Feeding Your Dog Chicken Every Day
A few years ago, I had a family member that would stop every day at the local convenience store and buy their small senior dog a grilled chicken breast. Sounds like a special treat, doesn’t it? Until we start looking at some of the more specific issues that could mean this treat is actually doing more harm than good.
The dog was about 8 pounds — eating an entire chicken breast, every day. Which probably means he wasn’t eating very much else for his nutritional needs.
When we are thinking bout the special treats and who we will “do anything'“ to get our dogs to eat, spoil them, and love them we have to look beyond what they love and how we love them.
The notes included here are based on making a significant change or addition to chicken in your dog’s daily diet — not just in a bite or two for a special treat.
Risks of Too Much Chicken In Dog Food
Yes, chicken will increase total protein in the diet. But skinless, boneless chicken is without fat and without calcium. Dietary needs require a ratio of Phosphorus to Calcium. We won’t go into all the math here — but suffice it to say if the protein is significantly increased in your dog’s daily diet — you may need to make adjustments in other areas.
Your dog needs fat.. Dog’s as they age may need an increase in fat not a decrease to get more calories in less volume.
Chicken is a common allergen in dogs leading to itchy scratchy skin and inflammation in the body. Organic Raw shows less of this concern in most cases.
Chicken is high in Omega 6 but offers no Omega 3. Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid the body needs for brain health, heart health, skin and eye health. It also helps fight anxiety.
If you are feeding a kibble-based diet, especially one containing grain, you are already high in omega 6 and deficient in Omega 3. the goal for Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio is 4:1 — and kibble comes in around 30:1. Adding chicken to the bowl makes this even worse.
5 Element Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine tell us that Chicken is a “HOT” protein. So a dog who seems constantly hot even when it’s not hot in his environment, who may have aggression or attitude issues, who may have allergies, or seasonal behavioral changes the protein we feed it something to review.
Many chicken production companies use antibiotics in their chicken feed every day — whether this chick is sick or not. This will be passed through to you and your pets and family. Antibiotic use in this way can lead to health issues when fed in large quantities and antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Many chicken production companies use hormones to promote faster and larger growth. Hormones may contribute to health issues including cancers.
Most people boil or overcook the meats the offer their dog. Remember, low temp, gentle saute are best for your dog. And no, your dogs don’t have the same risk of salmonella and such as humans do, due to your dog’s digestive system being better designed for raw meats than your own.
The owner felt so good about giving his dog this special daily car ride, stopping at the store and offering the chicken. The dog loved it. But ultimately, the owner completely missed the mark on nutrition. If we are looking to truly increase our dog’s health and well-being, we all need to learn to adjust our thinking about food and how we show love.
Adding Chicken To Your Dog’s Food
Begin with a complete and balanced nutritional diet daily. If you need help — ask me.
If your dog isn’t eating what you’re feeding him, I promise you there is a health or nutrition reason — we have to explore that and offer nutritious foods and supplements to bring the body back into healthy alignment.
Moderation — Rotate and Vary — variety is a better option and truly make a treat (a bite or 2) not a replacement meal. Take a walk or sit on bench in the park to spend time with your dog instead.
% of your special offering relative to total diet matters. Clearly, a chicken breast given to a 100# young active dog is a completely different impact on total balance than to an 8# senior.
If you are using chicken or other meat as a high value training treat with daily frequency and/or higher volumes — calculate this into the overall daily nutritional needs. Vary, rotate — and be sure to move towards weaning off the treats in time for skills your dog has learned.
Offer a Chicken Leg, Wing-Drummet (depending on size of dog) a couple of time a week for enjoyment, dental cleaning, and as a complete snack (muscle meat, bone and fat — all balanced by nature).
Praise and Play is a really great way to show your dog love .