Can Dogs Eat Fried Chicken?

Dogs should not eat fried chicken. The grease can upset the stomach, and the coating may have onion or garlic powder, which can harm a dog’s blood. Bones are a risk too. One lick or one small bite is unlikely to cause a crisis, but don’t offer it. Plain cooked chicken is a better treat.

Why is fried chicken bad for dogs?

The chicken itself is not the problem. The extras are.

Onion and garlic seasoning

The ASPCA says onions, garlic, and chives can irritate the gut and damage red blood cells. That can lead to anemia, which means the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells. The ASPCA adds that dogs are at risk, depending on how much they eat.

The Merck Veterinary Manual says raw, cooked, and dried onion and garlic have all affected dogs. It says powders and dried flakes are most often linked to poisoning, and garlic is about 3 to 5 times stronger than onion. I could not find a source that lists what is in any one brand of fried chicken. Many coatings use these powders, so treat store-bought or restaurant fried chicken as a risk.

Grease and fat

The ASPCA says fatty foods can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and in some pets pancreatitis. That is a painful swelling of the pancreas, a small organ that helps with digestion.

The Merck Veterinary Manual says most cases of pancreatitis in dogs have no known cause. It does name eating garbage or a large amount of human food as a common trigger.

Salt

The ASPCA says too much salt can make a pet very thirsty and make it pee more. In bad cases it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures.

Bones

The AKC says cooked chicken bones splinter more easily than raw ones. A bone can cause anything from a mild upset stomach to a blocked or torn throat, or a blocked gut in rare cases. Fried chicken often comes with bones, so keep the plate out of reach. Our guide to cooked bones for dogs has more.

What signs should I watch for?

Stomach upset is the most likely problem. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or not wanting to eat.

The Merck Veterinary Manual lists these signs of pancreatitis: no appetite, vomiting, weakness, belly pain, and diarrhea. Mild cases may only look like tiredness or loose stool.

The AKC says to watch your dog for 12 to 24 hours after a bone. Signs that call for a vet include choking sounds, drooling, stretching the neck, throwing up, and not wanting to eat.

If onion or garlic was in the coating, signs come later. Merck says the damage to red blood cells usually starts 3 to 5 days after eating. Look for:

• Being tired or weak
• Not wanting to eat
• Fast breathing
• Yellow skin or gums
• Dark urine
• Collapse

What should I do if my dog ate fried chicken?

1. Take away what is left, and check for bones.
2. Note how much your dog ate, and look at the ingredients if you can.
3. Call your vet or a poison hotline if your dog ate more than a lick, swallowed bones, or the food may have had onion or garlic.
4. If a bone was eaten, the AKC says not to make your dog vomit at home. It also says not to feed bread or other food right away.
5. Watch your dog closely for several days.

Other kinds of fried food

Can dogs eat chicken nuggets?

Nuggets are fried and breaded too, so the same worries apply. The sources I read do not say what is in nuggets. Check the label for onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Plain cooked chicken is safer.

Can dogs eat fried chicken skin?

Skip it. Skin is fatty, and fried skin also holds the coating and seasoning.

What can I give my dog instead?

A small piece of plain, fully cooked chicken is a better choice. Take off the skin and bones, and leave out salt and seasoning. Our guide to chicken for dogs explains how to serve it. Treats made for dogs are fine too.

For more, see our list of foods that are toxic to dogs.