Can dogs eat rice? If you’ve been wondering about this, you aren’t alone.
Rice has always been one of those foods that dog owners have been on the fence about. With all the conflicting opinions on what foods are and aren’t safe for dogs, it’s easy to be unsure about giving your dog anything other than store-bought kibble.
Because of this, rice can leave dog owners scratching their heads over their dog can and should eat it or not.
Before getting an answer to the question ‘can dogs eat rice?’, here is the most important thing you need to know about feeding dogs rice:
Rice Is Safe to Feed Dogs
Dogs are omnivores, not strict carnivores: it is safe for them to eat and digest plants and grains. In fact, there are lots of dog food brands that include rice as one of their main ingredients.
The only chance that rice might be dangerous for your dog is if your dog is allergic to rice. The way to tell that is to feed them a small portion of cooked rice and look for the signs.
If after eating rice your dog starts to itch them-self constantly, have their hair fall out, or have an increased susceptibility to ear infection, then they have the allergy and you should contact your vet.
So overall, the answer to ‘can dogs eat rice?’ is yes, as long as they are not allergic.
Now that that is out of the way, let’s move into what you should know about feeding your dog rice:
Your Dog Can Eat Both White and Brown Rice
And there is little difference on how they each affect your dog’s health as well.
Brown rice might fill your dog up more since it has more fiber, and white rice is a little easier to digest, but other than that your dog gets similar amounts of minerals and nutrients from both rices. The choice is completely up to you.
Eating Rice Has Lots of Health Benefits for Dogs
Both white and brown rice are nutritious for dogs. Here are just some of the benefits eating rice can have for your dog:
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Promotes the growth of good bacteria in their gut, making it an excellent home-remedy for an upset stomach or diarrhea
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It’s rich in carbs, so it can keep up your dog’s mental and physical energy
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Rice has no harmful fats, cholesterol, or sodium, so it’s great for a healthy diet
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Full of minerals and vitamin B, which are key for healthy skin and hair
Moderation is Key
While dogs can eat rice, it is important not to give them too much.
Despite all the nutrients and minerals rice possesses, it has a lot of calories. If your dog eats too much rice, they could begin packing on extra pounds. This can lead to long-term health problems.
Too much rice can also block your dog’s bowels, so that’s another thing to watch out for.
Rice should then be the same as the 10% treat rule: no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake should come from rice.
Large dogs should not get more than a 1/4th of a cup of cooked rice a day. Smaller dogs should get even less, maybe a tablespoon of cooked rice.
Quality and How It Is Cooked Are Also Important
For rice to be safe and healthy food your dog can eat, you need to make that it is good quality. If is not, then it won’t have any of the health benefits mentioned earlier and might make your dog sick. If you would eat it, then it is safe to feed your dog.
How the rice is prepared for your dog is another important matter to consider. For health purposes, dogs should only eat cooked rice.
Frying your dog’s rice in oil or cooking it with butter, ghee, or salt can not only raise the calorie content but also add a lot of unhealthy ingredients and additives for your dog.
The best way to prepare rice for your dog is to cook it with water or steam it, without any other ingredients added into it.
For a balanced meal, try mixing in cooked lean meats like chicken or add some steamed veggies when serving the rice to your dog.
Final Word: Dogs Can Eat Rice!
When prepared properly and given in moderation, rice can be a nutritious part of a dog’s diet. It shouldn’t be in every meal everyday, but serves great as a healthy, occasional treat.
How Do You like to Prepare Your Dog’s Rice?
Have a special recipe you make for your dog when you’re serving them rice? Let us know what it is in the comments section below!
