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Fill up the bowl! Can French Bulldogs eat Rice?

Fill up the bowl! Can French Bulldogs eat Rice?

With the latest trend in dog dining being organic and natural foods, you might be considering preparing all of your French Bulldog's meals at home in an attempt to help them live a healthy life.

Or perhaps the pet store has closed and you forgot to buy more food today, and you are rummaging through your pantry, looking to make your Frenchie a home-cooked meal.

As you are researching ingredients and recipes, it is crucial to ensure that the recipes are safe for your Frenchie. Before feeding your French Bulldog any human foods, be sure to thoroughly confirm that it is safe for him to eat.

Many commercial dog foods contain rice as an ingredient; your Frenchie may have eaten it before.

Can French Bulldogs eat Rice?

French Bulldogs can eat plain, cooked, white rice. Never feed a Frenchie seasoned rice or uncooked rice. Rice has the potential to soothe a stomach ache and offer an easy to digest meal for a dog who is recovering from diarrhea or vomiting.

Why feed rice?

Rice can be fed as part of a regular homemade diet, or as part of a bland diet to help a dog recover from a stomach issue.

According to the American Kennel Club, white rice is easy to digest, quick to prepare, helps bind stool, and is low in fiber.

However, brown rice is rarely or never prescribed by veterinarians, as it is more difficult to digest. White rice is easier to digest and contains the starch that dogs need.

According to Vet Street, a bland diet is ideal for helping dogs recover who are struggling with stomach issues, such as vomiting or diarrhea.

A bland diet may be commercial or homemade. A homemade bland diet usually consists of very limited ingredients, such as white rice, chicken breast, and green beans.

If your Frenchie has a sensitive stomach, Purina FortiFlora, a probiotic supplement, can help them recover from stomach issues and help maintain digestive health in the future.

How to prepare and feed rice

Making rice for your Frenchie to eat is very simple; either purchase microwavable white rice or white rice than can be boiled. Prepare the rice according to the instructions, without adding any spices or seasonings.

Remember that your French Bulldog's palate and stomach do not work the way yours do:

They are happy to eat simple foods; your Frenchie is probably just excited to be getting people food and will not care that it is plain.

Transitioning foods is very important. Never make rapid changes by feeding your Frenchie different foods at each meal or each day, or their stomach upset may become worse.

The American Kennel Club recommends transitioning foods over 5 to 7 days. However, in the event of digestive upset, begin feeding your Frenchie the bland diet as prescribed by your veterinarian, which will likely be immediate, not over a week.

Home Made Diets

According to Dr. Patty Khuly, French Bulldogs are prone to skin issues and allergies. As such, some owners may consider making homemade diets to fit their Frenchie's specific dietary needs.

Be sure to consult with your veterinarian before starting a homemade diet to ensure that your French Bulldog's dietary needs will be met. For example:

  • According to Vet Street, feeding adult dogs a homemade diet is safer than feeding a puppy a homemade diet.
  • According to the American Kennel Club, white rice is not appropriate for diabetic French Bulldogs to eat regularly, as it has a higher glycemic index than brown rice, causing their blood sugar level to rise.

Stomach Issues

According to VetStreet, Most veterinarians will prescribe a bland diet for a period of 3 days. If your French Bulldog continues to struggle with mild diarrhea or vomiting for more than 3 days, or if they exhibit any of these symptoms, seek veterinary care as soon as possible:

  • Blood and/or mucus in their fecal matter
  • Fecal matter that is abnormal from their regular fecal matter
  • Worms in their fecal matter
  • Relieving themselves more frequently than usual
  • Frequent accidents in the house
  • Straining to relieve themselves
  • Decreased appetite
  • Weight Loss
  • Decreased activity and energy
  • Vomiting and diarrhea occurring simultaneously
  • Stomach ache (may be presented as a stomach that is sensitive to the touch, or they may walk in a strained manner)

Tapeworms or rice?

When your French Bulldog eats rice, they will digest the rice in their stomach; they should not poop it out.

According to Vet Street, if you notice what appears to be grains of rice in their fecal matter or on their bottom, these are tapeworms, an intestinal parasite.

As soon as you notice the worms, schedule a veterinary appointment. Be sure to take a sample of your dog's fecal matter with you to their appointment for the veterinarian to test.

Obtain the freshest sample possible to take to the appointment; do not collect the fecal matter the day before the appointment.

If it is very hot outside, double bag the sample, then wrap it in a grocery bag and put it in your fridge. If it is cold, it can be stored in your garage or by your door until it is time to take it to your French Bulldog's appointment.

Thankfully, this parasite is very easy to treat; administering an anti-parasite medication at home according to your veterinarian's instructions should solve the infestation.

Summary

Frenchies can eat rice; serving this at mealtime can even help a Frenchie who has a tummy ache. Though French Bulldogs may eat rice, it should always be fully cooked and plain, not seasoned.

Feeding rice should be done in moderation, as it has the potential to cause weight gain if eaten excessively.

Also read: The Best Slow Feeder Dog Bowl [REVIEWED]