What is a good substitute for chicken and rice for dogs

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Chicken And Rice For Dogs: A Simple Homemade Recipe

For us humans, chicken noodle soup is a go-to when feeling ill. For dogs, many veterinarians suggest feeding your pup chicken and rice to settle an upset stomach.

How much chicken and rice should you feed your dog to help him feel better? And how should you cook it? Well help you figure out how to help your pups ailing tummy with some tips and an easy recipe for boiled chicken and rice for dogs.

Is Boiled Chicken Good For Dogs?

Boiled chicken is an excellent source of low-fat protein, vitamins, minerals, and other necessary nutrients for dogs. Its also often recommended along with rice by veterinarians for dogs with an upset stomach or diarrhea.

How To Boil Chicken For Dogs

There are some definite dos and donts when it comes to boiling chicken for dogs. Youll want to use skinless, boneless chicken breasts (white meat is better than dark meat for dogs since its easier to digest).

Dont season the chicken at all dogs shouldnt eat too much salt or other spices. While this may not sound appetizing for you, your dog wont complain.

Place chicken breasts in a single layer in a medium or large-sized pot.
Pour in enough water to entirely submerge the chicken.
Cover the pot and boil the chicken for 12-15 minutes over high heat.
Once cooked, dice or shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces for your dogs size.

Personal Experience

I made chicken and rice for my dog when she had an upset tummy. It was really easy to make, and it helped settle her stomach. Now that my family is vegetarian, we keep a can of pumpkin puree in our cupboard if she experiences digestive problems because it can help with diarrhea and other GI issues. Kimberly A., Canine Journal

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Chicken And Rice Recipe For Dogs

Heres a simple recipe you can make at home for boiled chicken and rice for dogs.

Ingredients

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup uncooked white rice
Water

Instructions

Boil the chicken following the instructions above.
Remove the chicken from the broth.
Boil the rice in a medium-sized pot using either the reserved broth or plain water (dont add salt, butter, or any other seasonings to the rice).
Allow the rice and chicken to cool.
Shred or dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Mix the chicken and rice so that the mixture is roughly 1/3 chicken and 2/3 rice.
Let your pup enjoy his tasty meal!

Optional: If your dog isnt drinking much water, you can add some cool water to your dogs food bowl with the rice and chicken to help him get more fluids in his body.

How Much Chicken And Rice Should I Feed My Dog?

Feed your dog the amount of food he usually eats in a day. For example, for a small dog or puppies who only eat one cup of food per day, give him 1/3 of a cup of the chicken and rice mixture three times per day. For large dogs, you can give them 1 cup of the mixture three times each day.

If youre giving your pup this meal to help with an upset stomach or diarrhea, its a good idea to give him small portions several times a day to make sure hes digesting his food okay. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure youre feeding your dog the appropriate amount.

Chicken And Rice Dog Food

Although this chicken and rice dog food doesnt have the same immediate effect for your dog as the homemade recipe for an upset stomach, were recommending it if you want your dogs food to be mainly chicken and rice. One of many brands we recommend is Diamond Naturals Chicken And Rice Formula. This formula includes cage-free chicken, vegetables, fruits, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and probiotics with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

If you want healthy, fresh meals delivered right to your door, you may want to check out our reviews of the best fresh dog food delivery services. Several offer chicken and rice recipes, including JustFoodForDogs (JFFD). In this brief video, the founder of JFFD talks about their chicken and rice recipe their most popular selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions our readers often ask about chicken and rice for dogs.

Can I Feed My Dog Rice And Chicken Every Day?

Its not a good idea to limit your dog to just homemade chicken and rice because its not a complete and balanced diet. Dogs need additional vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that chicken and rice dont contain. A commercial chicken and rice dog food could be okay to feed your dog every day as long as its complete and balanced.

Will Chicken And Rice Help My Dogs Diarrhea?

Yes, this blend is an ideal bland food that can help dogs with diarrhea. Make sure you give your dog boiled white meat chicken with the skin and fat removed. And long-grain white rice is best for dogs with diarrhea (avoid brown rice). Feed your pup two parts rice to one part chicken in small portions until your dog recovers.

Why Is My Dogs Poop Yellow After Eating Chicken And Rice?

Yellow dog poop after chicken and rice is fairly common and shouldnt be a cause for concern. However, if your dog continues to poop yellow after eating other foods, you may want to contact your veterinarian to make sure there isnt an underlying cause, like a parasite.

Can Chicken And Rice Make A Dog Constipated?

No, this meal typically dont cause constipation in dogs as long as youre giving your pup white meat and white rice. Brown rice can be harder to digest and could possibly cause constipation.

Is Chicken And Rice Good For Dogs With Pancreatitis?

Yes, this recipe for dogs with pancreatitis is not only safe but is one of the recommended diets for this health condition. Dogs with pancreatitis need low-fat, easily digestible food. So boiled white chicken breast and whiterice is a good option.

What Other Foods Can Dogs Eat?

If you give your pup human food on occasion, you may be wondering what foods he can have. There are several foods that are very toxic for dogs, some that are difficult for dogs to digest, and others that can cause choking or intestinal blockages. See our article on which foods are and arent safe for dogs.

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Substitutes for Rice in a Dog's Diet

Increased awareness of nutritional needs and food allergies has prompted dog food companies to produce foods with a variety of new ingredients. Many manufacturers, who traditionally used rice as a staple carbohydrate source, are offering foods with a whole host of new carbohydrates. As these new foods are made available, you may want to know what these rice substitutes mean for your dogs diet.

