Chicken is one of the most widely eaten meats around the world. It is loved by animals and humans alike. While humans prefer it cooked, animals can usually eat it raw. This makes every dog owner ask, “Can dogs eat raw chicken?” Well, it is a controversial topic among dog enthusiasts, but let us find out the truthful answer for the sake of our furry fellows! So, let’s begin exploring the details.
Raw Chicken For Dogs: What Do The Experts Say?
Dogs and many other animals can eat raw chicken, a natural source of essential nutrients and protein. However, raw chicken has certain cons and dangers, which make vets and experts skeptical. Raw chicken is not toxic but contains bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, which can negatively affect your pup’s health. Raw chicken is not all bad, and for dogs who can handle raw chicken, it is a great source of nutrition and protein. However, since most domesticated dogs are fed healthy food and kibble most of their lives, their immune system are not ready to digest raw chicken like those of stray dogs or dogs who have been fed raw food from the very start. Because of this, raw chicken can make them ill and affect their health.
For these reasons, vets usually recommend against feeding dogs raw chicken and recommend cooking it by either frying, steaming, or boiling it. However, you should consult your vet and take their advice. If your vet advises you to boil your chicken first, then we got you. Learn how to boil chicken for dogs here.
How to feed raw chicken to dogs safely
If you decide to feed raw chicken to dogs, here are some of the steps you can follow to eliminate any risks and safely feed raw chicken to your dog:
- Buy fresh chicken from a trusted source: This is very important as old chickens are at a greater risk of harboring bacteria and contamination. Always feed fresh chicken to your dogs. Never buy old chicken, and if you notice a weird smell or colouring on the chicken, immediately discard it.
- Wash the chicken: After buying the right chicken, thoroughly wash it and remove any excess blood, skin, or fat from it. Allow it to sit in water for a few minutes to remove any chemicals from the packaging process.
- Remove the bones: Removing them is essential as they can splinter and cause mouth and throat injury. Further, if swallowed, they can cause gastrointestinal blockage and damage the insides of the body.
- Shred it into small pieces: Shred the chicken into small bite-sized pieces so the dog can easily chew and eat it.
Is chicken better for dogs cooked or raw?
Vets and experts usually recommend against raw chicken due to salmonella or bacterial infection. Cooking chicken kills all the bacteria and is a great source of protein and nutrients, making it ideal for dogs.
What can we do to make chicken fully healthy for dogs?
One way to feed chicken to your dog without the risk of salmonella and bacteria is by cooking it. Cooking kills all the germs and makes the chicken perfect for your dog. Read more about can dogs eat chicken for further details on cooked chicken and everything else.
Here are some more points to make Raw chicken fully healthy for dogs to eat:
- Use organic, hormone-free chicken: This reduces the risk of harmful chemicals and additives in the meat. Organic chicken is also more nutritious and healthy for dogs.
- Ensure proper food handling: Clean your shelves and hands thoroughly to avoid bacterial contamination, such as salmonella. Do not put chicken in a dirty or unhygienic place.
- Remove excess fat and skin: Cutting off the fat reduces unnecessary calories and helps avoid weight gain in dogs. This is especially important for dogs suffering form obesity.
- Freeze the chicken before serving: Freezing kills potential parasites, making the raw chicken safer for consumption. It also preserves its freshness, allowing you to store it for longer periods, up to three days.
Conclusion
Raw chicken might not be recommended by vets, but it doesn’t mean all of the can not eat it. You can consult your vet about can dogs eat raw chicken to get the go signal and start feeding a small portion of raw chicken to your dog. Always remember to maintain hygiene and wash the chicken thoroughly. After all, a happy pup is a healthy pup!
