How to Boil Chicken for Dogs

Boiling chicken without seasoning might not seem very appealing, but your dog will actually enjoy this simple dish. Boiled chicken is full of protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it an excellent nutritional choice for dogs, especially those with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues. To get started, you will need 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, some water, and a medium-sized pot. Once boiled, you can serve the chicken as a snack or prepare a full meal for your dog by adding other ingredients.

Place 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts into a medium-sized pot. Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the pot. If you don’t have a large enough pot, you can use a deep skillet with a lid.

• Make sure the chicken is fully thawed if it was frozen. Frozen chicken can affect the cooking time and may cause uneven cooking. If the chicken is still frozen, finish thawing it in the refrigerator before cooking.

Pour enough water into the pot to cover all the chicken breasts. Add about 7.6 cm of water, or more if needed, to submerge the chicken. Be careful not to add too much water, as it may overflow when boiling. Leave about 5 cm of space at the top to avoid spillage.

• Do not add any spices to the chicken, as they could upset your dog’s stomach. Keep the chicken plain, and you can mix it with other ingredients later if desired.

Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for about 12 minutes. Boil the water over high heat, then continue cooking the chicken for around 12 minutes.

• Take one chicken breast out of the pot and cut it open to check if it’s fully cooked after 12 minutes. If the inside is still pink or sticky, return the chicken to the pot and cook the remaining breasts for another 1-2 minutes.

Place the cooked chicken breast on a plate and shred it into small pieces. Use a knife and fork or two forks to easily separate the meat. Be sure to shred the meat into small enough pieces for your dog to chew and swallow safely.

• Keep in mind the size of your dog when shredding the chicken. Small dogs need smaller pieces compared to large dogs.

Allow the chicken to cool for 10-15 minutes. Place the chicken on a table and wait until it cools down. Once the chicken is cool, you can feed your dog a small portion as a snack or mix it with other food to create a full meal.

• You can speed up the cooling process by placing the chicken in the fridge for 5 minutes.

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Put the leftover chicken into a glass or plastic container with a tight lid and store it in the fridge. Feed your dog within 3-4 days.

• Alternatively, you can freeze the cooked chicken in an airtight container for 2-6 months, and keep it for later when your dog has an upset stomach. Just thaw it in the fridge before serving it to your dog.

Serve cooked chicken to your dog as a snack. Use chicken as an extra treat after a training session or simply as a reward. Just be careful not to feed your dog too much cooked chicken.

• If you're using the cooked chicken as a reward during training, give your dog a small piece after it completes a task.
• When using cooked chicken for a snack, be sure to portion the meat based on your dog's size. Divide the chicken into appropriate portions according to the amount of food you typically feed your dog during meals.

Mix pieces of boiled chicken with dog food to make an otherwise simple meal more appealing. Your dog will love the added flavor and feel fuller with the extra protein. Just be careful not to overfeed them. You should reduce the regular food amount when adding chicken.

• The amount of chicken for your dog depends entirely on its weight and the level of physical activity it regularly engages in.
• Try to divide one meal in a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio. For example, if you usually feed your dog 1 cup of dog food at dinner, serve 2/3 cup of dog food and 1/3 cup of chicken, or 3/4 cup of dog food and 1/4 cup of chicken.

Add shredded chicken to white rice to treat stomach discomfort. Prepare 1 cup (180 g) of white rice as usual—either cooked in a pot on the stove or in a rice cooker. Afterward, mix some shredded chicken with the rice and let it cool completely before serving it to your dog.

• The ratio of rice to chicken should be 2:1 or 3:1. For instance, mix 2 cups (400 g) of rice with 1 cup (125 g) of cooked chicken, or 3 cups (600 g) of rice with 1 cup (125 g) of cooked chicken.
• For extra flavor, you can use chicken broth from boiled chicken to cook the rice. Avoid store-bought chicken broth as it may contain ingredients, like onions, that can harm your dog.
• Instead of white rice, you can use brown rice to enhance the nutritional value. However, keep in mind that brown rice may be harder for your dog to digest. If your dog has a stomach ache or digestive issues, stick to white rice.

Add canned pumpkin or plain, non-fat yogurt to the chicken and rice mix. Using canned pumpkin or plain yogurt will help regulate your dog's digestive system. Pumpkin is high in fiber, and the natural probiotics in yogurt benefit your dog's stomach. Both ingredients also add moisture to the food.

• Mix 1/2 cup (100 g) of cooked white rice and 1/4 cup (30 g) of chicken with 15–30 ml of yogurt or 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin. Combine everything, and portion it out for your dog as needed.

Feed your dog boiled chicken 1-2 times a week. If your dog does not have any digestive issues, you should not feed it boiled chicken more than twice a week. This will prevent them from becoming picky eaters or overly dependent on chicken.

• If your dog has digestive problems, you can feed them boiled chicken for 3 consecutive days to help treat its stomach issues. If the problem persists, consult a local veterinarian.