Some of the most famous dishes in the world are made with chicken. Chicken is a staple protein in many countries, which is why many people have questions about making chicken for our four-legged friends! Knowing how to cook chicken for dogs will let you feed this great food to the beloved furry member of your family.
Feeding your dog a fresh, healthy, human-grade diet can lead to better skin, a shinier coat, and better bones. Chicken is an excellent source of lean protein, omega-6 fatty acids, and is also filled with amino acids.
Most dogs will benefit from a chicken-based diet including dogs with special dietary needs, sensitive stomachs, and those with dental issues.
Things to Know Before You Feed Your Dog Chicken
Boiled chicken is an integral part of a bland diet. Although we may tire of eating boiled chicken, your favorite four-legged beast will think it is the most amazing meal in the world. That being said, keep the seasonings and spices to a limit when feeding your dog. After all, you don’t want to end up making them sick!
Before feeding your dog chicken, know that they have certain dietary needs and take a few precautions.
If you want your dog to enjoy chicken, start with plain skinless chicken breasts. Don’t add any seasoning, onions, or garlic when cooking your dog’s chicken at home.
According to Rover.com, chicken is a common allergy for canines. Therefore, if you think that your best friend is suffering from a chicken allergy, stop feeding them and take them to a vet immediately. Allergic reactions are not something to be messing around with.
Always, always, always make sure that you aren’t feeding your pup undercooked chicken. The same bacterias that affect us, affect them as well. This will lead to digestive issues if left unchecked.
Remember, only feed your dog boneless chicken. Chicken bones pose a choking hazard to your canines.
Stick to chicken breastwhich is low in fat and healthier for your dog. Fatty food can lead to serious health issues in your dogs. Although boneless chicken thighs are an acceptable alternative for humans, please don’t feed them to your dog. Due to processing, chicken thighs may still have bones.
How to Cook Chicken For Dogs
Dogs love plain boiled chicken probably more than their owners do. Dog’s stomachs are sensitive to seasoning and spices, so it’s best to just make a plain, boiled, boneless chicken breast. Feel free to supplement this with their regular food. Follow the steps below to make sure that you properly cook the chicken.
- In a medium-sized pot, add water, cover, and bring to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, go ahead and add the chicken breast to the water.
- Cook the chicken for 10-15 minutes or until it has an internal temperature of 175 F.
- Once cooked, chop or shred the chicken breast so that it will speed up the cooling process.
- In order to not burn your dog’s mouth, wait until the chicken breast is cool to the touch.
- Serve your dog small portions of chicken and store any remaining pieces in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
For Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs
Chicken and rice is popular for both humans and dogs. If you really want to make your dog a special treat, you can cook the rice in the broth made from boiling the chicken. This should help your dog with any stomach issues that they may have.
For dogs that are picky eaters, make sure to leave out the onions and garlic. Both of these are highly toxic to dogs and accidental ingestion could end up costing you thousands of dollars at your local emergency veterinarian.
How Often Should Your Dog Eat Chicken?
Chicken breasts are great for dogs that need a little more meat in their diet. Just make sure that the chicken you serve them is free of any potentially harmful ingredients. Try to get chicken that’s free-range and free of chemicals and other additives. It may cost a little more, but sometimes our dogs are worth the extra cost for the added peace of mind.
Don’t exclusively feed your dog human food. Although homemade dog food is on the rise, we need to be careful about what we’re putting into our dog’s bodies. They don’t have the same immune and digestive systems that we have. Once or twice a week is a good rule of thumb to live by so that your dogs don’t end up only wanting to eat chicken!
Conclusion
Learning how to cook chicken for dogs is a great way to introduce cleaner food into your dog’s diet. Although there might be some downsides to including chicken in your dog’s diet, if you’re careful about what you’re feeding your dog, the chicken shouldn’t pose any threat.
Most dogs love chicken. The special treat that your dog gets from you will leave them wanting more, so be careful about what it is that you’re giving them.
As dogs enjoy skinless chicken breast the most, aim for primarily selecting this type of chicken when you’re grocery shopping. Your dogs will love you for it later!
When changing your dog’s diet, make sure that you consult your local veterinarian beforehand. Your vet may have some different suggestions when it comes to giving your dog chicken.
One last thing, although it is great to see our four-legged friends around the dinner table with us, please don’t feed them from the table. This will only create bad habits in the long run.
Feeding chicken to your dog is a way to show them love and respect. In turn, they will love, respect, and hopefully, protect you in the event that you need them!