Why can t dogs eat raw chicken
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
Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken? Vet-Verified Dietary Facts
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreChicken is a common and healthy ingredient in many dog foods, and plenty of pet parents love to feed their dogs plain-cooked chicken. If youve been considering feeding plain chicken to your dog, you may have wondered whether you can skip the extra preparation and just give him raw chicken.
After all, isnt raw meat more like what your dog wouldve eaten in the wild? Even if it makes sense in your mind, dont jump too quickly to feed your dog raw chicken. According to most experts, raw chicken is unsafe for your dog. To further understand why that is, keep reading below.
Why Is Raw Chicken Bad for Your Dog?
There is a growing movement toward feeding pets raw food; however, many veterinarians recommend avoiding the raw food trend and focusing on safely cooked, healthy meals for your dog. Chicken is no exception. Feeding raw chicken to your dog may put him at a greater risk of developing Salmonella, E. coli, or another bacterial infection, so make sure you cook the chicken before offering it to your pet.
Signs of Salmonella in Dogs
Although signs of Salmonella are most often noticed in relation to the gastrointestinal system, they can cause issues throughout your dogs entire body. Therefore, it is important to recognize the signs of Salmonellosis so you can get your dog treated as soon as possible.
Common signs of Salmonellosis include:
- Diarrhea, often severe in nature, sometimes bloody
- Vomiting
- Lethargy or fatigue
- Lack of appetite, sometimes with weight loss
- Fever
- Dehydration
In rare instances, it can also travel to the reproductive system and cause a female to lose her pregnancy.
Signs of E. Coli Infection in Dogs
An E. coli infection, or colibacillosis, will often have a sudden onset. Signs include:
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Watery diarrhea
- Lethargy and weakness
- Depression
- Dehydration
How to Prepare Chicken for Your Dog
While raw chicken should be avoided, cooked chicken is a great meal for your dog. It is a nutritious source of protein and tastes great to your pup. When preparing chicken for your dog to eat, there are a few cautionary measures to observe.
First, the way you cook the chicken will determine whether or not it is safe for your dog to eat. Plain, boiled chicken is a good choice for canines, and plain chicken broth is also acceptable. As long as neither the chicken nor the broth has any included seasonings or flavors, they are perfectly acceptable to feed to your dog. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 F to kill harmful bacteria.
Seasoned chicken or fried chicken is not an appropriate meal for your dog; they can be incredibly unhealthy, sometimes even toxic.
How Much Chicken Can You Feed Your Dog?
How you prepare chicken can determine whether or not it is healthy for your dog. Moderation is key, even with healthy food like plain, boiled chicken. Generally, cups of meat per 20 pounds of body weight is a good way to measure how much chicken you can give your dog.
The table below shows an estimate of how much chicken is appropriate for your dog based on his breed size.
| Breed Size | Amount of Chicken |
| Extra Small | 1 tablespoon |
| Small | 2 tablespoons |
| Medium | cup |
| Large | cup |
| Extra Large | cup |
Be Wary of Chicken Allergies
If you are feeding your dog chicken for the first time, monitor your pet for signs of chicken allergies. Animal protein sources (including chicken) are among the most prevalent causes of canine allergies.
Signs that your dog may have a chicken allergy include:
- Redness of the skin
- Rashes or hives
- Itchiness or irritation of the skin
- Loss of hair
- Recurring skin or ear infections
- Frequent hot spots
- Constant licking or chewing of the skin
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Even if your dog has no chicken allergy, be aware that allergies can emerge at any time. While your dog can gobble up as much chicken as he likes right now, there is always a possibility that he may develop an allergy in the future. Therefore, knowing the signs will help you notice if your dogs food isnt right for him.
Can You Give Chicken Bones to Your Dog?
Most of us know the stereotype that dogs love to chew on bones. However, giving your dog a chicken bone to chew on is not advised since its a choking hazard.
Also, chicken bones can splinter easily, which means that sharp pieces of the bone will travel through your dogs digestive system. This can lead to blockages and even punctures in your dogs gastrointestinal tract.
If your dog manages to swallow a chicken bone (or any bone for that matter), reach out to your vet immediately. You should also watch for the following signs:
- Lack of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Drooling
- Gagging
- Coughing
- Lethargy
- Difficulty breathing
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Nuggets?
No. While your dog likely will not get sick if he snatches a single chicken nugget from your plate, making a habit out of it isnt a good idea. Chicken nuggets are not a healthy treat for your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Feet?
No. Whether raw or uncooked, chicken feet can cause digestive issues in canines. The bones in the foot can splinter, causing serious health issues for your pup.
What Health Benefits Does Chicken Provide to Your Dog?
In addition to being a healthy source of protein, chicken also provides nutrients, including zinc, vitamin B3, and vitamin B6.
Final Thoughts
Raw chicken is not a safe meal for your dog; however, cooked chicken is nutritious and tasty. If you plan to feed your dog chicken, make sure it is plain and boiled. Avoid seasonings, breading, and bones, which can cause serious health concerns in your dog. When feeding your dog something new, dont hesitate to reach out to your vet for guidance and advice.
Featured Image Credit: manfredrichter, Pixabay
