Can You Give Chicken and Rice to a Dog With an Upset Stomach? Vet-Approved Advice
By Misty Layne
Updated on
Having a dog with an upset stomach is an awful experience for everyone. Your pup is miserable, and if there’s vomiting or diarrhea, you’re dealing with clean-up duty while trying to take care of them. And often, when dogs have upset stomachs, they aren’t big on eating (which is understandable), but they need food to keep up their strength. So, what can you do?
One way to help your pup’s stomach settle down and entice them into eating again is by feeding them chicken and rice. Chicken and rice is a safe, bland meal option for when your pup isn’t feeling well. However, it might not be the first thing you want to do when your dog is experiencing digestive issues.
Dogs and Digestive Issues
Why do you not want to give your pet chicken and rice before anything else? Because first, you should talk with your vet. It’s important to remember that dogs can experience upset stomachs for various reasons, and some of those reasons may be on the more serious side (and not something a few days of eating chicken and rice will help). Your pet may be dealing with an issue that requires medication or even surgery.
Just a few of the stomach ailments that can result in diarrhea and vomiting include:
- Foreign objects (when your dog eats something they shouldn’t; these may also lead to bowel obstructions)
- Allergies or food sensitivities
- Change in diet
- Digestive inflammation
- Internal parasites
- Infections (viral or bacterial)
- Pancreatitis
- IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)
- Cancer
If your pup is experiencing mild stomach upset due to a mild irritation, chicken and rice may be an excellent meal option for them until they’re better. But if your dog has eaten something it shouldn’t and it’s lodged in the digestive tract, or they have pancreatitis, they need to see the vet (and soon!). So, before you feed your pet chicken and rice, speak with your vet first to find out if it’s a suitable solution to your dog’s upset stomach.
How to Make Chicken and Rice for Your Dog
Chicken and rice is a simple meal for your pup, so it’s easy to make.
First, you’ll need to take boneless, skinless chicken breasts (no seasoning), place them in a pot with water, and boil them. The cooking time for boiling chicken will be between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts you’re using. Once the chicken is properly cooked, remove it from the pot and let it cool. After it’s cooled, you can cut it into small pieces (1 inch or less) or shred it so your dog isn’t at risk of choking.
As for the rice, be sure to use white rice and not brown. Brown rice is healthier in general, but it isn’t as easy on a dog’s stomach as white rice. For this, you’ll simply need to cook according to the instructions on the rice.
After the rice has cooled, you can mix the chicken into it to feed your dog. Check with your vet to find out how much chicken and rice is safe for your pup, as this will vary according to your pet’s weight.
Other Important Information to Know
There are also a few things you should keep in mind when feeding chicken and rice to your dog.
- Don’t use any oil or seasonings on the chicken or rice. These will upset your pup’s stomach even more! Some seasonings can be toxic (like garlic and onion powder).
- A chicken and rice diet should only be given to your dog for a few days; this isn’t food you should give your pet long-term.
- Use white-meat chicken, not dark meat. Dark meat may have more nutrients, but it also has more fat, which is more difficult to digest.
- Don’t just switch your dog back to their regular diet immediately when they’re feeling better. Instead, slowly transition from chicken and rice back to their regular food to avoid further stomach problems.
Final Thoughts
Chicken and rice is a suitable meal for dogs with upset stomachs, as it is very bland and easily digestible but still nutritious and can help settle the stomach. However, before feeding this meal to your dog, check with your vet. Your dog’s stomach could be upset for many reasons, and the cause of your pup’s digestive issues may require more than switching to a bland diet for a few days.
If you do decide to give this meal to your pet, be sure to boil the chicken and use white rice. Also, avoid oils or seasonings, as these will further upset your dog’s stomach.
Featured Image Credit: del Monaco, Shutterstock
