Can Dogs Eat Chicken Raw?

Many people regularly feed their dogs a “raw food” diet. In fact, sled dogs and racing dogs are two breeds which are often fed a “raw food” diet from birth with no problems. The popularity of the raw food diet with domesticated pets has been increasing recently due to the belief that grain-based dog foods from the stores can be harmful for your dog’s health. This fear of grain-based dog foods and the fact that more people are raising free-range chickens, may be part of the reason to ponder whether dogs can eat chicken raw. The truth is as part of a balanced diet and with the right precautions, dogs can eat raw chicken without much trouble at all.

There are in fact several benefits to a raw food diet that includes letting your dog eat chicken raw. Those who feed a raw diet believe that it provides dogs with more energy and smaller stools along with a glossier coat and healthier teeth and skin. So, if you choose to put your dog on a raw food diet, dogs can eat chicken raw along with other fresh meats like lamb, beef, pork, or fish. To reduce bacteria, always freeze raw meat for a period of several weeks to a month before thawing and feeding to your dog. To prevent gastrointestinal issues, keep the percentage of raw chicken at about 10% of your dog’s diet.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Cooked?

If you aren’t big on providing your dog with raw food and you just want to add a bit of protein to their diet occasionally, letting dogs eat chicken cooked is also perfectly safe. Keep in mind that dogs’ digestive systems are like ours which means if you feed your dog raw chicken that is spoiled, they may eat it and then get sick later. Always feed your dog fresh meat and not meat that you suspect is spoiled.

Another thing to remember when considering whether dogs can eat chicken cooked is the fact that if you feed from the table while you are eating, your dog could develop a bad habit of begging for scraps. While this may seem to be cute initially, dogs can be quite persistent once they’ve gotten a taste of chicken cooked and you may find yourself eating dinner every night with your dog staring you down, waiting for you to share the bounty.

So, when it comes to letting dogs eat chicken cooked, it’s better to wait until after your meal is over and then put the cooked chicken into their food dish for them to eat it. By doing this, you not only prevent the dog from begging at the table but the cooked chicken also will be much cooler by this time so there is less danger of the dog burning his tongue and throat on piping hot chicken from the table.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones Raw?

Believe it or not, dogs can eat chicken bones raw. Chicken bones are soft when they are raw and therefore quite safe for dogs. Therefore, dogs in the wild can hunt birds and eat them without problems. One thing to keep in mind though before letting your dog catch and eat a chicken is that the predatory urge can be very strong. Many people have gone to great lengths to keep their domesticated dog from catching and eating their free-range chickens and ducks.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones Cooked?

You may think that it’s okay for dogs to eat chicken bones raw, letting your dog eat chicken bones cooked would be no big deal, right? Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Cooked chicken bones, like all other cooked bones are very dangerous for dogs. The reason not to let dogs eat chicken bones cooked is that chicken bones become hard and brittle when cooked and will break and splinter.

Pieces of broken cooked chicken bones, like many other cooked bones, are very sharp and pointed and can easily become lodged in your dog’s throat or even puncture the stomach or other internal organs as they are digested. If you let your dog eat chicken bones cooked and one splinters and gets stuck, you will find yourself with a very sick dog within just a couple of hours.

There are of course may dogs who eat chicken bones cooked regularly without any issues but any dog can get a splintered chicken bone at any time, it’s a game of Russian roulette in most cases. Letting dogs eat chicken bones cooked can put you in the position of facing some very large vet bills and painful surgery for your dog. It’s just not worth it.