Obviously, our dogs need to eat, and there are tons of options out there for what we can feed them, but what is best for our little furry friends?
Should you buy them the top of the line dog food? What things do I need to make sure my dog is eating? Can I feed them chicken and rice every day?
Hopefully we can help ease your mind and help you provide a balanced diet for your dog.
Chicken and Rice, is it a substantial diet for every dog?
While many people have different views on how a balanced diet looks for dogs, we recommend talking to your vet about your dog’s specific needs and any special circumstances that may make a chicken and rice diet bad for your dog.
My Name is Shelby, and my furry best friend’s name is Lily! I am always wondering about the what I feed her.
I am sure I am not the only one who looks at the ingredients list and wonders if just making my pets food is better for her!
Is Chicken and Rice Good For my Dog?
Both chicken and rice have benefits for dogs. Chicken in dog food is defined as a clean food when delivered from a whole carcass of a chicken.
Like most meats, it provides great protein, and essential amino acids which are key for growing dogs as it helps to build strong muscles.
Rice in dog foods is a great carb. These carbs work in the same way they work for us, as energy!
While there is great nutritional value in a chicken and rice diet, it is not to be forgotten that this is a single source protein, and single carb.
Meaning that this dynamic duo is missing a lot a key vitamins and nutrients that store bought or more complex meals provide.
There are about 6 essential things to keep in mind for a balanced diet for your dog. Water, Proteins, Fats, Carbs, Minerals, and Vitamins. All 6 of these basics aid in the everyday functionality of your dog.
Most people reach for a chicken and rice diet when their dog is sick. The reason behind this is because of how simple the ingredients are.
This allows your dog to easily digest the food and aids in their recovery. This two ingredient meal packs enough nutritional properties to put your dog back on the road to wellness but not enough for long time.
How Do I Make Chicken and Rice for my Dog, Is it Hard?
If you do choose to feed your pup chicken and rice, whether it be in conjunction with other foods to supplement what this meal lacks, or your pup is ill and needing something easily digestible here are a few things to keep in mind and the steps involved in making this meal.
Purchase the highest quality chicken you can afford to limit your dog’s exposure to toxins. Buy a package of short or long grain white rice.
Avoid quick minute rice’s as it lowers the nutritional value in comparison to the regular rice.
You can also sub white rice for brown but note that it needs to be cooked longer than white rice to avoid irritation in your dog’s stomach.
Prepare the chicken by removing all fat, and place into a long pot to boil. Once thoroughly cooked through and proceed to removing all bones.
Leave the water (chicken brother) that you used to cook the chicken in the pan but skim off any fat that may have surfaced.
Return the chicken broth to a boil and pour the rice into the broth. Lower to a simmer and cover then cook.
Cut accordingly to the size of your dog. Smaller dogs need smaller bites while a larger dog can handle pieces cut into 1-inch cubes.
You can cook the chicken with the bones into but take note that the bones must be removed before feeding to your pup.
The History Behind What We Feed Our Furry Companions
Like we mentioned, Chicken and Rice lacks a lot of what vet’s recommend to keep your dog healthy. To understand what your dog’s actually need, we need to go back to what they used to eat!
DNA evidence suggests that dogs are decedents of wolves dating back 100,000 years ago. It is suggested that as the human evolved, so did the dog.
Meaning, we used to feed the dogs what we ate, but nowadays most people avoid giving dogs table scraps. Why? Well the short answer is money and showing off wealth.
As time went on the middle class began to prosper and dog foods started showing up. Dog food was considered a luxury, and if you could afford this food then you were considered to be higher on the social ladder.
From there on people begin creating things like dog treats, and wet food making it more mainstream and through lobbyist groups campaigns were created with TV ads and radio talking about the “dangers” of table scraps.
This isn’t to say that commercially produced and store-bought food isn’t good for your dog, we are just saying it is not the only option.
There are some great dog foods on the market and with a good rotation of certain foods homemade food can be a great option as well!
Keep in mind that some store bought foods have un-needed toxic materials and some homemade food recipes lack some of the things your dog needs to consume on a daily basis.
However, these were all suggestions. They shouldn’t eat things like fast food, tons of cheese, and candy, but they can eat people food.
If it is healthy, and literally digestible. If you’re eating things like roasted chicken, greens beans and potatoes you can definitely feed some to your dog.
Can’t I Just Feed My Dog the Cheapest Food On the Market?
There are tons of dog foods out there. While I cannot tell you which one is best for your dog, I can tell you that my best advice is to feed your dog the highest quality food you can afford.
There is a large difference between high quality food and budget food.
These differences aren’t found on the nutrition labels, as most companies that create budget food are great at finding things to supplement these nutrients most of the time not in the best ways.
The major differences are found in the ingredients themselves.
Comparing two different dog foods side by side, they may contain the same about of protein but the source of the protein is vastly difference when it comes to your pet digesting it.
Another thing to consider when looking at your dog foods is how old your dog is. Every dog needs a different level of things in different stages of their lives.
The younger the dog is the more often they need to consume. By the sixth month mark the need for food in dogs has decreased because they have reached about 75% of their growth stage.
Puppy food has specific specialties over adult food as it caters to what a puppy needs like calcium, etc.
The food you feed your puppy at a young age is very important because of how rapidly they grow. Feeding them the wrong food can cause health issues down the road.
We have done some great research to pin point great food options for your dog! Here are a few great resources:
- High sodium diets are not just bad for humans, it can be harmful to our puppy pals as well. – Best Low Sodium Dog Food – 10 Healthy Picks!
- Buying the right dog food goes beyond just going to the store and buying whatever is a good deal – The Top 10 Dog Foods – My Honest Review!
- Not all dog foods are created equal and not every dog will like every dog food – The Best Dog Food for Picky Eaters – Feed Your Fussy Friend
- Keeping your dog in shape is a good balance between eating the healthiest food and daily exercise – The Top 9 Best Weight Management Dog Food for Large Breeds
These articles are bound to help you with your dog whether they have a food sensitivity, are picky eaters or need to shed a few pounds!
Some animals require more things than others due to health concerns and this can also vary depending on how active your dog is.
Not only does nutrient requirements vary from dog to dog but research also shows that it also depends heavily from breed to breed.
For example dogs that were bred in as “water dogs” may have adapted to specialized diets that are common of that region because of what is readily available.
Final Thoughts
My opinion on feeding chicken and rice still remains that you should speak to your vet before making a long-term decision.
Choosing a high-quality flood among the crowd can be tough. There are many foods that your dog should avoid but feeding your dog “table scraps” is not a bad thing, as long as it is healthy.
If you are adamant about feeding your dog a “human” food diet, I would get a list of foods to avoid from you vet and get a list of foods your vet suggests you add to your dog’s diet.
Feeding chicken and rice to your dog when ill is a great idea as it allows them to easily digest a single carb and protein meal. It is not sufficient for a growing active dog in every stage of life.
