What are the side effects of chicken for dogs

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Can Dogs Eat Cat Food?

Theres something about cat food that makes it virtually irresistible to a dog. Most dogs, regardless of breed, age, and how well-behaved they are, will sniff out and snack on cat food if its available.

But is eating cat food bad for a dog? Heres what you need to know about dog nutrition and whether its safe for dogs to eat cat food.

Whats the Difference Between Dog Food and Cat Food?

Dogs are omnivores and therefore can consume a more varied diet that includes both plant-based and animal-based ingredients.

On the other hand, cats are true carnivores, meaning they eat solely animal protein and have greater protein and fat requirements than dogs.

Additionally, cats require 11 essential amino acids to be provided by their diet, whereas dogs require 10 amino acids. The additional amino acid required by cats is taurine.

To meet these greater nutrient requirements, commercial cat foods must provide greater protein, fat, and taurine concentrations than commercial dog foods. This implies that all commercial dog food is nutritionally deficient for cats.

For dogs, however, the greater protein and fat contents of cat food make it more tasty, fragrant, and therefore enticing, and allow it to meet or even exceed a dogs nutrient requirements.

Is It Safe for a Dog to Eat Cat Food?

A dog eating their feline friends foodeither as an occasional treat or even in place of their own foodis not necessarily bad for the average adult dog.

When Cat Food Is Safe for Dogs

In fact, for some dogs, like those battling cancer and experiencing weight loss, muscle wasting, and a poor appetite, cat food may be an ideal alternative to manydog foods.

Cat food tends to be more palatable, provide more calories per serving, and offer a more nutrient-balanced option compared to many home-prepared diets in these cases.

Likewise, cat kibble can make for healthier, well-balanced treats or training rewards compared to some human foods commonly used, like cheese, chicken, or peanut butter, which provide a concentrated amount of primarily one nutrient.

When Cat Food Is Harmful for Dogs

For other dogs, consuming cat food, even as an occasional treat, could become problematic if there are underlying reasons for why excess protein or fat is not ideal.

Examples:

A dog with a sensitive gastrointestinal tract may vomit or have diarrhea after eating cat food because the food is simply too rich.
A dog with kidney or liver disease needs to consume moderate amounts of protein, not excess, to promote optimal functioning of those organs.
An obese dog, or one with a predisposition for developing pancreatitis (e.g., many Schnauzers), must consume a lower-fat diet to promote weight loss or limit pancreatic inflammation.

For all of these dogs, feeding any amount of commercial cat food, whether its infrequentor on a long-term basis, could exacerbate health issues.

Ask Your Vet About Your Dogs Nutritional Needs

So how good or bad cat food is for your dogs health really depends on your dog.

For most healthy adult dogs, this means you no longer need to worry about your dog partaking in the occasional kitty treat.

However, if you have any questions, be sure to reach out to your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist for advice as to whether commercial cat food, in any amount, may be right for your dog.

Featured Image: iStock.com/SolStock

Can Dogs Eat Chicken?

NOTE: Always check with your veterinarian first before giving your dog any new foods, especially people foods. What might be OK for one dog might not be good for your dog, depending on multiple factors, such as their age, health history, health conditions, and diet. Dogs on prescription diets should not be fed any food or treats outside the diet.

Chicken is a nutritious protein source for humans and dogs alike. Its a popular ingredient in dog food, and there are plenty of chicken-flavored dog treats and toys to choose from.

But while dogs can eat chicken, youll want to be careful about how much you give themand how its prepared. As with any new food that finds its way into your dogs bowl, moderation is key. Heres what to know.

Is Chicken Good for Dogs?

Chicken can be a healthy food for dogs if prepared correctly. Its an excellent source of protein and contains several nutrients that can help maintain your dog's overall health, including vitamin B6, vitamin B3, and zinc.

