the cause helps guide recovery efforts.

✔️ Trust veterinary advice over social media.

✔️ Avoid outdated recovery food myths—stick to scientifically backed solutions.

✔️ Support gut health through probiotics & prebiotics for long-term wellness.

🐾 By taking the right steps, you can ensure a smooth recovery and help your dog bounce back stronger than ever!

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