Chicken for dogs is probably the favourite and most bought food out there along with the health benefits. Most dog owners already give a chicken diet to their dogs through various methods, mostly cooked and served in many different ways. some novice dog owners ask the question that is ‘Can dogs eat raw chicken?’. The answer to this question is complicated and let me explain to you the reasons below.
As dogs are descendants of wolves, some people have a misconception that raw chicken is good for dogs. Although, raw chicken is unprocessed and 100% natural but could be dangerous for a dog’s health. Along with nutritious benefits like 80% protein content, raw chicken also possesses some risk factors like salmonella infections, indigestible bone fragments, etc. You can still serve a limited amount of raw chicken along with other meals or you can give them raw bones as a chewy to enjoy.
Different options of chicken for dogs
There are many options of chicken that you can provide your dog like boiled chicken, chicken nuggets, fried chicken, chicken gizzards, chicken hearts, chicken liver, etc. You can also mix chicken with rice and other veggies.
Boiled chicken
Boiled chicken for dogs is a very great option as this protein-rich chicken is devoid of any kind of seasonings. Dogs adore boiled chicken, and it also provides vitamins and minerals to dogs along with protein. It is usually harmless to dogs unless you overdose on it.
Now, you might ask the ‘How to boil chicken for dogs?’. Boiling chicken for dogs is a very easy method. Firstly, you need to carefully wash the chicken breasts for boiling as only chicken breasts are used as boiled chicken dishes.
Then place those chicken breasts in a medium-sized pot along with water and cover the pot. To know how long to boil chicken for dogs, you might depend on your experience of cooking. But generally, try to boil the chicken for over 10 minutes on a high flame and check if the chicken is well cooked. If not, wait for some more minutes until the chicken is completely boiled and ready to serve.
Chicken feet
Dog owners often pop the question, ‘Can dogs eat chicken feet?’. Chicken feet are generally used as a treat or chewy. Although it is not very good for dogs healthwise, it still contains a healthy amount of glucosamine and chondroitin which helps the dogs with the issues of dental health, mobility, and bone joints. Make sure you give chicken feet to your dog in a proper amount. Depending on the size of the dog 1-3 chicken feet is recommended for the dog per day.
Chicken feet are good for dogs, only if the proper method is used to cook them. The cooking process is similar to French fries. First, you need to wash the chicken feet properly and remove the nails before cooking. Place some water in a large pot and boil it for 10 minutes. Then add chicken to it and boil for 15 more minutes. Once the boiling is done, drain all the water from the pot and let it cool down for a few minutes. After that, you need to dry those with a clean towel. Then, fry it in sunflower oil until it becomes golden-brown. Lastly, let those cool for 20 minutes and serve them to your dogs. Do not put any spices in them.
Chicken liver and heart
Organs like liver and heart don’t sound right when it comes to eating, as those are not conventional meat but internal organs. But you’ll be surprised to know that dogs thrive in the sight of chicken liver and heart. Not only that, but they are two of the top-rated organ meats that you provide to your dog. Chicken liver and heart are rich in protein, vitamin B, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids and help the dogs to build muscular growth and strengthen the bone structure. Chicken heart for dogs is similar to steak and dogs love to eat it.
If you want to know, ‘how to cook chicken livers for dogs’, let me tell you the simplest way is boiling. First, you need the right amount of water for chicken liver in a pot. For every 10 pieces of liver, you need to pour one inch of water into the pot. Keep the flame medium and let the gas on until the water comes to a boiling point.
The chicken heart is cooked in the same way as the liver, just boil it until all the water is absorbed and let it cool down.
Chicken and rice
Chicken and rice diet is probably the most fed meal for dogs. It is very applicable to day-to-day life as it is very affordable as well as healthy among other chicken dishes. This has many benefits such as low allergy rate, high protein content, enough moisture, etc.
You just need knowledge of how much chicken and rice for dogs are appropriate and you are good to go. The ratio of rice and chicken for dogs should be 1:2. Per 10 lbs. of a dog’s bodyweight needs 0.75 cups of chicken and rice mixture per day.
Other dishes
There are some other dishes of chicken that are given to dogs occasionally such as chicken nuggets, chicken gizzards, and chicken noodle soup. Chicken gizzards for dogs are a good option for training puppies as they are not in any way harmful if given in the right amount.
Dogs can have chicken nuggets very rarely as it is not safe as can cause problems. Chicken noodle soup for dogs should also be an occasional treat. However, one question that some might ask is, ‘Can dogs eat chicken skin?’. The answer is ‘never’ as it can cause serious health problems for a dog.
Final Words
Chicken is overall a very good food for dogs with the least amount of harm. Cook and serve different dishes of chicken and you are good to go.
