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Dogs are not known for being picky eaters, and they’ll generally eat anything you give them to eat, if for no other reason than because you gave it to them. Can dogs eat rice every day? Can dogs eat uncooked rice? Read on to find the answers to these questions and others. As always, please consult your veterinarian before adding new foods to your dog’s diet to ensure it’s an appropriate snack for your pet.
Yes, dogs can eat rice. In fact, rice is a common ingredient in many dog foods. It can be a good short-term alternative food for dogs with gastrointestinal issues, but there are also some important things to keep in mind when feeding rice to your dog.
While rice can be a good treat or meal addition for your dog, it’s still important to limit how much rice your dog is given and ensure that it’s not prepared with unhealthy ingredients. Can dogs eat fried rice? Definitely not.
If you’re wondering, “Can dogs eat rice?” you’re likely trying to help your pet through a bout of gastrointestinal issues.
White rice is an ideal grain for such a situation because it is quick to prepare, easy to digest and has a reasonable amount of fiber. Rice helps to bind your dog’s stool in cases of diarrhea but also has enough fiber to ease constipation.
Can dogs eat white rice? White rice is generally the preferred variety when choosing what type of rice to feed your dog. White rice and brown rice come from the same plant, with the primary difference being how they are processed. In white rice, the germ and the husk are removed from the grain, which takes away the most nutrient-rich part of the rice and makes them easier to digest. Since you’re feeding rice to your dog less for nutrition and more to ease digestion, white rice is the ideal variety to feed your dog. This also applies to questions like “Can dogs eat jasmine rice?” and “Can dogs eat basmati rice?”
The most appropriate way to feed rice to your dog is to give it to them completely plain. Can dogs eat cooked rice? You bet. You can cook the rice in a pot or a rice cooker but avoid adding other ingredients—especially additives like salt, garlic, onions or additional oils. These additives are unhealthy for your dog and could exacerbate any gastrointestinal issues your dog is experiencing.
Can dogs eat rice as often as they want? No, dogs shouldn’t overeat rice—even if it appears to be helping reduce their stomach issues. A good way to gauge how much rice is appropriate for your dog would be to follow the 10% rule. The rule dictates that no more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake should be from treats or foods aside from their regular dog food. Consult your veterinarian or use an online tool to help you calculate how much this would be for your dog.
Also, remember that dogs don’t need to eat rice. Is rice okay for dogs? Sure. Do dogs need to eat rice? Absolutely not. Your dog can live a long life without ever eating a single grain of rice. Just because it’s potentially nutritious doesn’t mean you have to feed it to them. The most appropriate diet you can provide your dog is to stick to high-quality dog food your veterinarian recommends.
As long as it’s cooked plainly—preferably steamed or boiled—any type of rice should be fine for your pup to eat as long as they don’t have a food sensitivity. White rice is preferred, but no plain variety of rice should cause your pup serious harm in small amounts. However, if you have a diabetic pet and wonder, “Can dogs eat white rice?” you may want to use caution. White rice can cause canine blood sugar levels to increase if fed too often.
Despite the health benefits that rice can provide, it should still be considered a treat—even when mixed with regular dog food—and as such should not exceed more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake unless instructed by your veterinarian. It’s also not recommended to make rice a regular part of your pet’s diet. The answer to “Can dogs eat rice every day?” should be “No.”
It’s not recommended to provide your dog brown rice if they’re experiencing gastrointestinal problems. Brown rice has an extra shell containing nutrients normally removed from white rice—making white rice less nutritious but easier to digest than brown rice. White rice is usually the variety recommended by veterinarians to help ease stomach upsets.
When fed correctly, plain cooked rice should not cause or worsen stomach problems for your dog. The only situations in which rice could upset your dog’s stomach are if you provide too much, your pup has a food sensitivity to rice, you give brown rice to a canine already experiencing issues or if it’s cooked in oil or seasonings. Additionally, the answer to “Can dogs eat uncooked rice?” is “No,” as it could cause gastrointestinal upsets or bloat.
Yes, if you feed too much rice to dogs of average health, they can become constipated. Normally the fiber content in rice is enough to keep your pup from becoming backed up, but too much rice—mainly brown rice—can cause constipation. However, this greatly depends not only on the size of your pet but can also vary from pet to pet of the same size and breed.
Take a look at other articles in this series, including:
Petco’s ACE team is a passionate group of experienced pet care experts dedicated to supporting the overall health & wellness of pets. The ACE team works to develop animal care operations and standards across the organization and promote proper animal care and education for Pet Care Center partners and pet parents, while also ensuring regulatory compliance.
