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Can Dogs Eat Canned Chicken? [Yes, But Heres How To Introduce It Properly]
Many dog owners wonder what other options are out there that they can feed their dogs. With various choices, its important to know what food is dog friendly. Canned dog food is a popular option amongst dog owners.
Canned foods are convenient and add variety to a dogs diet. They are a great option for picky eaters or dogs with allergies. When browsing for canned food, most pet stores or grocery stores carry canned proteins such as chicken, turkey, fish, etc, and pet owners wonder if its safe for dogs.
Is Canned Chicken Good For Dogs?
In most dog food recipes, chicken is the main ingredient and is considered a staple in a dogs diet. This makes owners come to the conclusion that canned chicken is safe, which is true. Canned chicken has high protein and fewer carbohydrates compared to dry kibbles. They also have no artificial coloring or preservatives.
While you can feed your dog canned chicken, its important to not make it a daily habit. This is due to the amount of excessive sodium it has. Too much salt can cause your dog to become more thirsty and can harm the digestive system. Sudden changes in your dogs diet can lead to an upset stomach or digestive issues, ensure to monitor your dog when introducing something new.
To ensure youre giving your dog the best option using canned chicken, its important to take steps to help lower the sodium content. Make sure to prepare the chicken by thoroughly rinsing the salt from the chicken using either a strainer or colander. Once the chicken is washed and drained the sodium content is reduced, some sodium may be present, but its less than straight from a can.
How Much Canned Chicken Can You Feed Your Dog?
When introducing canned chicken to your dogs diet, its important to remember that moderation is key. Start by adding small amounts and increasing over time. The same amount of canned chicken added to the diet varies on what else your dog is digesting from kibble and other foods.
Its important to ensure youre not exceeding 10% of your pets calorie intake. There are websites and other resources such as vets that can calculate how many calories a dog needs to consume daily, this makes it easier to determine the right amount of chicken for your dog.
Which Canned Chicken Is Better For Dogs: Chicken Breast or Chicken Chunks?
Since dogs often consume chicken in most kibble brands, feeding them canned chicken or homemade chicken chunks or breasts is a great option for more protein in their diet. If youre weary about feeding your dog canned chicken due to the sodium, a great option is to cook chicken for your dog.
This can be in breast form, cut into chunks, cut thighs, or leftover chicken. When cooking for your dog be sure to avoid adding seasonings, salt, butter, oil, and sauces. All these ingredients could cause your dog to have an upset stomach, especially in dogs who can be more sensitive to fats and oils.
What Other Canned Meats Can Dogs Eat?
If youre unable to get canned chicken there are other canned meat options that are dog friendly and provide high protein with fewer carbohydrates.
Canned Tuna
Canned tuna or canned fish is a great option that is rich in omega 3 acids and includes lean protein. Just like canned chicken, its important to fully drain and rinse the excess sodium before serving.
Canned Turkey
Turkey is another option that is great for dogs, just ensure you rinse and drain. Giving a few scraps of plain unseasoned turkey to a dogs dish gives them a portion of tasty yet high-protein food.
Should You Give Your Dog Canned Chicken For An Upset Stomach
Like humans, dogs get upset stomachs too. When humans feel sick we often reach for the classic, chicken noodle soup. The great news is, dogs can also benefit from eating chicken or homemade soup to help with belly aches.
Its important to not use the chicken noodle soup humans often eat, this is because it can contain ingredients and preservatives that can harm the dog. Chicken contains tons of beneficial vitamins, minerals, and acids to help the pup feel better, especially when made plain specifically for the dog.
Some dogs will refuse to eat due to feeling sick or becoming bored with their usual diet. Introducing chicken or homemade chicken soup is a great way to encourage them to eat without making their problems worse. Dog owners can cook white chicken meat and serve it cut up, or shredded and add a little bit of white rice to motivate the dog to eat.
Is Turkey Better For Dogs Than Chicken?
There are various proteins on the market included in dog food, the two main being chicken and turkey. Pet parents often wonder which one is better to feed their dog. Both are a great choice and have high protein amounts. However, every dog is different and can have various food allergies, and different taste buds. Generally speaking, ground turkey is known to be leaner compared to ground chicken. However, usually chicken has a higher protein content.
When deciding on which is best for your dogs its important to know if your dog has any food allergies. Many dogs as they get older have been known to develop food allergies, which means their bodies arent able to digest certain proteins like they used to.
Research suggests that older dogs have commonly developed chicken allergies, meaning turkey is more suited for their ages due to the high protein and fat content, it also has a lower calorific value compared to chicken for elderly dogs.
Canned chicken is a great addition to a dogs diet, just be sure to watch the dog carefully and introduce it slowly, taking note of any changes to your dog. Before adding canned meats to your dogs food, research the ingredients of what youre currently feeding them.
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Can Dogs Eat Chicken?
NOTE: Always check with your veterinarian first before giving your dog any new foods, especially people foods. What might be OK for one dog might not be good for your dog, depending on multiple factors, such as their age, health history, health conditions, and diet. Dogs on prescription diets should not be fed any food or treats outside the diet.
Chicken is a nutritious protein source for humans and dogs alike. Its a popular ingredient in dog food, and there are plenty of chicken-flavored dog treats and toys to choose from.
But while dogs can eat chicken, youll want to be careful about how much you give themand how its prepared. As with any new food that finds its way into your dogs bowl, moderation is key. Heres what to know.
