Generally, dogs should not eat raw chicken as part of their regular diets. The bacteria from the uncooked meat—salmonella, campylobacter—can poison dogs, and any bones in the chicken can hurt their digestive systems.
However, because dogs are descendants of wolves, some people think offering 100% natural, unprocessed chicken is healthier than feeding cooked chicken. If you are set on feeding your dog a raw food diet, work with your veterinarian to make sure your dog is getting the correct nutrients. Learn more about raw chicken and how it can affect our dogs.
Is Raw Chicken Safe for Dogs?
Although raw chicken may not hurt your particular pup, it's often not safe for dogs. It can even pose serious dangers, which is why most people choose to play it safe when it comes to their pets.
That's certainly what some veterinary experts recommend. Both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition discourage feeding raw diets, saying they offer too much risk in return for only anecdotal results.
Those risks include potential infection and digestive disruption. Plus, a diet of mostly raw chicken can leave your dog at a nutritional deficit.
Salmonella Infection
Salmonella is the most common cause of food poisoning, and it is present on many foods that are uncooked or undercooked, including chicken. The bacteria can be found in the intestines or feces of animals and is not safe to consume. If enough of this bacteria enters a dog's mouth, you could see the follow signs of salmonellosis in your dog:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Fever
If your dog is showing these signs, go to your vet immediately. Treatment requires antibiotics and other medications along with IV fluid therapy. Ignoring the infection can be fatal if your dog has a poor immune system or severe dysbiosis of the gut.
Salmonella isn't something you can see without a microscope, so there's no way for you to know if the raw chicken you are feeding your dog is contaminated. Foods are often recalled because of salmonella contamination, but this is sometimes only discovered after a pet or person gets sick. Salmonellosis is the main risk and concern of feeding raw chicken to your dog.
Campylobacteriosis
Raw chicken often contains the bacteria campylobacter, which can sicken dogs who consume the raw poultry. Like salmonella, campylobacter poisoning often appears as signs of digestive distress:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Bloody poop
- Fever
In dogs, diarrhea is the primary sign of infection that will often last between five and 15 days for dogs older than 6 months. It can appear bloody or watery or contain mucus or bile. Other dogs may show no signs of infection.
Your veterinarian can diagnose campylobacteriosis, though it may require you bringing in a stool sample for testing. Antibiotics can help your dog feel better along with supportive care (like IV therapy).
Chicken Bones
If you are feeding raw chicken to your dog, there's a high chance of a bone being in that piece of chicken. Bones can cause obstructions in the stomach or intestinal tract, puncture a dog's internal organs, become lodged in the mouth or throat, and break teeth. Removing bones that are in raw chicken will remove this risk to your dog.
Malnutrition
If you feed an exclusive diet of raw chicken or it's the majority of what you feed to your dog, serious malnutrition will result. Chicken is not a complete and balanced food for any dog. If dogs don't receive all the appropriate vitamins and minerals they needs, they will suffer from a variety of issues including broken bones and organ disfunction.
Dogs need much more than just chicken to be healthy and strong. If you feed a complete and balanced diet in addition to some raw chicken, the risk for malnutrition is nearly eliminated.
What To Do If Your Dog Eats Raw Chicken
If your dog eats some raw chicken by stealing it from the trash or counter, keep a close eye on them for the following day. So many factors—your dog's size, the amount of chicken, your dog's overall health—affect whether your dog will get sick, and it's possible they'll be completely fine after eating the poultry.
If you're worried or know your dog consumed some chicken bones, call your veterinarian. Because they know your dog's health the best, they can advise the best action plan. Obviously, visit your veterinarian if your dog starts showing any signs of distress.
Benefits of Feeding Raw Chicken to Dogs
There are some potential benefits to feeding raw chicken to dogs despite the risks. Raw chicken is rich in protein, provides no carbohydrates or sugar, and provides some potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin B12, and other nutrients that are beneficial to dogs. Additionally, chicken is an inexpensive protein source.
If you prefer at-home recipes for your dog—raw or not—it is important to consult with your veterinarian about it. Online recipes even from seemingly reputable places are often not complete and balanced, so most veterinarians can help create home diets or recommend a veterinarian boarded in nutrition who can help formulate a complete and balanced diet for your pet.
FAQ
Can dogs eat any other raw meats?
Many veterinarians will recommend against feeding your dogs any raw meat. Like chicken, other uncooked meats—beef, pork, fish—contain bacteria that can make dogs sick. But if you decided to feed your dog a raw food diet, make sure you work with your veterinarian to ensure your dog gets all their required nutrients.
What about cooked chicken?
Cooked chicken is a much better option for dogs to eat. In fact, cooked chicken is a staple for bland diets fed to sickly dogs. When you cook it for your dog, make sure you're feeding a vet-recommended amount and don't add any seasoning, butter, or flavoring.
What if I still don't want to feed my dog kibble?
You can definitely feed your dog a homemade diet, though it will be much more work than simply opening a bag of dog food. Your veterinarian will help you craft a specific diet your dog's needs. You can also ask them about switching to a "fresh" food.
