What to Feed Poorly Dogs- Good Old Chicken and Rice

If your beloved pet has been poorly, it is common for vets to recommend a chicken and rice diet for dogs while then are recovering. A chicken and rice diet contains high levels of protein and most dogs consume the diet well without displaying allergies. The key to ensuring a chicken and rice diet goes down well with your dog is preparation. Although it is fairly easy to prepare, you should follow some of these tips to make sure your pup is consuming the diet correctly.

Why Chicken and Rice?

A chicken and rice diet is an ideal diet for a poorly dog. The majority of dogs will easily consume these foods, provided they are prepared well and do not contain any harmful or allergenic substance. It contains the following health benefits:

• Good energy source
• Ideal for sensitive stomachs
• Contains a good range of proteins, fibers, and amino acids
• Gluten-free

When to Feed Your Dog Chicken and Rice?

A chicken and rice diet is is known as a bland diet and tends to be recommended when your dog is either poorly, constipated or has diarrhoea. The diet is also common when you know your dog has allergies, as it allows you, alongside your vet, to work out which foods may have triggered the allergy by slowly adding them in.

A chicken and rice diet should be seen as a transitionary diet rather than a long-term diet. Typically, dogs who have been recommended the diet will be on it for up to one week exclusively. If the diet is consumed for more than one week, you should seek advice from your vet or a nutritionist as your dog may not be getting all the essential nutrients required for healthy living.

Preparation tips for a Chicken and Rice for Your Dog

Preparation of the chicken and rice diet for your diet is crucial to ensure it is prepared healthily, but also to ensure it is tasty for your dog. It is recommended that you use white rice for easy consumption and remove the skin and bones from the chicken.

First, the chicken preparation:

• The chicken you serve your dog needs to be cooked. Get good quality chicken, considering the chicken’s living conditions and chicken feed. A quick and easy way to prepare the chicken is by cutting it into cubes that are one inch in size. You can consider decreasing the cube size depending on the dog’s size or dental health. At a minimum, half an inch will work well.
• Place the chicken cubes in a saucepan that is filled with water. Ensure the chicken is fully immersed and bring the water to a boil. Once the water has boiled you can reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken cubes are completely white. In total, the cooking process should not take more than 20 minutes.
• Once you’ve turned off the heat, you can remove the cubes and place them on a baking sheet to cool down. The remaining water in the saucepan can be used as a broth. Inspect the chicken cubes and remove any fat where possible. Once fully cooled, the chicken is ready to be served to your dog
• Store the chicken safely in the fridge.

Next the rice preparation

• To ensure the rice complements the chicken nicely, you can cook it using chicken broth.
• Firstly, you should rinse the rice in cold water to remove any dirt or grit. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear underneath. One cup of rice will last a few portions for large dogs, while this can be decreased for smaller dogs.
• Add the washed rice to the chicken broth and cook for around 20 minutes. This will make the rice so much tastier for your dog. While cooking, place the lid on the saucepan to allow the steam to circulate and make the rice fluffy.
• Once cooked, leave the rice to stand until completely cooled before serving.

Mixing the Chicken and Rice:

Now both elements have been prepared you can mix them to serve your dog. To get the correct balance of carbohydrates, fibre, and protein, you should serve with two parts rice to one part chicken. This meal is ideal for batch cooking. If you go for this approach, the chicken and rice can be stored in the fridge for up to four days, and it can be stored in the freezer for up to two months.

Meal Tips

For foodies, this style of preparation of chicken and rice may appear bland. Where’s the paprika, oil, and salt I hear you ask? Remember dogs have a different pallet to humans and should not consume any seasonings as they may lead to potentially harmful health outcomes. The simple preparation outlined here will ensure the chicken and rice is tasty for your dog.

We hope that your dog will feel better soon. Do seek advice from your trusted vet or a nutritional expert before making any significant changes to your dogs diet.