Rice and Dogs

First, its important to understand the role that rice, a carbohydrate, plays in dog food. Much debate exists among dog nutrition experts about how much, if any, carbohydrates dogs need. Some experts say dogs do not benefit at all from added carbohydrates like rice because, ancestrally, dogs only ate meat. They may have ingested some plant material that had been eaten by their prey, but it was only a very small percent of their diet. Other experts say dogs benefit from the glucose and some vitamins and minerals gleaned from carbohydrates. Some carbohydrates like brown rice provide fiber, but because the digestive system of dogs is short, fiber isnt needed in the way it is for humans. However, some dogs appear to do better with some fiber in the diet.

Rice and Allergies

All carbohydrates have the potential to cause an allergic reaction in dogs. Dogs with food allergies tend to develop sensitivity to foods theyve been fed over a lengthy period time. Because rice has been a staple ingredient in dog foods for some time, it can be a common allergen. Frequent scratching and feet licking are the most common symptoms of a food allergy, but some dogs experience vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. If you suspect your dog has an allergy to rice, its best to conduct a food elimination trial under your veterinarians guidance. Your vet can also do allergy testing, but it isnt as reliable as allergy testing for humans.

Carbohydrates in Dog Food

Dog food manufacturers use starchy ingredients to hold both dry and canned foods together, and carbohydrates like rice are used in dog food mainly because they are cheaper and more plentiful than protein sources like meats. Carbohydrates do provide energy, and because dogs are naturally scavengers, they can often adapt to whatever food is available. They can subsist on a high carbohydrate diet, and some dogs may even do well on them, but most dogs are healthier on a diet consisting mostly of protein and fats.

Substitutes for Rice

Foods that can be used as a substitute for rice include potatoes, sweet potatoes, tapioca, yams, amaranth, barley, buckwheat, bulgur, millet, whole grain oats, whole peas, quinoa, rye, taro, whole wheat and beans. According to Whole Dog Journal, mussels, oysters, some organ meats and even yogurt and cheeses serve as good sources of carbohydrates. Whole Dog Journal advises consumers to stay away from lower quality rice substitutes, often used as filler in commercial dog foods, such as beet pulp, oat bran, pea fiber, soybean hulls and wheat.

Chicken and Rice Dog Food Recipe

Published: Feb 9, 2022 Updated: Jun 27, 2022 by AngelaC This post may contain affiliate links

This chicken and rice dog food recipe is a good balance of mild ingredients to help sooth your dog's stomach.

Although this dish is great for upset stomachs it's also a tasty dinner that your dogs will enjoy. With just 4 ingredients this is an easy recipe to make ready in under 30 minutes.

Jump to:

IS BOILED CHICKEN GOOD FOR DOGS?

Boiled chicken breasts are an excellent food for dogs and have a great protein source and are also a low fat food.

INGREDIENTS

Chicken breasts
White rice
Carrots
Zucchini
Coconut oil

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN AND RICE DOG FOOD

Skinless and boneless chicken breasts are used in this homemade dog food recipe as the white meat is easier on your dog's digestion.

The chicken and white rice are cooked together in a pot, then mixed with lightly cooked vegetables. We added the vegetables for extra vitamins but these can be omitted if you need a bland meal.

We shred the cooked chicken breasts so it's easier to eat but you could cut the cooked chicken breast into small pieces for the size of your dog.

Remember to go slowly when introducing new foods. And we recommend checking with your veterinarian first if your dog has any digestive issues or other health concerns.

STORAGE AND FREEZING

Store the homemade chicken and rice dog food in the refrigerator in sealed containers. It will last up to 4 days.

This can also be frozen for when you need a bland dog food. Spoon a serving portion into ziplocked bags and remove the air (I suck the air out with a straw). The dog food will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Defrost the dog food in the refrigerator and ensure that the chicken and rice are thoroughly defrosted before giving to your dogs. You could gently warm the food before serving too.

RECIPE TIPS

For a very bland dish specifically for an upset stomach, omit the vegetables and serve just the chicken and white rice.

You could use brown rice in place of the white if you are not feeding this for any upset stomach reasons.

MORE HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES

Chicken Pumpkin Dog Food

Beef Stew for Dogs

Lamb & Rice Dog Food Recipe

Ground Turkey Vegetable Dinner

Chicken and Sweet Potato Dog Food

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Chicken and Rice Dog Food Recipe

A chicken and rice dog food recipe that is perfect for upset stomachs or when your dogs need something bland.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Dog Meals

Cuisine Homemade Dog Food

Servings 4 servings

Calories 349 kcal

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts skinless & boneless
1 cup dry white rice
2 medium carrots
1 medium zucchini
1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions

Place the chicken breasts and rice in a large pot. Cover with water and bring to the boil.
Simmer with the pan lid on for 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked thoroughly and the rice is fluffy and cooked.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Using a couple of forks, shred the cooked chicken
While the chicken and rice are cooking, peel the carrots. Grate the carrots and zucchini.
Heat the coconut oil in a skillet on a medium heat and lightly saute the shredded carrot and zucchini for 5 minutes until soft.
Mix the vegetables into the chicken and rice mixture and serve once the food is cooled.

Notes

Always check with your veterinarian before introducing any new foods into your dogs diet.Any nutritional analysis on the website is based on an estimate, calculated by Spoonacular from the individual ingredients in each recipe. Variations may occur for various reasons, including product availability and food preparation. We make no representation or warranty of the accuracy of this information.