How to Boil Chicken for Dogs

Last Updated: July 28, 2022 References Approved

Can dogs eat chicken? Is chicken good for dogs? The answer to both is yes! Boiled chicken is the best option, whether your pup is sick or you're just looking for a healthy food to feed your dog. In fact, boiled chicken is filled with protein, vitamins, and minerals that your dog’s diet requires and is gentle enough to feed to dogs with sensitive or upset stomachs.^{[1]
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The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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Ingredients

Boiled Chicken

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Enough water to cover the chicken

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Cooking the Chicken Breasts

1
Place 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts into a medium-size pot. Spread the chicken breasts out along the bottom of the pot so the meat is not layered. If you do not have a pot large enough to support the chicken breasts, use a deep, covered skillet instead.
- Make sure that your chicken is completely defrosted if it was frozen. The frozen meat will affect the cooking time of the chicken and could potentially cause the meat to cook unevenly. If it is still frozen, finish defrosting the chicken in the refrigerator before cooking it.
2
Fill the pot with water until all of the chicken breasts are submerged. Add approximately 3 in (7.6 cm) of water to the pot, or more if needed to cover the chicken breasts. Just be careful not to fill your pot with so much water that it bubbles over while cooking. Keep about 2 in (5.1 cm) of head space to avoid this.^{[2]
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- Do not add any additional seasonings to the chicken, as those may cause your dog to have an upset stomach. Keep the chicken bland, and then pair it with other foods later if you want.^{[3]
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  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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3
Cover the pot and boil the chicken for 12 minutes over high heat. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Then, continue to cook the chicken for approximately 12 minutes.
- Remove one of the chicken breasts from the pot and cut into it to make sure it is thoroughly cooked after 12 minutes. If the inside is still pink or gummy, return the chicken to the pot and continue to cook the 3 breasts for approximately 1-2 minutes.
4
Place the cooked chicken breasts onto a plate and shred it into small pieces. Use a knife and fork, or 2 forks, to break the meat apart easily. Make the pieces of meat small enough for your dog to chew and swallow safely.^{[4]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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- Keep your dog’s size in mind when shredding the meat. Smaller dogs may require the meat to be broken into much smaller pieces than larger dogs would.
5
Let the chicken cool off for 10-15 minutes. Allow the chicken to rest on the counter until it is cool to touch. Once cool, you can either give some of the chicken to your dog as a quick snack or pair the chicken with other foods to make it a meal.
- Speed up the cooling process by placing the chicken in the refrigerator for 5 minutes.
6
Store leftover chicken in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Place leftover chicken into a glass or plastic container that has a tight seal. Then, store it in the refrigerator, and feed it to your dog over the next 3-4 days.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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- Alternatively, freeze the boiled chicken in a sealed container for 2-6 months and save it for the next time your dog has an upset stomach. Then, simply defrost the chicken in the refrigerator before feeding it to your dog.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Feeding Your Dog Boiled Chicken

1
Give your dog plain boiled chicken as a small treat. Use the chicken as a training supplement or simply give your dog the chicken as a stand-alone treat. Just be careful not to overfeed your dog with the boiled chicken.
- If using the boiled chicken as a training tool, feed your dog single pieces of shredded chicken when it succeeds at a task.
- When using the boiled chicken as a stand-alone treat, portion appropriately to the size of your dog. Think about how much dog food you usually give your dog for a meal, and scale the chicken into smaller portions based on that.
2
Mix chunks of the boiled chicken with dog food to make the plain meal enticing. Your dog will enjoy the added flavor to the dog food and will become fuller on the extra protein. Just be careful not to overfeed your dog in the process. Reduce the amount of dog food you normally give your dog when adding the chicken.
- The amount you give your dog depends entirely on the weight of your dog and the amount of exercise it normally receives.
- Try to break up the normal meal into a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio. If you normally give your dog 1 cup (224 g) of dog food for dinner, then only give your dog 2/3 cup (149.3 g) of dog food and 1/3 cup (41.7 g) of chicken, or 3/4 cup (168 g) of dog food and 1/4 cup (31.25 g) of chicken.^{[6]
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3
Add the shredded chicken to white rice to settle an upset stomach. Prepare 1 cup (180 g) uncooked, white rice as you normally would—usually in a pot on the stove or in a rice cooker. Then, mix some of the shredded chicken in with the rice, and allow it to fully cool before feeding it to your dog.^{[7]
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- Proportion the rice to chicken in a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio. Pair 2 cups (400 g) of cooked rice with 1 cup (125 g) of cooked chicken, or 3 cups (600 g) of cooked rice with 1 cup (125 g) of cooked chicken.
- To subtly flavor the rice, use the chicken broth produced by the boiled chicken to cook the rice. Do not use the store-bought chicken broth to cook the rice, as it may contain ingredients, like onions, that could be harmful to your dog.^{[8]
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- Instead of white rice, you can prepare brown rice to increase the nutritional value of the meal. Be aware that brown rice is harder for your dog to digest. If your dog has a sensitive or upset stomach, only feed it white rice.^{[9]
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  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
  Go to source}
4
Supplement the classic chicken and rice meal with canned pumpkin or yogurt. Use canned pumpkin or non-fat, plain yogurt to regulate your dog’s digestive system. The pumpkin is high in fiber and the yogurt is a natural probiotic that will be gentle on your dog’s stomach. Both will add a moist texture to the meal.^{[10]
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- To a 1/2 cup (100 g) of cooked white rice and 1/4 cup (31.25 g) of chicken, add 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 mL) of yogurt or 1/4 cup (56.25 g) of canned pumpkin. Mix the ingredients together, and portion as needed to feed it to your dog.
5
Feed your dog boiled chicken 1-2 times a week. Unless your dog has a digestive issue like an upset stomach, refrain from feeding it boiled chicken more than twice a week. This will keep your dog from developing picky eating habits or becoming reliant on the chicken.^{[11]
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- If your dog does have a digestive issue, feed it boiled chicken up to 3 days in a row to help regulate its stomach issue. If the digestive issue persists, contact your local veterinarian.^{[12]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

Can I feed my dog boiled chicken every day?

Brian Bourquin, DVM
Veterinarian
Brian Bourquin, better known as “Dr. B” to his clients, is a Veterinarian and the Owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic, a pet health care and veterinary clinic with three locations, South End/Bay Village, the Seaport, and Brookline, Massachusetts. Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in primary veterinary care, including wellness and preventative care, sick and emergency care, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry. The clinic also provides specialty services in behavior, nutrition, and alternative pain management therapies using acupuncture, and therapeutic laser treatments. Boston Veterinary Clinic is an AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) accredited hospital and Boston’s first Fear Free Certified Clinic. Brian has over 19 years of veterinary experience and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University.

Brian Bourquin, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Adding yummier foods like chicken to your dog's diet may cause it to stop eating its regular dry food, so I recommend not trying to feed your dog new things regularly.

Warnings

Allow the shredded, boiled chicken to cool completely before feeding it to your dog. Otherwise, your dog may burn its mouth and tongue while gobbling down the special treat.^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}

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