It’s not just humans who find chicken delicious and nutritional. Rich in lean protein, omega 6, and glucosamine, chicken can have plenty of benefits for our canine companions too.
Incorporating chicken into your dog’s diet can aid with dental issues, and also be a great meal for dogs with special dietary requirements or sensitive digestive systems.
Eating chicken can also make your dog’s coat shinier, keep their bones healthy, and their skin hydrated.
But how should you cook chicken for your dog? Just like when cooking chicken for yourself and your family, it’s important to cook chicken properly for your dog to avoid them getting sick.
We’ll take you through the best way to boil chicken for your dog, and what other foodstuffs you can incorporate into your dog’s chicken dinner!
What Should I Be Mindful Of When Feeding My Dog Chicken?
Although chicken is generally mild, there are of course risks when cooking chicken.
Salmonella and other bacteria infections are an obvious risk, so it’s important to cook chicken thoroughly before feeding it to your dog.
Don’t bother seasoning the chicken either, as plain chicken is better for your dog.
It’s also worth noting that chicken is the third most common food allergy for dogs.
If you think your dog may be suffering from a chicken allergy, stop feeding them chicken and contact your vet immediately.
While dogs love playing with bones, keep chicken bones away from your dog. They’re a choking hazard and if swallowed can cause damage to your dog’s stomach and intestines.
As for what part of the chicken you should feed your dog, breast is best. It’s low in fat and a lot healthier for your dog.
Fattier cuts of meat may cause pancreatitis. Plus, skinless and boneless chicken is also easier for you to prepare.
Boiling Chicken For Your Dog
Prepare The Chicken
This is super simple, especially if the chicken is fresh. However, if the chicken has been frozen you will need to put it in the fridge and wait for it to defrost.
This may take some time, but avoid defrosting the chicken in the open or by soaking it in warm water. Chicken that has been defrosted this way can lead to your dog getting sick.
If there is no boneless chicken available, make sure you remove all the bones before cooking to avoid your dog choking.
Boiling The Chicken
Once everything is prepared you can now place your chicken breasts into a medium-sized pot, making sure the breasts are spread out along the bottom of the pot and not placed on top of each other.
Next, add water to the pot and make sure all the chicken breasts are completely covered. Also make sure there are at least two inches of empty space so the water doesn’t boil over whilst cooking.
Finally, just turn on the stove and cover the pot with a lid. Bring the water to a boil on a high heat and continue to cook the chicken for at least 12 minutes.
Once the time is up, take out one of the chicken breasts and cut it with a knife to see if it’s cooked all the way through.
If the meat is still pink and rubbery, return it to the pot and cook it for a few more minutes. Cooking time may vary and will depend on how big the chicken breast is and what stove you have.
Once the chicken breasts are fully cooked, remove them from the pot and leave them to cool before serving. You can speed this process up by shredding the breasts into smaller pieces.
Once the chicken is cool you can feed it to your dog – they’re sure to enjoy it!
Serving Suggestions
To reduce waste, keep the water the chicken breasts were cooked with to make a healthy chicken broth for your furry pal.
For a more substantial and nutritious meal you can also cook white or brown rice and mix it with chicken breasts.
Chicken and rice is a popular meal for dogs with stomach problems. Just prepare white rice without seasonings and combine it with boiled chicken.
Avoid brown rice as this is harder for dogs to digest, and avoid onions and garlic, as these are poisonous to dogs.
Other ways to make a boiled chicken meal more nutritious and filling for your dog include:
Cooked Vegetables
Green beans, carrots, and broccoli are a good source of fiber for your pup. However, less is definitely more and these veggies should only make up 10% of your dog’s diet to avoid digestive issues.
Canned Pumpkin
Pumpkin is an excellent source of vitamin A and can aid in digestion.
Dog Food
Mixing chicken with wet or dry dog food can make boiled chicken even tastier for your pooch.
Plain Yogurt
This can provide your dog with a boost of protein and calcium.
Vitamin Supplements
Sprinkling powdered dog vitamins on top of your dog’s meals is a good way to ensure they’re getting all the nutrients they need.
If you want to get more creative with your dog’s meals and for them to continue reaping the health benefits of chicken, you can also bake their chicken.
To do this, place the chicken in an oven-safe container with a small amount of oil to avoid sticking and cook the meat thoroughly at 400º F for 20-30 minutes.
Final Thoughts
For dogs that could use a boost of protein in their diet, chicken breasts are an excellent way to achieve this.
But if you want your dog to have a more varied diet and don’t want them to become limited to one type of food, only feed them chicken meals once or twice a week.
Dogs love chicken, and preparing a chicken meal for them is a great treat (especially when combined with rice or vegetables) whilst making sure they’re getting all the protein they need.
Always discuss with your vet before you make any big changes to your dog’s diet, especially if you’re concerned about stomach problems and want to make sure their diet is nutritionally balanced.