Just be sure any chicken fed to your dog is cooked thoroughly to avoid the risk of salmonella and other foodborne illnesses. Watch out for extra ingredients that might make them sick, like garlic and onions, and remove any bones because they can cause choking or digestive issues.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken?

Do not feed your dog raw chicken. Raw chicken is known to harbor unsafe bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, which can make your dog very sick. Ensure the chicken is thoroughly cooked before sharing it with your dog.

What Chicken Products Can Dogs Eat?

There are several ways to prepare chicken, and not all of them are a good choice for our four-legged friends. Plain, boiled chicken is generally considered safe. But fried chicken and chicken thats been prepared with seasonings such as garlic, onions, or high-fat ingredients like cream or oil should be avoided.

Boiled Chicken

Boiled chicken is a good option to feed your dog. In fact, boiled chicken and rice is a common remedy for dogs with digestive issues, and your vet might recommend feeding this if your pup is vomiting or has diarrhea.

Fried Chicken

A tiny piece of fried chicken probably wont make your dog sick, but its certainly not a healthy option for your pup. Fried chicken made with oil can cause digestive upset, and eating high-fat food can cause a painful condition called pancreatitis. Fried chicken can also contain seasonings that are toxic to dogs, including onion and garlic.

Chicken Nuggets

Your pooch probably wont get sick if he snags one of your kiddos chicken nuggets from the floor, but its not a good idea to give your dog these as a regular treat. Chicken nuggetsespecially if theyre friedare not a healthy snack for dogs.

Chicken Feet

Unfortunately, your dog should also steer clear of chicken feet, as both the raw and cooked kinds can cause digestive issues. Just like any other type of raw meat, uncooked chicken feet carry the risk of harmful bacteria like salmonella that can make your dog very sick.

Cooked chicken feet dont have the same risk of bacteria, but the bones can splinter and cause tears or obstructions in your dogs digestive system.

Chicken Broth

Dogs can have chicken broth as long as it doesnt contain any harmful added ingredients. But onion and garlic are both common additives found in canned chicken broth andagainthese are toxic to dogs. But plain, low-sodium chicken broth (or homemade broth!) can make a nice addition in their dog food bowl when given in small amounts.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones?

Do not let your dog eat chicken bones, as they can cause serious internal problems. Though theyre small, chicken bones can be serious choking hazards for dogs who ingest them.

Even if your dog doesnt choke, the bone can easily splinter and, as they move through your dogs digestive system, those tiny sharp-edged pieces can cut your dogs stomach and intestines. This can potentially cause ruptures, blockages, and infections that all require serious medical attention.

If your dog likes having something to gnaw on, skip the chicken bones and opt for a safer alternative, like a chicken-flavored chew bone or another chew toy.

What To Do if Your Dog Eats a Chicken Bone

If your dog eats a chicken bone, try to get it out of their mouth (as long as you can do it without distressing them further or getting bitten). Try offering another treat to get them to drop the bone.

If your pup ends up swallowing it, watch them carefully. If the bone appears to be stuck in their throat, this is an emergency and should be addressed ASAP. Take your dog to the vet immediately.

If you suspect your pooch has eaten a chicken bone, watch for signs of distress. If they display any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet as quickly as possible:

If your dog is acting normal, its OK to keep monitoring them closely from home. Always call your vet if you have concerns about your pets health.

Can Dogs Be Allergic to Chicken?

Protein sources such as chicken (or beef, dairy, egg, lamb, and fish) are some of the most common causes of allergies in dogs.

Most of the time, dog food allergies affect the skin and coat, though they can also cause vomiting or diarrhea. Symptoms that may indicate your dog has a chicken allergy include:

Its possible for dogs to develop a food allergy at any point in their lifeso if Fido is suddenly scratching after he eats his regular chicken and rice kibble, you may want to try an elimination diet to see if something in his food is causing it.

How Much Chicken Should You Feed Your Dog?

