Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken?

Reviewed by Monica Tarantino

Key Takeaways

• Feeding raw chicken to dogs poses significant risks, including bacterial infections like salmonella and campylobacter, and potential digestive damage from bones.

• A diet primarily consisting of raw chicken can lead to serious nutritional deficiencies and health issues in dogs.

• Consult a veterinarian before feeding raw chicken to ensure your dog receives a complete and balanced diet.

Generally, dogs should not eat raw chicken as part of their regular diet. Bacteria in the uncooked meat, such as salmonella and campylobacter, can poison dogs, and any bones in the chicken can damage their digestive systems.

However, since dogs are descendants of wolves, some believe that offering natural, unprocessed chicken is healthier than cooked chicken. If you are determined to feed 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 might not harm every individual dog, it is generally unsafe. It poses significant dangers, prompting most people to avoid feeding it 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.

These risks include potential infections and digestive disruptions. Additionally, a diet predominantly composed of raw chicken can result in nutritional deficiencies.

Salmonella Infection

Salmonella is a common cause of food poisoning and is often present in unprocessed or undercooked foods, including chicken. These bacteria reside in the intestines or feces of animals and are unsafe for consumption. If significant amounts of this bacteria are ingested, you might notice the following signs of salmonellosis in your dog: 

Pet Symptoms

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Lethargy

• Lack of appetite

• Fever

If your dog shows these signs, consult your veterinarian immediately. Treatment requires antibiotics, other medications, and IV fluid therapy. Ignoring the infection can be fatal, especially if your dog has a weak immune system or severe gut dysbiosis. 

Salmonella is invisible without a microscope, making it impossible to know if your dog's raw chicken is contaminated. Food recalls for salmonella are common, often identified only after illness occurs. Salmonellosis is the primary risk associated with feeding raw chicken to your dog. 

Campylobacteriosis

Raw chicken often harbors campylobacter bacteria, which can sicken dogs that consume the meat. Like salmonella, campylobacter infection generally manifests through digestive symptoms:

Pet Symptoms

• 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, which may require providing a stool sample for testing. Antibiotics, along with supportive care such as IV therapy, can aid your dog's recovery. 

Chicken Bones

If you feed your dog raw chicken, there's a high risk of including bones. These can obstruct the stomach or intestines, puncture internal organs, lodge in the mouth or throat, and cause broken teeth. Removing bones from raw chicken eliminates these risks. 

Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken Feet? Exploring Benefits and Risks

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 require more than just chicken to stay healthy and strong. By supplementing a complete and balanced diet with occasional raw chicken, the risk of malnutrition is significantly reduced. 

What To Do If Your Dog Eats Raw Chicken

If your dog eats raw chicken, perhaps by stealing it from the trash or counter, monitor them closely for the next day. Numerous factors, such as your dog's size, the quantity of chicken consumed, and overall health, determine if they will become ill. Your dog may remain unaffected. 

If you are concerned or know your dog consumed chicken bones, contact your veterinarian. They are familiar with your dog's health and can provide the best advice. Seek immediate veterinary attention if your dog shows 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.

Frequently asked Questions

Can dogs eat any other raw meats?

Many veterinarians recommend against feeding dogs any raw meat. Like chicken, other uncooked meats, such as beef, pork, and fish, contain bacteria that can cause illness in dogs. If you decide 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 provide your dog with a homemade diet, though it requires more effort than simply giving them bagged dog food. Your veterinarian can assist in crafting a diet tailored to your dog's needs. You might also inquire about switching to "fresh" food .

Read the original article on The Spruce Pets