Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in dogs presents a significant diagnostic challenge. While biopsies are the definitive method for confirming IBD, veterinarians often use the broader term “chronic enteropathy” for dogs exhibiting persistent gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting or diarrhea. These conditions can be further categorized by their response to various treatments, including dietary modifications. For many owners, understanding and implementing these dietary changes can feel overwhelming, especially when commercial options haven’t yielded the desired results. This guide provides a resource for home-prepared diet plans for dogs suspected of having IBD, particularly when limited ingredient or hydrolyzed diets have shown limited success.
Understanding Chronic Enteropathy and Dietary Approaches
Chronic enteropathy encompasses a range of gastrointestinal issues in dogs, with IBD being a significant concern. The initial approach often recommended by veterinarians involves either a novel protein or a hydrolyzed diet. The rationale behind a limited ingredient novel protein diet is to identify potential food sensitivities by changing both the protein and carbohydrate sources. This strategy aims to determine if the dog’s condition is food-responsive.
If a dog does not improve with a commercial diet from a reputable brand, a hydrolyzed diet is often considered the gold standard. These diets utilize protein fragments so small that they are less likely to trigger an immune response. Studies indicate that over half of dogs experience positive outcomes on these specialized diets. However, for the remaining dogs that do not respond, alternative solutions are necessary.
The Role of Home-Prepared Diets
For dogs that haven’t responded to commercial limited ingredient or hydrolyzed diets, a limited ingredient home-prepared diet becomes the next viable option. These diets can be formulated to be low in fat, addressing potential issues related to IBD and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), while remaining nutritionally complete. Such tailored diets can sometimes elicit a positive response in these challenging cases. The purpose of this guide is to offer convenient home-prepared diet plans, recognizing that many dogs referred to specialized services have already exhausted other dietary avenues with limited success.
Limitations and Considerations
It’s important to acknowledge that predicting which dogs will respond to a home-prepared diet is not possible. Furthermore, a significant portion of IBD cases are not food-responsive and necessitate medical intervention from a veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist.
Components of Home-Prepared Diets
The diet plans provided in this resource utilize either fish (tilapia), a terrestrial mammal (pork tenderloin), or poultry (99% lean turkey) as a novel protein source. Carbohydrate sources are also novel and interchangeable, offering flexibility if a dog dislikes certain ingredients like sweet potato or barley. A novel vegetable source oil, combined with essential polyunsaturated fats and an optional amount of fish oil for omega-three fatty acids, is also included. Additionally, there are options for vitamin and mineral mixes essential for a complete and balanced diet.
Transitioning to Home-Prepared Diets
Each recipe is designed to supply approximately 300 kcals per 5 kg of body weight, though caloric needs vary significantly between dogs. Consulting your veterinarian to determine your dog’s specific caloric requirements is crucial. For instance, a small Havanese might need 300-350 kcals daily, while a larger Labrador could require up to 1200 kcals.
The transition to a home-prepared diet should be gradual over a period of 2 to 3 weeks, with most dogs showing improvement within the first three weeks of a six-week trial.
- Initial Phase (Days 1-3): Begin by feeding ¼ of the estimated ration from the home-prepared plan mixed with ¾ of the dog’s old commercial food. Initially, omit the vitamin and mineral mix.
- Mid-Transition (Days 4-6): Increase the home-prepared portion to ½, mixed with ½ of the commercial food.
- Later Transition (Days 7-9): Further increase the home-prepared portion to ¾, mixed with ¼ of the commercial food.
- Full Transition (Day 10 onwards): Gradually introduce the vitamin and mineral mix, ensuring it’s thoroughly incorporated, as its taste can be metallic and deter picky eaters. This full ration is then fed exclusively. If GI tolerance is an issue, dividing the daily ration into smaller, more frequent meals can be beneficial.
Assessing Response and Further Steps
If your dog’s clinical signs resolve during the transition, the diet is considered successful and can be maintained long-term. If improvement is noted but not complete, adding a fiber source like psyllium husk can help firm stools. Ensure the psyllium husk powder is mixed thoroughly with food and a little water to prevent choking.
Should the transition prove unsuccessful and your dog shows no improvement, further diagnostic work-up by your veterinarian is recommended. At this point, it’s likely that the IBD is not food-responsive, and management may involve highly digestible, potentially lower-fat commercial foods, or medications to manage the immune response and symptoms. Discuss available therapeutic “enteric diets” with your veterinarian.
The Value of Home-Prepared Diets vs. Professional Consultation
While consultations with a veterinary nutritionist can be helpful, especially for dogs with multiple health conditions, straightforward IBD cases may not always require this level of specialized input. For many owners, home-prepared novel protein diets can be both successful and relatively easy to implement, negating the need for a boarded veterinary nutritionist. The primary goal is to determine if the dog is food-responsive. If a home-prepared approach doesn’t yield results within 2-3 weeks, seeking veterinary intervention is essential.
Three Home-Prepared Diet Plans
These plans are designed for an average 5 kg dog and can be scaled up based on your dog’s weight and activity level. Accurate measurement using a kitchen scale is recommended for best results.
1. IBD/PLE Canine Tilapia and Sweet Potato Diet
- Daily Diet (approx. 300 kcals):
- 3 ounces baked tilapia (cooked weight)
- 6 ounces baked sweet potato (with or without skins)
- ½ teaspoon hemp seed oil
- ½ teaspoon fish oil (e.g., Grizzly salmon oil, Nordic Naturals pet, Welactin)
- Added Supplements:
- ½ scoop (2 grams) Annamaet Enhance or ¾ teaspoon BalanceIT® Carnivore Blend
- Diet Composition: Approximately 32% protein, 21% fat, and 47% carbohydrates. Small pieces of cooked tilapia can be used as treats during this trial.
2. IBD/PLE Canine Pork and Barley Diet
- Daily Diet (approx. 300 kcals):
- 3 ounces oven-roasted pork tenderloin (cooked weight)
- 4 ounces stovetop cooked pearled barley
- ½ teaspoon hemp seed oil
- ½ teaspoon fish oil (e.g., Grizzly salmon oil, Nordic Naturals Pet, Welactin)
- Added Supplements:
- ½ scoop (2 grams) Annamaet Enhance or 1 teaspoon BalanceIT® Carnivore Blend
- Diet Composition: Approximately 34% protein, 24% fat, and 42% carbohydrates. Small pieces of cooked pork tenderloin can be used as treats.
3. IBD/PLE Canine Turkey and Oats Diet
- Daily Diet (approx. 330 kcals):
- 2 ounces pan-cooked 98-99% lean ground turkey
- 2 ounces instant quick oats (dry weight)
- ¼ teaspoon hemp seed oil
- ½ teaspoon fish oil (e.g., Grizzly salmon oil, Nordic Naturals Pet, Welactin)
- Added Supplements:
- ½ scoop (2 grams) Annamaet Enhance or 1 ¼ teaspoon BalanceIT® Carnivore Blend
- Diet Composition: Approximately 31% protein, 24% fat, and 45% carbohydrates. Small pieces of cooked turkey can be used as treats.
Remember to consult your veterinarian throughout this process to ensure the chosen diet is appropriate for your dog’s specific needs and to monitor their progress closely.
