Can Dogs Eat Rice? Types of Rice, Guide to Feeding Dogs Rice

When your doggy is experiencing health problems such as an upset stomach, rice is always a preferred choice as it is a type of highly digestible carbohydrate, thus, is easily digested. In short, yes, dogs can eat rice. However, there are always conditions and certain risks when it comes to feeding your dog only a certain type of food. 

In this article, you will find out all that you need to know about rice and dogs. Can rice be a part of your dog’s regular diet? If yes, what types of rice can your dog eat? Let’s find out!

Types of rice my dog can eat

Let us first explore the type of rice your best friend can consume. 

White rice

This is the most common type of rice in the market. Incorporating white rice into your canines’ diet could benefit them in so many ways.

White rice is a type of naturally enriched carbohydrate that benefits your dogs. These carbohydrates help to keep your dog physically active and mentally energetic throughout the day. 

This type of rice for dogs is an excellent source of energy. It not only keeps your dog active, it also helps to revive the growth of useful bacteria. At the same time, it ensures that bowel movements in dear doggo are normal so that it does not experience an upset stomach. 

This good bacteria also helps to support a good digestive system as it breaks down the food into basic components for easy digestion. 

White rice is also a well-balanced ingredient in terms of nutrition as it is equipped with vitamin D and other essential nutrients such as iron and fibre. These minerals will further help your dog’s digestion and keep it healthy at the same time. 

Brown rice

Brown rice is just whole grain rice with the hull removed. As the hull is inedible in the first place, it does not affect the nutritional value of the grains. 

Brown rice consists of high amounts of insoluble fibre which aids in the prevention of different types of cancers. The natural fiber is rich in vitamin D and vitamin B which are essential for the heart. 

Not only that, brown rice is also packed with other nutrients including calcium, riboflavin and iron that helps bring a balance to your dog’s healthy immune system and ensures your dog's nutritional needs are further met. 

Since brown rice is very high in fiber, it is advisable to not feed your dogs with brown rice if your paw kid has diarrhea and opt for white rice instead. Brown rice can potentially stimulate the digestive tract, making the upset stomach and diarrhea worsen. 

How much rice should I give my dog?

If this is your first time introducing rice into your dog’s diet, it is highly advisable to start with small amounts. Depending on the age and weight of your dog, just add a spoonful of rice into your pet’s regular food servings. 

Always make sure that the rice is cooked as uncooked rice can be harder for your dear doggo to digest. 

However, if you are planning to replace your dog’s regular dry food or store-bought food with rice, just feed your paw friend the same amount of rice you would with his regular food. 

Be sure not to overfeed your dog as this might lead to other health problems. As always, if you are unsure about anything, consult your vet before proceeding. 

Another thing to note is when you experience a situation in which your dog has diarrhea. You have to learn how to handle the situation so that you can eliminate unnecessary panic and help the poor dog to get back to its normal self. 

By changing your dog’s diet via switching regular food with white rice, it will help your dog with its digestive tract’s health. Remember that white rice helps to combat upset stomachs and promotes normal stool formation if served at the right amount.

Since you are willing to serve rice to your dog, the tricky part to take note of is the amount of rice you are serving. You may want to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding these grains. 

Alternatively, you can start out with a safe human-grade dog food containing brown rice.

Which leads to the question of… 

How should I serve my dog rice?

There are a few things to consider when serving your dogs rice, be it white or brown rice. If your dogs are used to dry kibbles or store bought dog food, it is recommended that you feed your canine companion a small amount first. The portion size is important and it depends on the age and weight of your dog. 

Once your dog is used to rice and you do not observe any allergies or side effects, you can add a couple of tablespoons of plain yoghurt to the rice. This will further help with your pet’s digestive tract. 

You can then further add boiled boneless and skinless chicken meat or other sources of protein or meat to the rice. You may also add some dry kibbles.

Your dog will definitely love it! 

Keep in mind that when preparing the rice, boil it in water and please do not add any seasonings or spices to it. Never, ever add salt to the rice. Added salt in excess can lead to other health problems such as problems with the heart, kidney dysfunction and high blood pressure. 

Do not worry, the dog will not know the difference, even if the rice is plain and simple. 

Start off slowly and consult the veterinarian if in doubt.

Factors to consider when feeding rice to dogs

Other further factors that need to be considered when feeding rice to dogs include the following:-

Age

Age plays a very important factor when feeding rice cooked rice to dogs. This is because, in order to meet your dog’s growth requirements, the proper amount of nutrition is required to ensure their immune system is functioning well. 

It is especially important for younger pups to have the right amount of nutrition and a good immune system as it will affect their well being in the future. 

When your puppy enters the adolescent age, there will be a transition from milk to solid food. This is when your puppy grows strong teeth and limbs. At this stage, it is essential for the pup turned adolescent to drink lots of water and eat food rich in proteins and carbohydrates so that it experiences healthy growth. 

As your dog enters their adult phase, carbohydrate and protein intake should again be adjusted or reduced so that your dog does not become overweight. 

Breed

Small breed dogs such as shih tzus and chihuahuas have a higher metabolic rate as compared to large dog breeds such as huskies and german shepherds.

However, large breed dogs’ nutritional needs are more extensive. This means that your large dog needs more carbohydrate, protein and fibre based nutrients in its diet. 

Feeding Time

The feeding schedule for your paw friend is also very important. A consistent schedule gives times for your dog’s appetite to be worked up. 

This not only helps your dog to know when it gets fed, it also helps to prevent obesity. 

As rice is rich in carbohydrates, it is up to you as dog owners to determine the right feeding time. The right timing helps to control the calorie intake of your dog thus reducing the risk of obesity. 

Weight

Although carbohydrates are an important part of your dog’s diet, consuming an excess amount of carbohydrates can lead to unwanted weight gain in your dear pet. 

If you are already feeding your dog commercially produced dog food, be wary of adding rice to it. This is because store bought dog food usually already contains carbohydrates. Adding rice to it may be an overload for them 

As long as your dog is in the healthy weight range, adding rice to their meals is perfectly fine. 

Allergies 

Can dogs be allergic to rice? Yes, dogs can be allergic to rice. 

Watch out for certain signs in your dog for rice allergies such as hair loss and excessive itching. You must also observe whether your dog has “hot spots” or not. These spots are noticeably warmer than the rest of your dog’s skin and you can feel it when stroking its sides or belly. 

If you notice these, stop feeding your canines rice immediately, especially when rice has not been part of their regular diet and observe them further in order to be sure they are allergic to rice and not other food. 

Best Dog Food that Goes with Rice

There’s no denying that commercially produced dog food can be convenient for you as a pet owner. However, you have to choose the best and right food with all the nutrients in it so that your pet grows healthily. 

One of the best dog food in the market is Petcubes. The mix of ingredients ensures that your pup, no matter what age, gets the sufficient and right mix of ingredients such as protein, fat and fibre.

Although there is no rice in its list of ingredients (not many commercial dog foods have rice in their ingredient list as rice can go bad easily), you can add your own spoonful of rice to the food for it to get the adequate amount of carbohydrate. Remember that carbs are an essential part of a dog’s diet and as long as it is healthy in terms of weight, adding rice to its meals is fine.

Conclusion

If your dog is very used to kibbles and if you are planning to incorporate rice into his diet, it is advisable for you to consult your veterinarian first and slowly introduce rice into their diet. Moderation is vital while serving rice to your dogs and be sure to feed your dog sufficient amounts of protein and other vitamins as well to ensure your dog gets all its nutrients. Ensure that your dog’s food is equipped with well-established nutrition for it to be fit and healthy!

References

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