Introduction
It’s always a bit of a guessing game trying to figure out how much to feed your dog – they get bigger so quickly it’s hard to tell! Chicken and rice are often recommended for dogs with digestion issues because it’s blander than other foods and is easy to digest.
To find out the right quantity to feed your pup, keep reading and we’ll even tell you how to make it!
Why And When Do Dogs Need To Eat Chicken And Rice?
Dogs will usually eat chicken and rice when they’ve got gastrointestinal issues. What are gastrointestinal issues? Put simply, it’s when a dog has an upset tummy and doesn’t have the appetite to eat food like they did when they were well.
Symptoms can include anything from a change in quantity/quality in stool, vomiting, lack of energy, and flatulence. So the last thing you want to do is keep feeding them foods that are hard to digest.
Chicken and rice are a light alternative to your dog’s usual diet and can make life a lot easier for them if they’re not feeling 100%. It’s a good short-term replacement for their lifestyle but not as a long-term alternative.
Chicken and rice simulate the feeling of a full appetite when a dog is recovering from illness, without filling their stomach too much. So when they feel better you need to adjust their quantity of food to suit their energy levels.
This way they get the vitamins and nutrients they’ve missed out on whilst getting better.
How To Make Chicken And Rice For My Dog
To ensure your pup gets the meal he deserves, it’s always best to purchase the highest quality chicken available. This will help to reduce the excess elements of chicken that aren’t essential to your dog’s diet, such as fat and toxins.
When selecting which type of rice to include in your canine’s meal, it’s best to use long-grain or short-grain white rice. Be sure not to use quick-cook rice products because a lot of the nutrients and vitamins are lower in comparison to regular rice.
To make this simple meal, cut 1-3 boneless chicken breasts into small cubes and put them into a stockpot. This makes it easier for your four-legged friend to eat. Now cover the chicken with water and bring the temperature to boil. T
hen lower the heat and wait until the chicken is fully white and cooked. This can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes depending on the size of the chicken pieces. Remove the chicken and place it onto a baking sheet, but keep the chicken water as you’ll be needing it later!
Now comes the rice. Wash a cup of white rice repeatedly until the water is clear and start to heat the broth water from earlier. Once at a boiling temperature, add the rice to the broth until boiled and then lower to a simmer.
To maintain the nutrients, don’t fast-cook the rice! After a few minutes of simmering, cover the pot and cook for about 20 minutes – the rice may be soggy but that’s okay! It just means that it’s cooked properly.
Now remove the rice from the pot and allow it to cool before feeding your dog, you don’t want your dog burning their tongue! Once cool, mix the chicken cubes and the rice at a 2:1 ratio, (or as close to 2:1 as you can)!
This means for every two portions of rice, there should be one cube of chicken. This ensures you don’t overload your dog with too much food.
It’s important to remember that brown rice isn’t always a suitable ingredient to use because of its high fiber contents. This can make digestion harder for your dog!
How Often Do I Make Chicken And Rice For My Dog?
Ideally, it’s fine to cook this every day for your pet so long as they’re ill.
This way they keep their appetite at a reasonable level. However, you mustn’t rely on feeding your dog chicken and rice consistently because they won’t get the nutrients and vitamins they need for their day-to-day life.
Once they start feeling better they’ll start to regain more energy, which will require a larger diet. Not only this but they’ll be looking for a meal with a bit more flavor, due to how simple and bland chicken and rice is.
Your vet may advise you to split your dog’s meal into five or six smaller portions. This helps to make sure that your pet doesn’t digest too much food at once because of potential symptoms associated with gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation and vomiting.
How Much Do I Cook For My Dog, Considering Their Size?
It’s quite simple really. For every pound your dog weighs, simply add on three-quarters of a cup of chicken and rice. For example, if your dog only weighs 10 pounds then they’ll only require 0.75 of a cup for their meal.
However, if they weigh 20 pounds then it’ll be 1.50 cups (one and a half). If in doubt, always check with your vet and make sure that you’re making the right judgment. They’ll be able to supply you with an accurate diet plan and make sure your dog is getting the right nutrients they need to get better.
In Summary
When preparing chicken and rice to help out your sick puppy, time is the key. Making sure that the chicken and the rice are fully-cooked is important to make your dog feel better again.
Likewise with the small portions. Having small portions makes it easier to digest food and still have the feeling of a normal appetite.
It’s really important to remember to only feed your dog chicken and rice whilst they’re ill. The smaller portions and the simple food is only because of their lack of energy. Once they’re feeling better they’ll need a bigger palette and more nutrients for a healthier lifestyle.
