Food safety
Can Dogs Eat Rice? Yes, Plain and Cooked
Yes, dogs can eat rice, as long as it is plain, fully cooked and served in sensible amounts. White rice is easy to digest and is a common ingredient in dog food and in the bland meals vets suggest after a stomach upset. Brown rice is fine too, with more fiber. What turns rice into a problem is what it is cooked with: butter, salt, soy sauce, onion and garlic.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Why plain rice is safe for dogs
Rice is a simple starch that dogs digest well once it is cooked. Many complete dog foods already include it as a carbohydrate source. The AKC notes white rice is a common choice for dogs with an upset stomach because it is easy to digest, quick to prepare and low in fiber, which helps firm up loose stool.
Rice does not contain anything toxic to dogs, and it is one of the least likely foods to cause an allergic reaction. Its main drawback is calories: it adds energy without much protein, so it is a side dish, not a meal on its own.
White rice or brown rice?
White rice has had the bran and germ removed, so it is lower in fiber and nutrients but gentler on the gut. That is why vets reach for it during a stomach upset. The AKC adds that brown rice is harder to digest, so it is not usually recommended for dogs with digestive trouble.
Brown rice keeps more fiber, minerals and B vitamins, which makes it a reasonable occasional addition for a healthy dog. White rice has a higher glycemic index, so the AKC says a diabetic dog can have a little white rice if needed, but not regularly. Wild rice is fine plain too.
Rice dishes to keep off the dog's plate
Fried rice, rice pilaf, Spanish rice, risotto, rice-a-roni style boxed mixes and takeout rice are cooked with oil, butter, salt, soy sauce and very often onion or garlic. The ASPCA warns that onion and garlic can damage a dog's red blood cells, and salt in excess causes thirst and, in severe cases, vomiting and tremors.
Rice pudding adds sugar and milk, and some boxed or instant rice products are seasoned. Uncooked rice should not be fed either, because it is hard to digest. If your dog ate a seasoned rice dish with onion or garlic, call your vet for advice.
How to cook rice for a dog
Rinse the rice, then boil or steam it in plain water with no salt, butter, oil or broth, since many store broths contain onion. Cook it until soft, then let it cool. Overcooking it slightly makes it even easier to digest for a dog recovering from stomach upset.
Mix a spoonful into your dog's regular food rather than serving it alone. Cooked rice keeps in the fridge for three to four days in a sealed container. Throw out rice left at room temperature for more than a couple of hours.
How much rice by dog weight
Tufts University's Petfoodology team uses the 10% rule for extras: a 10 lb dog needs about 300 calories a day and a 75 lb dog about 1,400. A cup of cooked white rice is around 200 calories, so portions are small. For healthy adult dogs as a topper: under 20 lb, one to two tablespoons; 20–50 lb, a quarter cup; over 50 lb, up to half a cup.
If your vet suggests a short bland diet of rice with a lean protein, follow their amounts and timing, which depend on your dog. Rice should not replace a complete dog food long term, because it lacks the protein, fats, vitamins and minerals a dog needs.
If you like to share small snacks, a lick mat or a treat ball makes a little go further and slows a fast eater down.
Puppies, diabetic dogs and overweight dogs
Puppies can have a little plain cooked rice, but they need the protein and balanced minerals of a complete puppy food to grow, so keep rice to a spoonful mixed in. Do not change a young puppy's diet to rice during an upset without talking to your vet first.
Overweight dogs and diabetic dogs should only have small amounts, and only with their vet's agreement, because rice is calorie-dense starch. Dogs on prescription kidney or allergy diets should not have extras unless the vet says the diet allows them.
When rice is not enough, and when to call a vet
A day of bland food can help a mild upset, but it does not fix the cause. Call your vet if diarrhea lasts more than 24 to 48 hours, if there is blood, if vomiting continues, or if your dog is lethargic, refusing food or water, or seems to be in pain. Puppies, seniors and small dogs dehydrate faster and should be seen sooner.
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 rice every day?
A small spoonful of plain rice mixed into a complete diet is fine for most healthy dogs. It should not crowd out their regular food or push treats past about 10% of daily calories.
Is rice good for dogs with diarrhea?
Plain white rice is often part of a short bland diet vets suggest for mild diarrhea. If diarrhea lasts more than a day or two or comes with other signs, call your vet rather than continuing at home.
Can dogs eat fried rice?
No. Fried rice is made with oil, salt and soy sauce and often includes onion, garlic or scallions, which can damage a dog's red blood cells. Share plain cooked rice instead.
Can dogs eat uncooked rice?
It is best not to. Raw rice is hard to digest and can cause stomach upset. A few grains dropped on the floor are not a worry, but a dog that ate a bag should be watched for vomiting.
Can dogs eat jasmine or basmati rice?
Yes. Plain cooked jasmine and basmati rice are treated the same as any white rice. Cook them in water with no salt, butter or seasoning and keep portions small.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
