How to Boil Chicken for Your Dog?

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Most dog owners know that giving their dogs chicken has many benefits. If your dog is feeling a bit under the weather, or you would simply like to add something they’ll enjoy to their usual meals, chicken is a fantastic choice. However, before you simply add raw chicken to your dog’s bowl, there are a few things you should know. Here’s how to boil chicken for your dog.

Dangers to avoid

Before we go into details about boiling chicken for your dog, there are a few things you should know about the potential dangers chicken brings to the table. Yes, chicken is very beneficial, but dogs can get sick if it is not prepared correctly. Here are a few things about the potential dangers of chicken you should know.

Salmonella

One of the worst things chicken can contain is Salmonella. This is a harmful bacteria that can easily be dealt with by cooking or boiling the contaminated meat. Make sure the chicken is thoroughly boiled before you give it to your dog.

Bones

You should never give your dog chicken bones to chew on. They splinter easily and can get lodged somewhere in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. Plus, chicken bones are a choking hazard.

Allergen

Many dogs are allergic to chicken. Before you decide to give it to your dog, make sure they aren’t allergic to it.

Spices

Humans aren’t that fond of eating plainly boiled chicken, and we love adding spices to our meals. Onions, garlic, red peppers, and other spices might be good for us, but they are toxic to dogs. Avoid adding spices to your dog’s chicken.

What will adding chicken do for my dog?

If you have a sick dog, giving them boiled chicken is the equivalent of humans eating chicken soup. It is packed with glucosamine, lean protein, and omega fatty acids. Even if your dog doesn’t need an additional dietary boost for recovery, adding chicken to their usual kibble can lead to a shinier coat, healthier skin, leaner muscles, and healthier bones.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Before you decide to introduce something new to your dog’s diet, talk to your vet. Ask your vet if adding chicken to your dog’s kibble is a good option for your dog individually. The vet knows your dog, and they will give you the best possible advice on your dog’s dietary needs.

Boiling chicken for your dog

Other than health benefits, the best thing about adding chicken to your dog’s diet is how happy it will make your dog. You “spiced up” their usual meal, and dogs absolutely love the taste of plain chicken. This might be the highlight of your dog’s day. Here is how to make sure you adequately boiled chicken for your dog;

1. Boneless chicken breast

The first thing you need to do is pick fresh, boneless chicken breast. If you had chicken in your freezer, make sure it is completely defrosted before you boil it. Partially defrosted chicken can still be raw in the middle after boiling.

2. Pot

Get a medium-sized boiling pot and place the chicken breast inside the pot. Make sure the pieces are placed next to each other and not on top of each other. You want to make sure all sides get an equal temperature and are safely boiled.

3. Add water

After you completed the first two things, it is time to add water to the pot. Make sure you leave at least two inches of space between the edge of the pot and the water level. You don’t want it boiling over. Make sure you don’t add salt or any other seasoning. Your dog doesn’t need it in their diet.

4. Bring in the heat

After you get everything ready, turn on the stove and wait until the water starts boiling. After the water reaches the boiling temperature, boil the chicken breast for 12 minutes. That is the only way to make sure the chicken is cooked through and through. You don’t want to leave any part uncooked and allow the bacteria to survive.

HEALTH TIP: It is best to stick to chicken breast and leave out other parts of it. Other pieces of chicken contain more fat, and chicken breast is the better option.

5. Let it cool, shred, and serve

After 12 minutes of boiling chicken, the meat should be prepared and ready to serve. Before you do that, you should let it cool down a bit. If you add it immediately to your dog’s bowl, they will most likely dive in and burn their mouth. After you took the chicken out of the pot and it cooled down, shred it into tiny pieces and mix with the dog’s usual kibble.

OWNER TIP: Another great thing you can do is save the broth. The chicken broth will contain healthy nutrients, but the best thing about it is that it will retain the chicken taste. You can keep it in the freezer and use it in other situations where you have to make your dog’s food more palatable.

World Dog Finder team