Can Dogs Eat Chicken?

If you’re a dog owner, you know that the animal is more like a family member than a pet. You love spending time with your furry friend and want to make sure you’re providing it with the most delicious and nutritious food possible. It’s likely the reason why you’re asking, “Can dogs eat chicken?”

Because dogs are omnivores, it’s safe for them to consume chicken. In fact, they’d likely eat chicken, along with other types of meat, if they weren’t domesticated and continued to live in the wild. So, the next time you decide to prepare chicken, you can share it with your dog! Of course, there are a few things you need to know beforehand to ensure you’re providing a safe treat for your pet to eat.

Can Dogs Have Chicken?

Did you know that many foods marketed to dogs and sold in pet stores contain chicken? If not, that shows you that this type of meat is safe for your dog to consume! While you can find chicken in different dog food brands, you can also prepare it from scratch and serve it to your dog. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

First, your dog doesn’t need to eat fried or breaded chicken. Because heavily fried chicken contains excess oil and fat, it’s bad for your dog and can contribute to obesity. If you want to keep your pet at a healthy, ideal weight, don’t give your dog fried chicken or fast-food chicken that you could get at a restaurant. In addition, you don’t need to season the chicken for your four-legged friend.

You might like to eat your chicken seasoned with different spices, such as garlic powder, oregano, and even onion powder, but some of these spices aren’t good for dogs. For example, onions are incredibly toxic to dogs, including onion powder. If you’re

preparing chicken with that seasoning on it, make sure you don’t let your dog have a bite of it.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken?

While dogs in the wild may eat raw chicken, pet owners are not recommended to feed this type of chicken to their pups. You may have heard of the raw food diet, which is a diet that some pet owners choose for their pups. However, if your dog isn’t used to consuming raw meats, this can cause digestive issues that are worth avoiding. In addition, there is always that risk of your dog consuming harmful bacteria when consuming uncooked chicken. If you don’t want to take chances, it’s best to cook the chicken before you serve it!

Can Dogs Have Chicken Bones?

Dogs love nibbling on bones, so one would assume they can eat chicken bones, right? However, the truth is that chicken bones are BAD for dogs because they’re a choking hazard and can potentially damage the intestines. These bones break easily, causing splinters, leading to severe health conditions and possibly even death.

So, even if you have a bunch of leftover bones, don’t give them to your dog. Be sure to dispose of them in the garbage and keep the can away from your furry friend so it won’t feel tempted to dig in the trash to try to get them. You can still give your dog bones, but you’ll need to get those bones at a pet store instead of giving your dog any bones from the chicken you’ve prepared.

Is Chicken a Good Addition to a Dog’s Diet?

Chicken is an excellent addition to a dog’s diet. One of the reasons it’s good for dogs is that it contains a lot of protein, which provides these animals with plenty of energy.

Protein is also good for the skin and coat, leaving it looking shinier and healthier. Some people even ditch the kibble and like to prepare homemade dog food for their pets, combining a few different ingredients, such as boiled chicken breast with rice and dog-safe veggies. While you don’t have to skip the kibble altogether, you can add shredded pieces of chicken on top to make the food even more enticing for your dog. It’s something you can give your dog daily, but you don’t have to overdo it and give your pet too much of it.

The smaller your dog, the less chicken it will need to feel full. For example, one tablespoon of shredded chicken is sufficient enough for a small dog, while a larger dog may require an additional tablespoon spread on top of its kibble or served in its bowl with anything else you plan to give it. You can also use freshly cooked chicken to reward your pet as a healthy alternative to junk treats.

What Types of Meats Are Best for Dogs to Eat?

Dogs can benefit from eating several types of meat. The best meats for dogs include chicken, ground turkey, ground beef and steak. You can switch it up and give your four-legged friend a variety of options with its kibble.

How to Prepare Chicken for Your Pooch

There are several simple ways to prepare chicken for your furry friend. You can try one or more of these options based on what you like best for your dog.

Boiled

Grab a boneless, skinless chicken breast and put it in a pot full of boiling water, allowing it to cook for several minutes until it’s no longer pink. If you’re unsure if the inside is still pink, you can carefully remove the chicken with a fork and cut a piece, tossing it back in

the water to cook for a few extra minutes if needed. Once you’ve boiled the chicken, remove it from the water, set it on a plate, and shred it with two forks or chop it into pieces. You can add the chicken to your dog’s food bowl, but make sure it’s not piping hot because you wouldn’t want your furry friend to burn its tongue.

Baked

If you’re already planning to have the oven on because you’re making yourself a meal, feel free to put your unseasoned, fresh chicken breast in the oven. You can bake it at 350°F for about 20-30 minutes, depending on the overall size of the chicken breast. Once you’ve removed it, let it cool down before chopping it into bits and pieces to feed to your pup.

Pressure Cooking

Do you have a pressure cooker? If so, you can prepare your chicken in it to make it as quickly as possible for your pooch! Simply follow the directions that came with your pressure cooker to prepare your chicken in less than 15 minutes!

These are some of the simplest ways to make fresh chicken for your dog! Remember, you don’t need to season it. It’s also best to avoid cooking it in unhealthy, fatty oils that aren’t good for your pet.

Common foods toxic to dogs

There are a number of common foods that are toxic to dogs. Some of the most common include chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, and raisins. If you’re unsure whether a food is safe for your dog, it’s always best to consult with your veterinarian.

Vegetables are a pretty safe food group for pooches. Add some color and variety to their food dish with asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, cucumbers and celery. If you want to give your pooch a refreshing treat, chop up some bananas, blueberries, oranges, melons, pumpkins, apples, kiwis, dates, pitted cherries, cantaloupes and papayas.

Like cats, dogs can safely eat most seafood. Opt for canned tuna, salmon, seaweed, shrimp, crabs and lobster. Please make sure to deboned and thoroughly cook to avoid bacteria.

Dogs can also enjoy beans, just nor chili. You might be wondering which beans can your dog eat. Well, you can add unseasoned green beans, black beans, lima beans, pinto beans and garbanzo beans to their plates for variety. Do not give your dog kidney beans. They are highly toxic for dogs.

Dogs may love peanut butter, but are nuts suitable for dogs? It depends. You can give pups nut butter to help them swallow a pill. Dogs can enjoy small amounts of almonds, cashews, pistachios and walnuts. Skip giving pups any dried fruit to be on the safe side. Dogs shouldn’t be given raisins, which are dried grapes.

With those pleading eyes and wagging tails, it can be hard to say no to our dogs when we are enjoying our food. However, there are better ways to keep pets happy. Exploring pet insurance options is a great way to learn about ways that help you find peace of mind. Spot offers pet insurance plan options that help you focus on your pet’s care, not cost.

Conclusion

Dogs can safely eat chicken and often thoroughly enjoy it. However, you shouldn’t feed your dog raw chicken, and you need to keep the bones away from your furry friend. It’s also best to serve freshly prepared chicken without the seasonings to your pup.

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