Food safety
Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken? Cooked Is the Safer Choice
No, raw chicken is not recommended for dogs. Dogs can digest raw meat, and many eat it without obvious harm, but raw poultry often carries Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli. Those bacteria can make a dog sick and, just as important, can spread to the people who handle the meat, the bowl and the dog. The AKC and the ASPCA both advise against raw meat. Plain cooked chicken gives the same protein without that risk.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Why raw chicken is a risk
Raw poultry is one of the most common carriers of foodborne bacteria. The ASPCA notes that raw meat can contain Salmonella and E. coli that are harmful to pets and people, and the AKC advises against feeding raw chicken for the same reason. Freezing slows bacteria down but does not reliably kill them.
A healthy adult dog may carry these bacteria without looking ill, but it can still shed them in saliva and stool. That puts young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system in the household at risk, which is a big part of why many vets prefer cooked food.
The warning: raw diets, bones and kitchen hygiene
Raw chicken pieces often come with bones. Raw bones are softer than cooked ones, but the ASPCA warns that bones of any kind can injure or block the digestive tract, and cooked poultry bones are worse because they splinter. Never give a dog cooked chicken bones from a rotisserie bird or wings.
If you handle raw chicken near your dog, wash hands, counters and bowls with hot, soapy water, keep raw meat sealed in the fridge, and pick up stool promptly. A homemade raw diet also risks being unbalanced; if you are considering one, plan it with your vet rather than from online recipes.
If your dog ate raw chicken
A dog that snatched a piece of raw chicken breast will usually be fine. Remove any leftover meat, check whether bones were involved, and watch your dog for the next three days. Wash anything the raw chicken touched, and keep children away from your dog's mouth and stool for a while.
Call your vet the same day if your dog vomits repeatedly, has diarrhea with blood or mucus, runs a fever, seems lethargic or stops eating. Call straight away if your dog swallowed bones and is gagging, retching, straining or has a painful belly. Do not try to make your dog vomit at home.
How to serve chicken safely, and how much
Cook boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh all the way through, by boiling, baking or poaching with no oil, salt, garlic or onion. The AKC suggests plain cooked chicken as a treat or a mix-in. Shred it or dice it to pea size for a dog around 10 lb.
As a treat, keep it under about 10 percent of daily calories. For a dog under 20 lb, a tablespoon of shredded chicken is plenty. For a dog of 20 to 50 lb, two to three tablespoons, and over 50 lb, up to about a quarter cup. Chicken as a main meal is a feeding plan for your vet to shape.
Spreading a few safe pieces across a snuffle mat or packing them into a puzzle toy turns a small treat into a few minutes of sniffing work.
Puppies, seniors and dogs at higher risk
Puppies have developing immune systems and are more likely to get seriously ill from bacterial infections, so raw chicken is a particular risk for them. Senior dogs, dogs with diabetes, cancer, liver disease or a weakened immune system, and dogs on medication that suppresses the immune system should not be fed raw meat.
Some dogs are allergic to chicken itself, raw or cooked, and the AKC notes it is among the more common food allergens in dogs. If your dog gets itchy skin, ear infections or loose stools after eating chicken, talk to your vet about whether to cut it out.
Signs it disagreed with them, and better options
Signs of a bacterial upset usually appear within 12 to 72 hours and include vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes with blood, fever, low energy and a poor appetite. Mild cases can pass in a day or two, but any dog that cannot keep water down, or seems weak, needs to see a vet today.
Plain cooked chicken, a complete commercial dog food, or a balanced commercial diet your vet recommends will give your dog the protein it needs without the bacteria risk. If you like the idea of fresh food, cooked fresh-food diets formulated to be complete are an option to discuss with your vet.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can dogs eat raw chicken bones?
Raw bones are softer than cooked ones, but any bone can break teeth, cause choking or block the gut. Cooked chicken bones are the most dangerous because they splinter. Many vets advise against bones of any kind.
Is cooked chicken good for dogs?
Plain cooked chicken with no skin, bones or seasoning is a lean, easily digested protein that most dogs enjoy. It works well as a treat or a mix-in, but on its own it is not a complete diet.
Can dogs eat raw chicken wings?
It is best not to. Raw wings carry the same bacteria as other raw chicken and contain bones that can cause choking or blockages, especially in dogs that gulp. Plain cooked, boneless chicken is safer.
Can dogs get Salmonella from raw chicken?
Yes. Dogs can get sick from Salmonella, and even dogs that seem healthy can carry it and pass it to people through saliva and stool. Good hygiene and avoiding raw meat both reduce the risk.
Can I feed my dog a raw diet?
Raw diets carry bacteria risks for dogs and people and can be nutritionally unbalanced. If you are interested in one, talk to your vet first about the risks and whether a complete, commercially prepared option suits your household.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
