How Much Chicken and Rice to Feed Dog?

When considering what kind of diet to give your dog, you may wonder how much chicken and rice to feed your pet. You can make your chicken and rice mix by boiling boneless chicken breasts in water. Once cooked, remove them from the broth and cool them down completely before feeding them. Whether you prepare chicken and rice yourself or buy them from the store, it’s essential to keep the proportions of both meat and rice as small as possible.

Chicken and rice for dog

Depending on your pet’s weight, a small dog will require one cup of chicken and rice per day. On the other hand, a large dog may need one full cup three times a day. Remember that feeding your dog in small amounts can help digestion, so it’s essential to follow the guidelines set by your veterinarian. On the other hand, a large dog may need one cup of chicken and rice per meal.

How Much Chicken and Rice to Feed Dog?

When giving your dog their chicken and rice, you need to give them the right amount. The dish may be higher in calories than the food that you usually give your dog, so you may need to give them less of the dish than you might expect. A standard chicken and rice meal prepared will contain 350 and 400 calories per cup. As a general rule of thumb, dogs need between 25 and 30 calories per day per pound of their body weight.

Here’s a table of how much chicken and rice to give your dog by weight:

table for chicken and rice for dogs

This is an approximation of how much chicken and rice you should feed your dog per day. Check with your vet before feeding your dog any new foods.

When to Feed Your Dog Chicken and Rice?

Your vet will tell you when to put your dog on a chicken and rice diet, which is also often called a bland diet.
Your vet will usually suggest this diet when your dog:

  • Has been vomiting for six hours or longer
  • Is consistently suffering from diarrhea
  • Has severe gas or constipation
  • Has a loss of appetite
  • Is recovering from surgery or a severe illness

Suppose you need to put your dog on an elimination diet to detect allergies or sensitivities to whatever they’re eating. Your veterinarian may recommend that you start with a chicken and rice diet, then gradually introduce different foods to see how they react. Your veterinarian will advise you on what to watch for to determine whether it’s safe to return your dog to their regular diet.

You could be asked to bring in a fecal sample for examination. This is painful but important because it is the only method to determine if your dog has intestinal parasites, in which case they will require treatment rather than a “bland” diet. Your veterinarian will never recommend that you feed your dog a long-term diet of chicken and rice since it lacks the nutrients dogs require to survive. So, while it may benefit them for a few days, they will become deficient in other areas if they follow this diet for several months.

Why Are Chicken and Rice Good for Dogs?

Chicken and rice are recommended as mild, easy-to-digest food for your dog. It is simple, with only one protein and carbohydrate source, and shallow in fat. A supper of chicken and white rice contains a protein and starch combination that can enhance a dog’s appetite. Chicken and rice are both excellent sources of nutrition for puppies.

Chicken is abundant in protein, making it an excellent energy source for dogs. It’s also high in Omega 6 fatty acids, which help nourish their skin and coat, and necessary amino acids and glucosamine, which are essential for bone health. Rice is a high-carbohydrate, vitamin, and mineral-rich food, and it contains a lot of heart-healthy vitamins D and G and calcium, iron, and riboflavin. Rice also encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria, which can aid in regulating bowel movements.

Brown rice is advised for feeding your dog rice as part of a regular diet. It has more nutrients than white rice, and white rice has a high glycemic index, which means feeding it to your dog in large quantities can have harmful implications, such as diabetes. White rice is recommended when it comes to chicken and rice for a sick dog. Unlike brown rice, white rice is easy to digest and contains the carbohydrate required to boost your dog’s hunger.

How to Prepare Chicken and Rice for Your Dog?

The first step in feeding your dog chicken and rice is properly preparing the food. As previously stated, white rice should be used instead of brown rice, and you should also use only white chicken meat that has been stripped of any bones and fat. To make the dinner, start by cooking the chicken until fully cooked. Drain the water from the chicken and cut it into tiny pieces for your dog.

You can commonly boil the rice in the chicken broth you emptied from your cooked chicken. Use no seasonings when making the chicken or the rice, as these can be hazardous to your dog. This also excludes the use of oils or butter in the kitchen. It would help if you tried to avoid adding anything else to the dish as much as possible.

Combine the chicken and rice in a one-to-two ratio. So, if you’re going to create one cup of the dish, you’ll need 13 cups of chicken and 23 cups of rice. Allow the meal to cool completely before serving to your dog, as hot food can cause injury to their tongue and lips. If you want to produce a larger quantity, the cooked meat can be kept in the fridge for three to four days or frozen for two months.

Alternatives to Chicken and Rice

When your dog isn’t feeling well, there are several reasons why you might want to offer them something other than chicken and rice. One of the main reasons is that chicken is a common allergen in dogs, and therefore it might not be the best thing to put in their bowl. Similarly, if your dog is experiencing constipation rather than diarrhea, you should consider other options.

Pumpkin for Dogs

Pumpkin is another excellent food for dogs with upset stomachs, especially if the problem is constipation. It is high in the type of fiber that best regulates the canine digestive system. It is also full of essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B6, C, and E, niacin, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and manganese. If your dog is constipated, adding two tablespoons of pumpkin to their chicken and rice dish can be worth it.

Bone Broth

If your dog is just not coping with solid foods, bone broth can be a healthy liquid alternative to keep their strength up until they are ready to try something more substantial. It will also work to restore their appetite. If you keep the broth in the fridge, it will form a jelly-like substance/ When you are ready to feed it to your dog, heat a portion to make it liquid again. Make sure it is sufficiently cool before putting it in your dog’s bowl.

Baby Food

Human baby food is also a viable option because it is easily digestible. You can safely serve one of the Stage II meat-based recipes to your dog, and if your dog is allergic to chicken, this is a viable alternative. However, always double-check all ingredients to ensure no condiments or spices have been added.

Conclusion

A homemade chicken and rice mix will also be nutritious, but don’t forget to add salt. The chicken and rice mix can be stored in an ice cube for four days or frozen for two months. Once your dog is used to the taste, it’s time to transition back to the regular diet. If you don’t want to cook chicken and rice for your dog, you can freeze the leftovers in an airtight container or a zip-top bag.

Remember that your dog needs 25 to 30 calories per body weight. So, one cup of chicken and rice meal will be too much for a 10-pound dog. So, make sure you consult your vet before feeding him any new food. You’ll also want to make sure he’s healthy enough to eat it. While chicken and rice can be great for dogs, they may cause unnecessary weight gain.

If you don’t want to cook chicken and rice at home, you can buy canned or dry chicken and rice. It will last longer than a homemade meal and have a nutrient pack for added benefit. This pack ensures your dog gets everything it needs without adding too many supplements, which can upset your dog’s stomach. The company also makes a Lamb and Rice variety for dogs allergic to chicken.