How doesn't love a plate of delicious fried rice? You're sitting at the table with your family enjoying your Chinese takeout, and your dog is seated attentively at your feet, licking her chops every time you look down at her.
It looks like another family member has a craving for Chinese food – but can dogs have fried rice?
Fried rice looks delicious and nutritious, and if the dog had her way, she'd eat it until she bursts. Still, it seems harmless to give her a few bites of fried rice from time to time.
In this post, we'll unpack the science and expert opinion around this issue. We'll also make a few recommendations on safe fried rice recipes for your furry friend.
Take Note
If your dog has eaten fried rice and he is acting abnormally or suffering allergy-like symptoms, be sure to consult with your veterinarian.
Can I Give My Dog Chicken Fried Rice?
If you want a short answer, it's yes – you can feed your dog fried rice.
Anything in moderation, apart from things like dark chocolate, are fine for your dog. However, if you're going to feed it to them every day, ordering from the local Chinese takeout isn't a good idea.
Dogs love fried rice as much as we do. They might like it even more than we do. Imagine eating dog food your whole life and then getting a plate of fried rice; it must taste like heaven, right?
The reality is dogs will always look for opportunities to pester you for your food, regardless of what you're eating.
Many dog owners feed their dogs chicken fried rice a few days a week. It's a change in the dog's diet that beneficial for their digestive system, and they'll love you for it.
However, that doesn't mean you can pick up the phone and dial the local Chinese takeout for an order of fried rice for your dog. Take away food isn't suitable for dogs, and we'll get into that in a minute.
First, you need to understand the nutrient value of fried rice. Fried rice is a carbohydrate.
Therefore, feeding it alone to your dog only gives them access to carbohydrates in the rice and the fat used to fry the rice. They're missing out on the protein they need for a balanced diet.
Typically, dogs' diets are 10% fat, 30% to 40% protein, and the balance in carbs. If you feed them a carb-heavy diet, it results in nutrient deficiencies that adversely affect your dog's health.
Therefore, to make the dish more nutritious, you'll have to add a protein source. Most dog owners prefer using chicken – it's affordable and a rich source of the macronutrient.
Is Fried Food Okay For Dogs?
It is, and it isn't. Your dog's optimal diet plan should involve around 10% fat in total. More fat than that results in digestive problems that lead to diarrhea and vomiting. For this reason, you can't order for your dog when ordering Chinese takeout for the family.
Dogs rely on a delicately balanced diet plan for optimal digestive health. If you start altering that nutrient balance, it causes problems in the digestive tract, changing the gut's microbiome behavior.
Continuing with a high-fat diet for your dog involves severe health complications, such as pancreatitis.
If you feed your dog some fried rice once a week, it isn't going to do her much harm. However, using it as their primary diet isn't a good idea unless you cook it yourself.
Causes and Risks of Pancreatitis in Dogs
Pancreatitis is a severe digestive disorder.
Without immediate medical treatment and changes to your dog's diet, they might not survive. However, if you do get your dog to the vet in time and change its diet to sustainable foods in the future, your dog should recover.
Pancreatitis is a serious condition and requires immediate treatment to prevent severe complications occurring in your dog. Medical science is still unsure of the exact cause of pancreatitis in humans and animals.
However, they have a few ideas on behavior that might lead to the development of the condition.
Check the following list to make sure you're not making any of these mistakes with your dog's diet.
- Don't feed your dog a high-fat diet. Fat content should never exceed more than 10% of the total daily macronutrient intake.
- Don't feed your dog fat-heavy meals like fried rice from Chinese takeaways.
- Exceeding the fat limit results in digestive disorders, obesity, and heart disease.
- Obesity leads to pancreatic inflammation and the onset of pancreatitis.
- Some dog breeds have a genetic predisposition to pancreatic disorders.
- Severe trauma to the abdomen may also cause the onset of pancreatitis.
The condition has no specific symptoms. However, many dogs experience vomiting and severe diarrhea. You'll need to take your pup to the vet for a diagnosis and confirmation of the condition.
Some of the general symptoms associated with pancreatitis in dogs include the following.
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Lethargy and fatigue
- Fever
Most dogs pull through with the right treatment. Still, no-one wants to put their poor pooch through that kind of trauma.
Pro Tip: It's better to avoid the fat-heavy Chinese fried chicken rice and make the recipe for your dog yourself at home.
Is Chinese Takeout Fried Rice Unhealthy for Your Dog?
If you're ordering Chinese and your dog is looking hungry, should you order them a serving too? Is takeaway food safe for your dog to eat, or should you leave it?
If Fido has their way, you'll be placing a double order, heavy on the chicken – but is it the right thing to do for your dog?
It's not a good idea to get your chicken fried rice from a Chinese takeaway for several reasons. The first is that Chinese restaurants add spices and veggies to most fried rice dishes.
Veggies like onions can have a detrimental effect on your dog's digestive system, resulting in conditions like pancreatitis. Spices also cause disruptions in the biome balance in your dog's gut, resulting in problems.
As a result, your dog starts developing severe digestive issues, the worst being pancreatitis. Chinese takeout is heavy on the oil, and it's too much for your dog to handle every night.
Those owners feeding their dogs Chinese takeout fried chicken rice might notice that their dog starts vomiting after a few weeks. The vomiting is uncontrollable and caused by a condition called "pancreatitis."
Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreatic enzymes produced in the pancreas activate before they reach the colon.
Instead, they activate in the pancreas, causing inflammation and a vomiting effect in your dog. Chinese food also comes loaded with spices and MSG, and both are toxic to dogs. Mono Sodium Glutamate accumulates in their system, causing a harmful effect.
Chinese food might also contain onions and garlic. Alliums are toxic to dogs and contain organic compounds called "organosulfoxides."
These compounds cause changes in your dog's blood, resulting in blood disorders that can kill your pooch.
Easy Homemade Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
If you want to spoil your dog, make them chicken fried rice at home. By making the recipe yourself, you have total control over what goes into the meal.
This chicken fried rice recipe from Doggy Desert Chef gives your pup the perfect balance of protein, carbs, and fat.
It's easy to prepare, and you can cook it in bulk to save time during the week. Heat it in the microwave to take the cold off from the fridge (not too hot as it can hurt its sensitive tongue), and Fido gets a fantastic meal!
This recipe makes your chicken fried rice come out in muffin-style portions for convenience.
Ingredients
- 1 Free-Range Chicken Breast, chopped
- 1 cup Cooked Mixed Dog-Safe Vegetables
- 1 cup Cooked Brown or Wild Rice
- 1 teaspoon Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- 2 Free-Range Eggs, beaten
Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Use a silicone mini-muffin tray or grease a metal pan.
3. Place a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
4. Add 1 teaspoon extra-virgin coconut oil.
5. Add chicken breast to the heated skillet and cook through, stirring to cook all sides.
6. Add the veggies and rice to your skillet, stir to coat.
7. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
8. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until combined.
9. Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan
10. Press tops to pack the tin
11. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until brown on edges
12. Allow cooling time
13. Store in the fridge in an airtight container
14. Makes 6 to 12 muffins
