So, you’ve decided to pamper your pet with a home-cooked meal! Though chicken and rice might seem like an appealing everyday feast for your canine companion, especially if they have an upset stomach, trust me – this simple dish alone won’t cut it for meeting their nutritional requirements.
Avoid feeding your dog chicken and rice more than twice or three times a week. When you feed them chicken and rice, try to mix them in other vitamin-rich foods such as vegetables or some kibble.
Table of Contents
- Is Too Much Chicken And Rice Bad For Dogs?
- Chicken And Rice For Dogs By Weight Chart
- Can I Feed My Dog Boiled Chicken Every Day?
- Do Dogs Fully Digest Rice?
- Will Chicken and Rice Give My Dogs Constipation?
- What Can I Give My Dog Instead of Chicken and Rice?
- Are There Any Vegetables That I Shouldn’t Give My Dog?
- Can I Replace Chicken with Tuna in My Dog’s Food?
- Should I Mix Kibble with Chicken and Rice?
- What Homemade Foods Can Dogs Eat?
- Is Homemade Dog Food Good for Dogs?
Is Too Much Chicken And Rice Bad For Dogs?
Chicken and rice are not bad for your pet but your dog will need more than just these two foods. Chicken and rice are common ingredients in most home-cooked dog food recipes they are cheap, easy, and make a great bland diet option for dogs with upset stomachs.
Just as you need a balanced diet with some variety, your dog will also appreciate eating more than just chicken and rice.
Enhance your dog’s meals with other wet foods beyond just canned food. Try adding vegetables, herbs, and other wholesome ingredients. Not only are you able to create an array of delicious recipes that taste great, but also one that is packed with essential nutrients for a balanced diet which will help keep your dog at a healthy weight!
Chicken And Rice For Dogs By Weight Chart
If you’re considering making a meal of chicken, rice, and other ingredients for your dog, it’s important to keep the ratio of proteins and carbohydrates in balance according to their weight. Here is a handy guide that will help you do this:
Weight | Chicken (cooken) | Rice (cooked) |
<4 lbs | 1/4 cup | 1/8 cup |
4-7 lbs | 1/2 cup | 1/4 cup |
8-17 lbs | 3/4 cup | 1/3 cup |
18 – 26lbs | 1cup | 2/3cup |
27 – 35lbs | 1.25 cups | 3/4cup |
36 – 44lbs | 1.5 cups | 3/4cup |
>45lbs | 2 cups | 1cup |
Remember to always adjust the portions based on your dog’s individual caloric needs and consult with a vet if you have questions about their diet. Preparing a balanced home-cooked meal with the right ratio of proteins, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins and minerals is important in keeping your pet healthy!
It’s also wise to add omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon oil or sardines to the meals for extra nutrition. This will help keep your pup’s coat shiny and their skin clear.
Can I Feed My Dog Boiled Chicken Every Day?
As long as you balance your dog’s diet with additional ingredients, you can feed your pet a cup of food containing boneless chicken breasts and rice every day. For smaller dogs feed them less.
The boiled chicken alone will not sufficiently meet all of your dog’s nutritional requirements.
Your dog will require additional fiber and carbohydrates, calcium, minerals, fatty acids, and various vitamins to help them maintain a healthy body weight.
If your pooch has recently been ill, it’s essential to amend its diet in order to replenish any nutrients that may have diminished.
Do Dogs Fully Digest Rice?
Dogs may be the descendants of carnivorous wolves but their stomachs have evolved to consume and digest some grains. However, they are not as capable of breaking down complex carbohydrates as humans or other animals. Therefore, you should be careful about what grains you feed your dog.
Canine stomachs are powerful enough to fully digest plain white rice boiled in chicken broth but avoid feeding your dog more fibrous varieties such as brown or red rice. Your dog will not be able to digest it and it could upset its gastrointestinal tract.
Will Chicken and Rice Give My Dogs Constipation?
Although chicken and rice provide a balanced meal for dogs, it is important to feed your pet the right amounts of both foods. Too much of either ingredient can cause issues such as constipation or diarrhea.
It’s also essential to choose ingredients with high-quality proteins that are easy to digest, like lean chicken breast. Avoiding fatty meats, such as chicken skin and dark meats will also help prevent digestive issues.
What Can I Give My Dog Instead of Chicken and Rice?
If your dog has grown sick and tired of white rice, you can try mixing things up with a few other grains. (1)
Test out a few of these to see which ones your dog likes and can digest:
- Gluten-free oatmeal is a wonderful substitute for rice if your dog is grain tolerant
- If your dog has any allergies, tapioca works well as a grain-free carbohydrate (2)
- Boiled and mashed white potatoes contain complex carbohydrates and amino acids
- Bone Broth
- Baby food (without onions and garlic)
- Canned pumpkin and rice
If your dog struggles to digest any of these, do not feed them to your pet.
Are There Any Vegetables That I Shouldn’t Give My Dog?
Avoid feeding your dog onions, garlic, chives, mushrooms, tomatoes, asparagus, or leaks. Onions, leeks, chives, and garlic are all part of the same plant family, and all of them are bad for your dog’s health. They can cause gastrointestinal inflammation and poison your dog’s blood.
While not all mushrooms are bad for dogs, many species of wild mushrooms are highly toxic. Feeding your dog mushrooms will teach it to trust all mushrooms, leading it to eat toxic ones.
Can I Replace Chicken with Tuna in My Dog’s Food?
You can replace chicken with a variety of different meats. Tuna is completely safe for your dog but avoid making it their main source of protein. Tuna often has high mercury levels that can damage your pet’s health and lead to long-term health problems.
You can also use cubed or ground beef, turkey, or liver (in small portions), as long as you cook the meat to kill any bacteria that could harm your dog.
Should I Mix Kibble with Chicken and Rice?
If your dog is new to a home-cooked diet, its stomach may still be adjusting to new foods. You can mix kibble into their homemade meals to provide more fiber, calories, and nutrients they need to survive.
Your vet may also recommend adding kibble into their meals to round out their diets. Often, it is difficult for pet owners to meet all of their dog’s nutritional needs, so adding kibble can help lighten that burden.
What Homemade Foods Can Dogs Eat?
You may be surprised to learn that your dog can eat a wide range of human foods without it harming their health. Your dog can safely and happily consume:
- Vegetables such as carrots, peas, spinach, and zucchini
- Lean meats such as chicken, turkey, and ground beef
- Some legumes such as kidney beans
- Grains such as oatmeal, rice, and tapioca
As long as your home-cooked meals meet all of your dog’s nutritional needs, there’s no harm in switching to a homemade diet.
Is Homemade Dog Food Good for Dogs?
Although scientists have yet to publish any research on whether homemade dog food is better than store-bought dog food, there is reason to believe it is better for them. One study found that dogs raised on a home-cooked diet lived 3 years longer, on average than dogs raised on kibble.
Additionally, you can better control what your pet is eating and regulate their diet if they have any allergies or a sensitive stomach.
My name is Ken and I’m one of the staff writers at Petloverguy.com. I’ve cared for pets most of my life starting with hamsters, turtles, and snakes. Then moving up to parakeets, guinea pigs, and even ducks.
I currently live with two yorkies and a chihuahua mix.