Is Rice Healthy for Dogs?

Rice are often fed to dogs when they are suffering from an upset stomach. That is not the only benefit of rice as they are quite healthy for your pets. Owing to this fact, you CAN add this ingredient in their regular diet. Having said that, you must combine rice with chicken and vegetables to ensure a complete meal for your pup.

Health Benefits of Rice

• Rice are an excellent source of energy because they provide an abundant supply of carbohydrates. Similarly, they offer a sufficient quantity of calcium, iron, vitamin D, and riboflavin.
• Rice have an ample amount of starch which assists the growth of useful bacteria in the digestive tract. This is useful for promoting normal bowel movements.
• Rice are free from any harmful fats and cholesterol which helps normal functioning of the brain.
• Small quantities of sodium make rice an ideal choice for countering high blood pressure. The diuretic properties of rice’s husk are also beneficial for this purpose.
• You can also use rice to treat dysentery.

Is Rice Good for a Dog’s Diet?

Rice is one of those foods that create uncertainty in the minds of new dog parents. Generally, rice are good for dogs unless your pet is allergic to them. However, you need to mix them with other ingredients to find the right balance. Feeding rice alone for longer periods of time can cause medical implications because they lack several essential nutrients.

Even though a variety of commercial dog foods use rice as one of their ingredients, they can lead to food poisoning due to the presence of food additives and artificial flavoring. For this reason, the healthiest method for feeding rice to your dogs is to prepare their meals at home.

Rice is an extremely convenient food item because they are cheap and easy to cook. The fact that they are easy to digest makes it a suitable commodity for your dog’s digestive system. Initially, you should feed your dog a small portion of rice to observe how he/she reacts. If everything stays fine, you can make rice a part of your pet’s regular diet.

Is Cooked Rice Good for Dogs?

Dogs should ALWAYS be given boiled/cooked rice because raw rice can be incredibly dangerous for your canine companion. Uncooked rice absorbs the moisture in your dog’s stomach and cause several digestive issues like constipation and indigestion.

The effect of eating uncooked rice varies from one scenario to another. This is because the severity of the consequences is dependent on the size of your dog and the quantity of rice consumed. Irrespective of these details, you should immediately contact your vet once your dog has eaten raw rice. Your natural instinct might urge you to induce vomiting but you should NEVER do that before contacting your vet.

On the other hand, cooked rice are perfectly safe for your dog given that it is not allergic. All you need to do is to add some useful ingredients (chicken, vegetables, etc.) to make it a complete meal.

What Rice Can Dogs Eat?

Dogs can eat different varieties of rice ranging from basmati to wild and from jasmine to red. Sometimes, a certain kind of rice doesn’t suit your dog but you can try other types. For this reason, it is important to figure out the most suitable type of rice for your pet. Irrespective of the type you select, you will need the best grade rice for your dogs.

Basmati Rice

This is probably the most commonly used type of rice. Basmati rice are extremely rich in carbohydrates and should not be given more than 2-3 times a week. They are quite effective against diarrhea and other stomach problems.

Jasmine Rice

This long-grain variety from Thailand has a soft and sticky structure when cooked. It has a classic floral smell and are perfectly safe for your dog’s consumption. Having said that, it is incredibly vital to define a moderate quantity to avoid any side effects (e.g. obesity). Jasmine rice are also quite useful for treating diarrhea.

Just like other varieties of rice, jasmine rice is rich in carbohydrates, fiber, proteins, and amino acids. On the other hand, they offer minimal quantities of cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fats.

Wild Rice

Wild rice is used as a standard filler for gourmet wet dog foods. This clearly proves that this type of rice are safe for dogs. They serve as a good source of fiber, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients and need no spices and flavorings.

This kind of rice is specifically beneficial for the bone structure of your dog. It provides sufficient quantities of phosphorus and calcium that are critical for the maintenance and growth of bones.

Red Rice  

This variety of rice is not only safe but also very beneficial for your dogs. It provides a range of important minerals including magnesium and manganese. Likewise, they are rich in useful amino acids and fatty acids.

It is a common attribute of rice that they are good for treating diarrhea but red rice are also great for countering constipation. They contain an ample amount of fiber that can help your dog to relieve itself from this discomfort.

Is Rice Fattening for Dogs?

Obesity is one of the possible side effects of rice, given a large number of carbohydrates in them. Basically, excessive amounts of carbohydrates are stored in the form of fats inside the dog’s body. This can cause rapid weight gain if you are feeding your dog too much rice.

In order to make sure that your dog stays in shape, you must devise a balanced diet plan. For instance, rice should NOT be fed more than 2-3 times a week. Similarly, you should combine rice with other nutritious ingredients to complete a meal.

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