Several years ago, despite feeding what I thought was the perfect diet to my Havanese, Xoco (pronounced “Sho-ko,” short for Xocolatl, chocolate in Náhuatl), his digestive system made it clear that it wasn’t working for him. His diet included a mix of cooked and dehydrated raw foods, diverse fruits and vegetables, and various animal proteins, including lamb and chicken. However, he continued to struggle with digestion.
I introduced digestive support from Thorne, along with omega fatty acids and medicinal fungi. These did not help quite enough. I also explored the veterinary lines from Standard Process, which offers excellent veterinary products.
While I’ve read the research on fresh raw food and raw bones (BARF diet), it has never worked for any of my dogs. Additionally, I kept my dogs grain-free for years but eventually reconsidered that approach and added some rice and oatmeal to their meals. I decided to develop a homemade diet specifically designed for dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which has worked like a charm ever since.
Xoco turns 11 next month; he’s a happy, healthy, and funny little guy.
Nutrition Is Biology, Not Ideology
Just like humans, there is no single right diet for every dog.
Dogs may have allergies, intolerances, and specific nutritional needs based on their genetics, environment, and stress. It’s essential to apply the same careful analysis to their diets as you do to your own.
IBD-Friendly Homemade Dog Food Recipe
This recipe makes three days’ worth of food for a 17-lb Havanese. Xoco eats 175 grams twice daily, plus treats like dried heart, lung, and cod skins.
Note: While this diet was designed for dogs with IBD, my other dogs enjoy it as an occasional meal. Your choices can be flexible; you may switch out the protein (though, as a rule, chicken is contraindicated) and explore different vegetables. Dogs with IBD don’t do as well on cruciferous vegetables, which can cause gas. I am not a fan of quinoa for dogs or humans or the legume proteins, though I know many holistic dermatologists encourage them.
Ingredients
- 75 g brown rice (dry)
- 25 g oatmeal (dry)
- 500 g very lean organic beef (cooked medium-red)
- 8 oz pumpkin (canned or cooked)
- ¼ cup peas, steamed (fresh or frozen)
- ¼ cup string beans steamed (fresh or frozen)
- ½ cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 2 cups fresh bone broth
- ¼ cup full-fat goat yogurt
- 1 tbsp sea salt
Instructions
1. Cook the Rice & Oatmeal
- Add the brown rice and oatmeal to the bone broth, using plenty of water.
- When cooking rice for humans, we typically cover it with a knuckle’s width of liquid above the rice. However, add three knuckle widths of water for dogs with IBD to ensure extra softness.
- Cook the rice and oatmeal thoroughly until very soft.
- Add the sea salt to the liquid (this sodium amount is spread across multiple meals).
- Alternative: You can cook the rice in water soaked with seaweed for added minerals.
2. Cook the Beef
- Place the lean beef in a pan with water and simmer until half-cooked (medium-red).
- Retain the cooking liquid for moisture when mixing the food.
3. Combine & Process
- Pour the cooked beef (with liquid), rice, and oatmeal into a large bowl.
- Add the pumpkin, peas, string beans, blueberries, and goat yogurt.
- Mix everything thoroughly.
- Transfer ⅓ of the mixture into a food processor and blend until well mixed.
Fresh vs. Frozen Produce
I prefer to prepare fresh vegetables when I have time, but I use frozen instead if it takes too long.
No Added Fat for IBD
- This recipe contains no added fat, as fat can be problematic for dogs with IBD.
- I supplement with fish oil separately to provide essential omega-3 fatty acids.
- Cod skins, while often considered fatty, are mostly protein and well-tolerated.
Treats & Chews
I love offering nutrient-rich treats that support digestion and dental health:
- Dried cod skins (high protein, low fat)
- Dried heart, liver, and lung
- Dried collagen sticks (no bully sticks!)
- Occasional cooked fresh thymus as a topping
Supplements
I include essential supplements from Thorne or Standard process to Xoco’s diet for optimal gut health and overall well-being:
- Fish oil (for omega-3s, since fat content in food is limited)
- Digestive enzymes
- Probiotics
- Pinch of psyllium (for fiber and gut motility)
- Vitamin-mineral blend
Xoco (Sho-ko) has been thriving on this diet for years, proving that tailoring nutrition to an individual dog’s needs is key.
She served as a Fulbright scholar on traditional medicine, a Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School, and a National Institutes of Health-funded research scientist in mind/body medicine.
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