Can Dogs Eat Fried Rice?

If you are looking for a one-word answer to this question, it will have to be YES. However, there are some precautions that you must keep in mind. For instance, an overdose of carbohydrates can make your dog bulky.

Similarly, fried rice lack a lot of essential nutrients and feeding them alone can be troublesome. A lot of important body functions can be disturbed by this imbalance which will ultimately lead to severe health implications. The biggest con of feeding your dog too much fried rice is a fatal disease called pancreatitis. Therefore, moderation is critical for the health of your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Fried Rice?

Chicken fried rice are perfectly safe for dogs unless your canine companion has a rice allergy. When you are preparing chicken fried rice for your dog, you need to keep in mind the ingredients that are harmful to dogs. For example, onion and garlic cannot be used in a dog’s food. Likewise, salt and spices cannot be added to this recipe.

The combination of cooked chicken and rice is used quite often in dog meals. Given its convenience and cost-efficiency, a lot of people prefer this for their dog’s diet. Having said that, it is important to complement these ingredients with some other items to make a complete meal.

Rice offer an abundant supply of carbohydrates while chicken takes care of the protein needs. Despite that, they lack a lot of essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals that are critical for a dog’s health. Adding some vegetables to your recipe can take care of these requirements. Below is a healthy recipe for chicken fried rice that will take care of your dog’s nutritional requirements.

Ingredients:

• 1 t olive oil
• 1 scrambled egg
• 1 T olive oil
• 1/4 c diced chicken breast
• 1 T small diced celery
• 1 T small diced carrots
• 1 T peas
• 1 T small diced broccoli
• 1/4 c cooked brown rice

Instructions:

1. Add oil to medium sauté pan. Turn the burner on medium to high heat until pan is hot. Add pre-whisked egg and scramble. Set aside.
2. Add 1 T oil to the pan, the pan should still be hot. Add chicken and cook until slightly pink. If you’re making a larger batch for yourself, set chicken aside so it won’t overcook.
3. Add in veggies and cook until translucent.
4. Add in rice and mix it all together, breaking apart the rice as you do. Add in eggs. Add in chicken (if set aside earlier). Cook for a few minutes longer. Let cool before feeding puppy.

Thank you to Wag the Dog UK for this recipe.

Pancreatitis in Dogs

A pancreas performs a number of important body functions such as the production of insulin and digestive enzymes. The term ‘Pancreatitis’ is used to refer to the inflammation of the organ. This is a condition when the digestive enzymes become active in the pancreas (normally they become active in the digestive tract). In this case, these enzymes start digesting the pancreas itself which leads to pain and swelling.

Causes and Risks

Although experts haven’t figured out the scientific causes of pancreatitis, observations have indicated some risks that lead to it. Below is a list of some of the most common ones.

• A high-fat diet is extremely unsuitable for dogs. You should NEVER feed your dog too much fatty food as it can do critical damage to his/her health. Likewise, giving your dog a high-fat diet on a regular basis can also lead to this fatal disease.  
• Obesity is another massive factor that can cause the inflammation of a dog’s pancreas.
• Different medical conditions like Diabetes Mellitus and Cushing’s disease. Similarly, certain medications have also shown to instigate pancreatitis. For example, consuming medicines with Organophosphates, Potassium Bromide, Zinc, and Azathioprine can be risky.
• Some breeds are more likely to suffer from pancreatitis (Genetic Predisposition).
• Severe abdominal trauma may disturb the regular functioning of the pancreas.

Symptoms

There are no specific symptoms for pancreatitis and definite diagnosis is necessary. There are many other diseases that have similar symptoms. However, the following symptoms are important because they tell you that your dog needs professional help.

• Lack of appetite
• Digestive troubles like vomiting and diarrhea
• Abdominal pain and enlargement
• Fever
• Lethargy

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will need to do a range of tests to figure out the root cause of these symptoms. For instance, he/she will perform different blood tests, urinalysis, fecal examination, and X-rays. In extreme cases, your dog may need to undergo abdominal ultrasounds or exploratory surgery.

An increased quantity of pancreatic enzymes in the blood is generally considered the most helpful indicator. Having said that, it has been observed that some dogs suffering from pancreatitis have normal enzyme levels. In order to counter this problem, researchers have introduced a new test that can diagnose pancreatitis accurately.  

Treatment

The very first thing a veterinarian does after diagnosing pancreatitis is to deal with the underlying cause. For example, if the condition has been caused by dietary imbalance, he/she will put the dog on prescription food.

Mostly, the problem with pancreatitis is that there is no outright treatment of this ailment. You need to rely primarily on precautionary methods that will keep the pet as comfortable as possible. The most common of these techniques are as follows:

• Give some rest to the inflamed pancreas by withholding food and water for 24 hours.
• Use of pain killers to relieve the pain.
• Give IV fluids to the dog.
• In the case of vomiting and/or diarrhea, use antiemetic medicines to prevent dehydration. Giving your dog an ample amount of water will also help in this regard.

When the dog has recovered enough to start eating again, you should strictly feed him a low-fat diet. Divide the usual meal into smaller, frequent ones to put a minimum strain on the inflamed pancreas. Likewise, it is also important to keep a regular track of your pet’s blood lipid levels.

Pancreatitis in Dogs – Best Food

Diet is the most crucial factor for a dog with pancreatitis. The basic goal is to formulate a meal that has a minimum amount (less than 10%) of fat in it. The general rule of thumb is that plant-based foods have lower quantities of fat in them. Despite knowing that, it is highly recommended to discuss the issue with your vet to select the best food for your dog.

While narrowing down your options, consider all the essential nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, etc.) in each of the dog foods. In addition to that, you must look for the foods that have digestion-supporting enzymes in them. In this regard, digestive enzyme supplements are a popular prescription to treat pancreatitis. You can find some of the best dog foods for pancreatitis by clicking here.