Why is it not recommended to feed your dogs rice?

Question

I have always given our dogs a mix of very high quality dry and now I am incorporating partial raw, but I was wondering about rice. When ever the dogs have gotton into something they shouldn't the vet says plain rice and boiled chicken, and all the top dog food companies use a lamb and rice formula. So why when I am doing reseach online does it say NOT to give dogs any rice? Very curious, any help is appreciated.

and btw the dogs LOVE the rice......hmmmmmm

I meant partial raw meat not raw rice...lol my bad. I would never dream of EVER giving my dogs raw rice.

Answer 1

Hi,
If you are already feeding partial raw, you have already done some research. Dogs stomachs are not designed to digest rice. Can a dog harvest rice and cook it themselves? No! Their stomachs are designed to eat meat, bones, organs, skin, all raw! If you are giving the rice to bind your dogs poop, try giving your dog a nice edible meaty bone. Nothing weight bearing. The bone will do the trick. My dogs poop fluctuates between being firm and slightly loose depending on what he eats. Boneless meals can lead to loose poops, boney meals can be crumbly. Find whats right for your dog. If you need support to switch to raw 100%, try the raw feeding group on yahoo groups. The people there have been very helpful for me. You will get all the answers you need to make the switch.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

It's not that rice is bad for dogs, it's great if they have an upset stomach...but it holds absolutely no nutrition for them. Unlike humans, who need a balanced diet, dogs function most efficiently when fed a high protien diet. The rice in dog food is just a filler because the food would be too expensive if they just put meat in it.

Never buy a dog food where any grain (rice, corn, etc) is the first ingredient. You are wasting your money. When your dog eats more protein and less filler, he will need less food to keep his body running and he will poop less (which cuts down on your work too).

Answer 3

The elders have always fed farm dogs with meat and (obviously cooked!) rice in the area where i am from (aged country of Spain).
I feed my lab retriever farm dog with boiled neckbones and some rice. COOKED rice won't harm your dog. What is a killer is fried food. Stay away from that. The bones are good because they clean his teeth and he enjoys the gnawing. Also helped when he was an older pup keeping him busy so he wouldn't chew on furniture, shoes etc

Answer 4

Most any food with a protein that your dog has not ever had before, such as Duck or Venison and without any corn, wheat, soy, by-products or chicken should work well. chicken is often an allergy trigger which may be why you are still having problems. When using rice, use the brown rice which has much more nutrition than plain white.

Answer 5

Some people think raw rice is bad because of the way the rice expandes.that's why you should not feed rice to birds. it will almost literally implode(or explode as the case may be). I'm sure if it's cooked rice it won't harm your dog. if your still confused or worried then as a vet.

Answer 6

make sure if any rice is given it is fully cooked. Rice will swell up in the stomach and actually kill a dog if he eats dry rice and then drinks alot of water. Rice is actually a very good food product for dogs since it is fully digestable unlike corn meal which is a big part of dog food.

Answer 7

I don't know what sources would have said rice is bad for dogs. We feed rice as bland diet and it a prime ingredient in the premium food for two of my three dogs (the third is allergic to rice).

Answer 8

Because if you give them uncooked rice, it will swell in their stomaches (that's why you can't feed it to birds, their stomaches are too small). I have a St. Bernard and she basically inhales her food, so if we were to give her uncooked rice, she'd gorge herself on it, and then it would swell as it picked up the fluids from her stomache or if she got a drink of water, and then she would feel over-full and get sick. So make sure that if you give it to them, make sure it's in moderation, other than that, I've never heard of it being a bad thing!

Answer 9

I dont know where you found that info, but rice is good for dogs. bland, bud good.
many dog foods are chicken and rice or lamb and rice formulas. rice and boiled chicken is a great way to settle an upset canine tummy or help control runny poo. rice is very gentle on a dogs digestive system
My vet tells me to put my pup on a chicken and rice diet to stop his colitis, when he eats something he isnt supposed to. Brown rice is the best for dogs. All holistic feed for dogs contain brown rice. its excellent for them, very very healthy.

Answer 10

Who actually feeds their dog uncooked rice?????????? I wouldn't eat uncooked rice. I feed my dogs cooked rice, but Never uncooked. that just doesn't seem like a good idea.

And I cannot imagine why someone would think that uncooked rice gives dogs ringworm. Ringworm is a fungus that you get on the skin.....you do NOT get it from rice!!!!!