Chicken is a common ingredient in commercial dog food and treats, so its safe to feed your pup chicken as a treat or occasional food topper. Just be sure its thoroughly cooked and unseasoned.

As with any new ingredient, moderation is key! Once your pup gets used to eating fresh chicken in small amounts, you can use the following as a guide to feeding your dog chicken. Generally speaking, your dog should have about 1/41/3 cup of meat protein per 20 pounds of body weight each day.

Extra-small dog (220 pounds) = About 1 tablespoon cooked, unseasoned chicken
Small dog (2130 pounds) = 2 tablespoons cooked, unseasoned chicken
Medium dog (3150 pounds) = Up to 1/4 cup cooked, unseasoned chicken
Large dog (5190 pounds) = About 1/3 cup cooked, unseasoned chicken
Extra-large dog (91+ pounds) = About 1/2 cup cooked, unseasoned chicken
Examples:Newfoundlands,Bernese Mountain Dogs,SaintBernards,Great Pyrenees

If your dog experiences digestive upset or other discomfort after chowing down on chicken, stop feeding it to them and call your vet.

Featured Image: Adobe/bit24

WRITTEN BY

April Saylor

Freelance Writer

Can Dogs Eat Garlic?

The smell of roasting garlic is one of those scents that immediately makes most people hungry. Its featured in cuisines around the globe and is found in many of our favorite foods. Scientific evidence even suggests that garlic has medicinal benefits for humans, so its perfectly natural to wonder: Can dogs eat garlic? The answer, emphatically, is no.

Is It Safe for Dogs to Eat Garlic?

Can dogs have garlic? Garlic might be good for people, but dogs metabolize certain foods differently than we do. Garlic and other members of the allium family (including onions) contain thiosulfate, which is toxic to dogs but not to humans.

Thiosulfate causes oxidative damage to red blood cells, resulting in hemolytic anemia. Symptoms of anemia in dogs include pale mucous membranes, rapid breathing, lethargy, weakness, jaundice, and dark urine. Garlic toxicity also causes symptoms of gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, depression, and dehydration.

How Much Garlic Is Toxic to Dogs?

Scientific studies have found it takes approximately 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight to produce harmful changes in a dogs blood. To put that into perspective, the average clove of supermarket garlic weighs between 3 and 7 grams, so your dog would have to eat a lot to get really sick. However, some dogs are more sensitive to garlic toxicity than others, and consumption of a toxic dose spread out over a few days could also cause problems.

This means that if your dog accidentally eats something containing a little garlic, they will probably be okay. But intentionally feeding garlic to your dog is a bad idea.

Can I Feed My Dog Garlic Bread?

Garlic bread will almost certainly catch your dogs attention. But along with garlic, garlic bread usually contains large amounts of butter, oil, cheese, herbs, and seasonings (like onion powder) that can upset your dogs stomach. This food is also a source of unnecessary calories and fat and offers no nutritional benefits to your pet. Too much fatty food could possibly cause obesity in dogs.

Can I Feed My Dog Garlic Supplements?

Despite garlics known toxicity, some websites and well-meaning dog owners recommend garlic supplements for dogs as part of a natural wellness plan or as a flea and tick preventative. This contradiction can be very confusing. In studies, garlic as a health supplement for pets has not produced consistently positive results.

While very small doses might be safe for most dogs, the lack of conclusive evidence and the known risks should be taken into consideration. Before deciding to feed your pup a garlic supplement, always consult your veterinarian. Giving an incorrect dose could have toxic effects, so plan on working with a veterinarian to come up with the best health plan for your dog.

Treating Garlic Toxicity in Dogs

If your dog does ingest a large amount of garlic, your best bet is to take them to a veterinarian. Garlic and onion poisoning are rarely fatal in dogs, but your dog may need supportive care to keep them comfortable.

Your veterinarian might recommend intravenous fluids to keep them hydrated and may prescribe medication to deal with vomiting. In severe cases, blood transfusions might be necessary.