Good nutrition is important to not only human beings but animals as well. It’s the reason why their bodies can fight foreign invaders such as fungi, parasites, viruses, and even bacteria daily.

Chicken is a great, healthy food for dogs—provided it’s cooked properly. If you’d like to know how to properly cook chicken for your pooch, you’ve come to the right place.

The 5 Steps to Boil Chicken for Dogs

1. Remove Bones & Skin

Bones are often regarded as one of the primary sources of minerals—and several other nutrients—that are instrumental in making sure our dogs stay healthy.

But if you’re going to give bones to your dog, don’t ever serve them cooked bones because these become brittle and can easily splinter and put your dog at serious risk. There are many important considerations when deciding whether to feed bones to your dog, and you can find more information in the suggested related read at the end of this article. For this guide, just be sure to remove the bones and skin of your chicken meat. The skin isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it should still be removed because it is incredibly high in fat.

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2. Put the Chicken in a Clean Pot

After you’re done removing all the bones and skin, place the chicken in a clean pot. Also, make sure that your chicken is well spread out. We don’t want the pieces to be clumped or stuck together once you’re done cooking. The water also has to be sufficient, meaning it has to cover the chicken. But don’t fill the pot to the brim or the water will boil over.

Should you season the chicken? No.

Dogs love the flavor of plain boiled chicken, so they do not need any extra seasonings. Besides, condiments and spices like onion, garlic, leek, chives, etc. are toxic to dogs.

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3. Bring Your Chicken to a Boil

Never serve your dog undercooked or raw chicken. You’ll be potentially exposing them to Salmonella, which can be fatal if left untreated. If you’re wondering how long you’re supposed to boil the chicken for the dogs, it’s usually 12 to 15 minutes. And the best way you’ll be able to tell whether or not the insides are well cooked is by using a food thermometer.

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4. Separate the Chicken From the Broth

Switch off the stove before removing the chicken from the pot. We hope you remembered to clean the bowls because we don’t want to leave the chicken in that hot water for too long, as it might lose many of its nutrients.

The broth can be used to prepare some treats, or you could serve it to your dog as a drink after they’re done eating.

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5. Shred the Chicken

Shredding makes it easier for the dog to chew and swallow the different pieces without struggling. It also helps the stomach metabolize the food faster, hence reducing the risk of them experiencing digestive issues.

Once they are all shredded, give them 15 to 20 minutes to cool down. Don’t serve the chicken while it’s still too hot since it can cause burns.

What Other Food Can Be Added to the Boiled Chicken?

Pumpkin

Pumpkin has some impressive health benefits. This fruit comes packed with antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins A, C, and E. But if you’re going to add some of it to your chicken, you’ll have to go with the healthiest choice— plain, cooked pumpkin.

Rice

Dogs can eat both white and brown rice, but don’t feed your dog rice if they have diabetes. It’s no secret that this version of rice has a significant effect on blood sugar.

Carrots

These low-calorie vegetables are high in potassium, carotenoids, and vitamins. Carrots can be served raw or cooked. You only have to remember to wash them well to remove dirt and any pesticides.

Peanut Butter

Regular peanut butter is safe for dogs. We have to emphasize “regular” because some products contain xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that’s extremely toxic to dogs. It can cause hypoglycemia, liver failure, and even seizures. For a dog, the idea of chicken with peanut butter sounds great!

What’s an Ideal Dog Feeding Schedule?

Dogs usually have different needs, and that’s why their feeding schedules normally differ. But in general, adult dogs are supposed to be fed at least twice a day.

By keeping those two meals within an 8-hour window, you will allow your dog to have health-restoring fasting hours.

• Related Read: Fasting for Dogs: Vet Reviewed Risks & Benefits

How Do You Know Your Dog Has a Chicken Allergy?

Like humans, dogs can develop food allergies, though they are more commonly caused by specific proteins. A dog can develop hypersensitivities to specific ingredients that they used to tolerate in the past. Common signs of food allergies in dogs include gastrointestinal issues, such as vomiting, watery stool, bloating, or diarrhea; itchy skin and discomfort; excessive stretching; and recurrent ear infections.

A change to a diet containing novel alternative proteins and no chicken is recommended. Remove any form of chicken from your dog’s diet, and see if their signs disappear. This can take up to 8 weeks. After a couple of weeks without issues, you can confirm the allergy if you add chicken back to your dog’s diet and the signs reappear.

Summing Up

Dogs need protein to stay healthy, and chicken is a great source. It has the amino acids that are required to facilitate tissue repair, muscle development, and the growth of a healthy coat. The preparation process only takes 15 to 30 minutes, so you won’t be spending the whole day in the kitchen.

Plain boiled chicken is a great addition to your dog’s diet. It also doubles as a high-value treat that you can use for training without adding excessive carbohydrates to your dog’s regime.

See Also:

• Can Dogs Eat Deer Meat? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ
• Are Bones Safe For My Dog? Vet-Approved Facts & Safety Guide

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Featured Image Credit: Alex Boc, Shutterstock