Can Dogs Eat Chicken?

Yes, dogs can eat chicken. Plain chicken that is cooked, boneless, and unseasoned is a good protein for dogs, according to the AKC. The trouble comes from raw chicken, bones, and added ingredients like onion, garlic, salt, and grease. Those are in many chicken dishes.

How should I serve chicken to my dog?

The AKC says unseasoned chicken that is roasted, poached, grilled, or baked is fine. You can give it by itself, as a treat, or mixed into your dog’s regular meal. Take it off the bone first. Skip salt, spices, sauces, and oil.

Some dogs are allergic to chicken. The AKC says it is one of the top 10 foods that cause allergies in dogs. If your dog gets itchy or has an upset stomach after eating it, talk to your vet.

Can dogs eat raw chicken?

Most sources say no. The AKC says raw chicken carries a risk of salmonella and other bacterial infections. Salmonella is a germ that can make dogs and people sick.

The U.S. FDA tested raw pet food from 2010 to 2012. It found Salmonella in 15 of 196 raw samples and Listeria in 32. The FDA also warns that the germs can spread from the food to your hands and mouth. Wash your hands well after touching raw meat. Cooking chicken all the way through is the simplest way to avoid this.

Can dogs eat chicken bones?

No. The AKC says cooked chicken bones splinter easily. Splinters can cause choking or a hole in the stomach or gut. Raw bones carry risks too. The ASPCA says raw bones can cause stomach or gut injury or a blockage that may need surgery.

If your dog swallows a bone:

• Don’t chase your dog or yank the bone out. This can make your dog gulp it down. The AKC suggests trading it for something tastier.
• Don’t make your dog vomit. The AKC says this can cause more harm.
• Call your vet.
• Watch for 12 to 24 hours for vomiting, drooling, trouble swallowing, choking sounds, no appetite, or diarrhea.

Other kinds of chicken

Cooked chicken necks, drumsticks, and wings

Not with the bones in. Cooked necks, drumsticks, and wings all have bones that can splinter. Pull the meat off the bone and throw the bones away where your dog can’t reach them.

Frozen chicken drumsticks and wings

Frozen chicken is still raw chicken. The sources we read do not say that freezing makes raw chicken or its bones safe. The same risks of bacteria and bones apply. Cook the meat, remove the bones, and let it cool.

Expired raw chicken

Don’t feed it. Raw chicken is already a bacteria risk, and spoiled meat is worse. We did not find a source that gives a safe time limit for dogs, so throw it out. If your dog already ate some, call your vet.

Chicken broth, stock, and bouillon

Plain broth is not toxic by itself, but many store-bought broths, stocks, and bouillon cubes have onion or garlic and a lot of salt. Check the label. The ASPCA says too much salt causes thirst and peeing, and in serious cases vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures. Bouillon is salty by design, so it is a poor choice.

Chicken broth with onions or garlic

No. Pet Poison Helpline says onion and garlic, along with chives and leeks, are poisonous to dogs. They damage red blood cells, which can lead to anemia (too few healthy red blood cells). They also upset the stomach. Call a vet or a hotline if your dog drank or ate some. The amount that causes harm depends on your dog’s size and how much was eaten. Pet Poison Helpline also says Akitas and Shiba Inus are extra sensitive to garlic.

Fried chicken and chicken nuggets

Not a good idea. The ASPCA says fatty foods can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis, a painful swelling of the pancreas. Fried coatings also have salt and seasoning, and sometimes onion or garlic powder. Cooked fried bones are splinter risks too. A single nugget is unlikely to be a disaster for most dogs, but it is not a treat to repeat.

Chicken salad, chicken pot pie, and chicken fried rice

These are mixed dishes, so check what is in them. Onion and garlic are common in all three. Pot pie is also rich and buttery, and fried rice often has oil and salty sauce. Plain cooked chicken picked out of the dish is a better choice than the dish itself. If your dog ate a lot of one, or ate onion or garlic, call your vet.

Teriyaki chicken and orange chicken

Skip them. Takeout sauces like teriyaki and orange sauce are salty, and we can’t see the full ingredient list. Garlic and onion are common in sauces, so a dog who ate some should be checked with a vet or hotline. Plain cooked chicken is the safer choice.

How much chicken is okay?

None of the sources we read give an exact amount. The AKC says plain cooked chicken can be a treat or be mixed into meals. Keep treats to a small part of your dog’s food, about 10% of daily calories. Ask your vet before making chicken a big part of the diet.

Other things to try

Small pieces of plain cooked chicken are a handy training treat. For other foods to avoid, see our list of foods that are toxic to dogs.