Rice is a very popular food globally. It is a high carbohydrate source and has no form of fat content. While rice is safe and healthy for humans, dog owners might wonder if it is equally healthy for their dogs. Well, let us find out!
Yes, dogs can eat rice; rice is one of the most common ingredients in dog food. Rice does not contain salt, fat, or cholesterol, so you can safely feed it to your dog in small amounts. The way you prepare the rice, the type, the amount, and the frequency you feed your dog is imperative.
When rice is served to a dog in moderation, it provides tons of health benefits; it is a great source of digestible carbohydrates and carbs that provide dogs with energy.
Can Dogs Eat Rice?
Rice is one of the healthiest meals you can serve to your dogs; in fact, many veterinarians recommend rice as an alternate meal for dogs suffering from different gastrointestinal issues. Rice is high in starch and easy for dogs to digest (one of the easily digestible foods).
Nevertheless, it is best to consult a veterinarian before feeding your dog rice. It is best to serve your dog rice cooked in water; you should not add anything else, including spices, stock, salt, butter, and oil. Moreover, you should ensure the rice is properly cooked before serving it to your dog.
White Or Brown Rice For Dogs
If you are contemplating whether to go for white or brown rice for your dogs, you first need to understand that both forms of rice are safe for a dog’s consumption. However, the ultimate choice depends on the health condition of your dog.
You must be more selective between white or brown rice if your dog suffers from specific health issues like diabetes or gastrointestinal diseases. You could also speak to a vet for professional advice on which rice is best and the appropriate quantity for your dogs. Below, we will be considering the health implications on dogs.
White Rice
White rice is the most convenient choice for dog owners due to the fact that it is easy to prepare, readily available, and cheap. White rice contains a high amount of carbohydrates and a low fiber content. White rice is healthy for dogs having any form of stomach upset like diarrhea because it is easily digestible due to its low fiber content.
As much as rice is good for dogs’ digestive systems, dog owners need to understand that it contains many calories and is equally high on the glycemic index; hence, it is unsafe for dogs suffering from diabetes. White rice does not contain phytic acid, making it easy to digest.
If a dog with diabetes feeds on white rice, its sugar level could increase. In addition, white rice could also make a dog gain unnecessary weight due to high carbs. So, if your dog suffers from diabetes, ensure it is not fed white rice. Also, if you are preventing your dog from adding weight, ensure it only feeds on white rice occasionally.
Brown Rice
Brown rice contains many nutrients, vitamins, and calcium and has more fiber than white rice because it still has its seed coat. Its high fiber content makes it effective in helping dogs suffering from constipation. In addition, brown rice has a lower glycemic index. So, it could be fed to dogs suffering from diabetes.
However, brown rice does not digest easily like white rice due to the presence of phytic acids. So, if your dog suffers from gastrointestinal issues, avoid feeding it brown rice. Dogs with gastrointestinal problems should only be fed white rice. Brown rice is a great source of neurotransmitter nutrients that prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.
Is Jasmine Rice Good For Dogs?
One question many dog owners ask veterinarians is if they can feed jasmine rice to their dogs. Yes, jasmine rice is good for dogs. However, just like other forms of rice, jasmine rice should only be given to dogs on a moderate level. Jasmine rice is a variety of rice with a low starch level that is commonly grown in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
This rice contains many nutrients like Manganese, Selenium, Magnesium, Vitamin-B1, Phosphorus, and Vitamin B6 that are very beneficial to a dog’s health. For instance, it has Vitamin B1, which boosts a dog’s immune system, while Vitamin B6 helps generate glucose, which is effective in making a dog’s blood cells function well.
Jasmine rice also has magnesium which helps in metabolism. In addition, this rice is also good for dogs suffering from stomach upset. So, generally, jasmine rice is great for dogs. However, before feeding your dog any human food, you are best advised to consult a veterinarian.
The reason for doing this is to seek more advice on the appropriate quantity and how often you could feed it to your dog. Although jasmine rice has many nutrients, the nutrients are already present in a dog’s dedicated food. Also, when preparing jasmine rice, ensure you rinse it well, as this helps remove excess starch.
When boiling, ensure you do not add any form of ingredients or seasoning. In addition, if you are feeding your dog jasmine rice for the first time, ensure you watch how the dog reacts to it. If you notice any reactions like allergies or diarrhea, stop feeding your dog the rice, then talk to a vet about your dog’s reaction or symptoms.
Is Cooked Rice Good For Dogs?
Of course, cooked rice is good for dogs. Cooked rice has many health benefits for dogs and also contains carbohydrates. However, the rice should only be fed to dogs moderately. Most of the nutrients from rice are already present in dog food. So, feeding dog rice should be a way to give your dog some extra nutritional benefits.
When a dog feeds too much on rice, it could begin to add more weight and also experience an increase in sugar level. Before cooking rice for your dogs, ensure you rinse the rice properly. This would help ensure that excess starch is removed from the rice. You should cook the rice for about 15 minutes or the specified time on the packet.
Also, ensure that the rice is cooked raw without adding ingredients or seasonings like salt, oil, butter, and spices. If you add any form of seasoning, it could make the dog experience a stomach upset. Once the rice is properly cooked, drain all excess water and ensure it is cool before feeding it to your dog.
We earlier explained some forms of rice and their effects on dogs. So, if your dog is suffering from any health issue, you already know the best type of rice to give to your dog. Also, always ensure you speak to a vet whenever you notice your dog develops some reactions or symptoms after eating rice.
Can Dogs Eat Rice Noodles?
Before we answer if dogs can eat rice noodles, you need to know that there are fried rice noodles, brown rice noodles, and raw rice noodles. All forms of rice noodles are safe for dogs to eat; however, you should only give your dog small quantities. However, veterinarians advise you to feed your dogs beef, chicken, or fish instead of rice noodles.
Final Thoughts
Rice is the most popular food in the world, and as dog owners, we love to share our meals with our dogs once in a while. However, it would be best if you only give your dog plain rice without any added seasoning or ingredients. Also, it would help if you did not feed your dog rice in large quantities.
Shawn Manaher is a serial entrepreneur but when he isn’t working, he loves dogs. He’s owned different pets over the years, and always gives a part of his heart to each pet.
