Yes, dogs can eat rice. In fact, you may have noticed rice featured as an ingredient in commercial dog foods. However, a rice meal on its own should not be a daily affair rice should only be part of a varied diet that offers all the nutrients your dog needs.
Dogs can eat rice in moderation as long as it’s cooked, without any seasoning or flavors, and as long as it’s included in your dog’s balanced diet.
Can Dogs Eat White Rice?
White rice is not only safe for dogs, but it’s great for helping dogs with digestive problems, such as diarrhea, because:
- It’s bland, which helps slow stool production and ease diarrhea
- It has easily digestible carbohydrate
- It contains fiber
- Its starch helps bind your dog’s stool
Just be sure to not feed your pup too much white rice. It’s not meant to be a daily snack because it has a high glycemic index, which can raise your pup’s blood sugar levels.
This is especially concerning if your dog has diabetes or is obese. It’s best to feed your dog white rice only at your veterinarian’s recommendation.
Can Dogs Eat Brown Rice?
Brown rice is also safe for dogs to eat. It has a lower glycemic index than white rice and has more fiber. This helps keep your pup fuller for longer and helps alleviate constipation.
But brown rice is also harder for dogs to digest than its white counterpart. This is why brown rice is not usually recommended by veterinarians as a remedy for diarrhea.
Can Dogs Eat Jasmine Rice?
Jasmine and basmati are two types of long-grain white rice. The length of the grain doesn’t matter like other types of white rice, jasmine, and basmati are both safe for your dog to snack on.
Is Rice Safe For Dogs?
Yes, rice is safe for dogs. However, there can be some potential side effects that can occur. A dog can eat rice and be safe as long as the owner knows they can’t have too much of it or stay on a strict diet for an extended period of time.
Dog owners should also know about all the health benefits associated with feeding their dogs rice because this food is often given to sick pets or those who can’t tolerate other foods well due to allergies or gastrointestinal problems.
If you’re considering adding more rice to your dog’s diet at any point in time, make sure you understand both the risks and benefits so you can plan accordingly.
It is recommended that you speak with your veterinarian before giving your dog rice or any other type of new food as they have a better understanding of the health of your dog.
Why Is Rice Good for Dogs?
Rice can be a healthy, hearty, gluten-free grain to feed your dog at any point in their life, but it can be especially great following a bout of pancreatitis or other digestive issues.
This is because rice can bind loose stool in cases of diarrhea and can help produce regular bowel movements. Rice is also very gentle on a dog’s stomach think of it like saltine crackers that people snack on when dealing with stomach bugs.
Benefits of Rice for Your Dog
Other benefits of feeding your dog rice can include:
- Low in fat and sodium
- Contains antioxidants that can support cognition in aging dogs
- Feeds good bacteria in your dog’s small intestine
- High in fiber
- Contains calcium and vitamin D, which support your dog’s bones
How to feed your dog rice?
You can give your pup plain, boiled rice with no seasonings or butter. Treats should only make up around 10 percent of your dog’s caloric intake, and rice is included in that if you’re giving it to him as a snack, so just give him a little bit.
If you’re feeding your dog rice for an upset stomach, you can try giving him plain, boiled chicken with it to add some protein and nutrients, Dr. Wigfall said.
“Feeding rice for tummy upset is a short-term solution, and if no improvement is seen within one to two days, veterinary advice should be sought,” Dr. Wigfall said.
Rice can also be used as an ingredient in homemade dog foods or treats if you like to cook for your pup.
“Rice can be fed as a treat or combined with protein and vegetables to create a well-balanced homemade diet,” Dr. Burch said.
“Ensure to obtain homemade diets from a reliable source, such as your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist, as not all recipes are balanced or complete, leading to health problems.”
And definitely don’t give your dog fried rice. Fried rice has extra fat and salt, and it can contain ingredients that are poisonous to dogs, like onion.
Be sure to talk to your vet to find out how much rice is OK for your dog to eat or if you think he might be allergic to rice. In most cases, though, a little plain, cooked rice every so often is a perfectly safe and even healthy snack for most pups.
How Much Rice Can You Feed Your Dog?
As beneficial as rice is to a dog’s health, feeding should be done in moderation. No matter how much you love your dog, never feed them rice more than thrice a week.
When it comes to rice, just like any food, follow the 10% Treat Rule strictly. Anything above this will lead to your dog packing unnecessary extra pounds.