Is Chicken Good for Dogs?
Chicken can be a healthy food for dogs if prepared correctly. Its an excellent source of protein and contains several nutrients that can help maintain your dog's overall health, including vitamin B6, vitamin B3, and zinc.
Just be sure any chicken fed to your dog is cooked thoroughly to avoid the risk of salmonella and other foodborne illnesses. Watch out for extra ingredients that might make them sick, like garlic and onions, and remove any bones because they can cause choking or digestive issues.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken?
Do not feed your dog raw chicken. Raw chicken is known to harbor unsafe bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, which can make your dog very sick. Ensure the chicken is thoroughly cooked before sharing it with your dog.
What Chicken Products Can Dogs Eat?
There are several ways to prepare chicken, and not all of them are a good choice for our four-legged friends. Plain, boiled chicken is generally considered safe. But fried chicken and chicken thats been prepared with seasonings such as garlic, onions, or high-fat ingredients like cream or oil should be avoided.
Boiled Chicken
Boiled chicken is a good option to feed your dog. In fact, boiled chicken and rice is a common remedy for dogs with digestive issues, and your vet might recommend feeding this if your pup is vomiting or has diarrhea.
Fried Chicken
A tiny piece of fried chicken probably wont make your dog sick, but its certainly not a healthy option for your pup. Fried chicken made with oil can cause digestive upset, and eating high-fat food can cause a painful condition called pancreatitis. Fried chicken can also contain seasonings that are toxic to dogs, including onion and garlic.
Chicken Nuggets
Your pooch probably wont get sick if he snags one of your kiddos chicken nuggets from the floor, but its not a good idea to give your dog these as a regular treat. Chicken nuggetsespecially if theyre friedare not a healthy snack for dogs.
Chicken Feet
Unfortunately, your dog should also steer clear of chicken feet, as both the raw and cooked kinds can cause digestive issues. Just like any other type of raw meat, uncooked chicken feet carry the risk of harmful bacteria like salmonella that can make your dog very sick.
Cooked chicken feet dont have the same risk of bacteria, but the bones can splinter and cause tears or obstructions in your dogs digestive system.
Chicken Broth
Dogs can have chicken broth as long as it doesnt contain any harmful added ingredients. But onion and garlic are both common additives found in canned chicken broth andagainthese are toxic to dogs. But plain, low-sodium chicken broth (or homemade broth!) can make a nice addition in their dog food bowl when given in small amounts.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones?
Do not let your dog eat chicken bones, as they can cause serious internal problems. Though theyre small, chicken bones can be serious choking hazards for dogs who ingest them.
Even if your dog doesnt choke, the bone can easily splinter and, as they move through your dogs digestive system, those tiny sharp-edged pieces can cut your dogs stomach and intestines. This can potentially cause ruptures, blockages, and infections that all require serious medical attention.
If your dog likes having something to gnaw on, skip the chicken bones and opt for a safer alternative, like a chicken-flavored chew bone or another chew toy.
What To Do if Your Dog Eats a Chicken Bone
If your dog eats a chicken bone, try to get it out of their mouth (as long as you can do it without distressing them further or getting bitten). Try offering another treat to get them to drop the bone.
If your pup ends up swallowing it, watch them carefully. If the bone appears to be stuck in their throat, this is an emergency and should be addressed ASAP. Take your dog to the vet immediately.
If you suspect your pooch has eaten a chicken bone, watch for signs of distress. If they display any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet as quickly as possible:
If your dog is acting normal, its OK to keep monitoring them closely from home. Always call your vet if you have concerns about your pets health.
Can Dogs Be Allergic to Chicken?
Protein sources such as chicken (or beef, dairy, egg, lamb, and fish) are some of the most common causes of allergies in dogs.
Most of the time, dog food allergies affect the skin and coat, though they can also cause vomiting or diarrhea. Symptoms that may indicate your dog has a chicken allergy include:
Its possible for dogs to develop a food allergy at any point in their lifeso if Fido is suddenly scratching after he eats his regular chicken and rice kibble, you may want to try an elimination diet to see if something in his food is causing it.
How Much Chicken Should You Feed Your Dog?
Chicken is a common ingredient in commercial dog food and treats, so its safe to feed your pup chicken as a treat or occasional food topper. Just be sure its thoroughly cooked and unseasoned.
As with any new ingredient, moderation is key! Once your pup gets used to eating fresh chicken in small amounts, you can use the following as a guide to feeding your dog chicken. Generally speaking, your dog should have about 1/41/3 cup of meat protein per 20 pounds of body weight each day.
Extra-small dog (220 pounds) = About 1 tablespoon cooked, unseasoned chicken
Small dog (2130 pounds) = 2 tablespoons cooked, unseasoned chicken
Medium dog (3150 pounds) = Up to 1/4 cup cooked, unseasoned chicken
Large dog (5190 pounds) = About 1/3 cup cooked, unseasoned chicken
Extra-large dog (91+ pounds) = About 1/2 cup cooked, unseasoned chicken
Examples:Newfoundlands,Bernese Mountain Dogs,SaintBernards,Great Pyrenees
If your dog experiences digestive upset or other discomfort after chowing down on chicken, stop feeding it to them and call your vet.
Featured Image: Adobe/bit24
WRITTEN BY
April Saylor
Freelance Writer
