Chicken is found in lots of different dog foods, but can huskies eat chicken?
Huskies can certainly eat chicken – it’s packed full of protein and other nutrients that are beneficial to huskies. It is recommended to feed them cooked chicken (ideally boiled) rather than raw due to bacteria such as salmonella and to also remove any bones beforehand.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of chicken for huskies, how to prepare it properly and whether raw chicken or chicken organs are beneficial as well.
Contents
A Quick Disclaimer
Before you feed your husky lots of chicken, you should start with a very small amount first.
Chicken allergy is one of the most common allergies that huskies can suffer from, so you need to test them first to make sure there aren’t any reactions.
The symptoms of an allergic reaction to chicken include itchy skin and paws, or vomiting and diarrhea. If you notice any of these symptoms you should take your husky to the vet as soon as possible.
Benefits Of Chicken For Huskies
Everybody knows chicken is healthy, but what are the specific benefits of chicken for huskies?
High In Protein
The most obvious benefit of feeding your husky chicken is its protein content.
Huskies need a lot of protein to fuel their energetic and demanding lifestyles, which is where chicken excels. One cup of chicken has almost 40 grams of protein, which makes it a great option for huskies.
Nutritional Value
Alongside protein, chicken also contains vitamins and minerals like phosphorus, vitamin B6, and selenium.
It’s important to note that chicken is not a nutritionally complete food for huskies, so it needs to be used as a supplement to their diet rather than a substitute for commercial dog food.
Tasty
Most huskies love the taste of chicken, especially compared to normal dog food.
It makes a great healthy treat that you can incorporate during training or simply to reward them throughout the day.
Can Huskies Eat Raw Chicken?
Huskies can eat raw chicken, but it poses more risk than cooked chicken for several reasons:
- Salmonella Infection – Salmonella is found in up to two-thirds of chickens bought in the United States, and while salmonella is uncommon in dogs they can easily become carriers. This means your husky might be fine eating raw chicken, but spread salmonella around the house through their stool and saliva which can potentially spread to other people in the house.
- Other bacteria – Raw chicken also has the potential to contain campylobacter, which can lead to campylobacteriosis infection in dogs. Campylobacteriosis causes diarrhea and straining and among several other symptoms.
- Parasites – Chicken can contain parasites such as the roundworm trichinella spiralis. Consumption of this leads to trichinellosis, which can be transmitted to people.
- Risk Of Bones – Raw chicken has a higher chance to contain bones, which can become lodged and cause obstructions and punctures in the stomach and other areas.
Cooked chicken is a much safer and better option for huskies, and it can be bought cooked from the grocery store to make things easier.
If you are one of the many people that feed their husky a raw diet, try to source the highest quality chicken that you can and make sure to wash it and remove any bones before feeding.
Can Huskies Eat Chicken Bones?
There’s quite a lot of misinformation about chicken bones, especially when comparing cooked and raw chicken bones. People argue that raw chicken bones (i.e those that haven’t been boiled) are safe for huskies because they are much more solid and can be used as chew toys.
The simple fact is you shouldn’t give your husky raw or cooked chicken bones, as they can cause obstructions in the stomach or intestinal tract which can lead to punctures.
Raw chicken bones might be great as chew toys, but if your husky swallows one it can become a much bigger problem.
What About Organs? (Liver, Heart, Etc)
Chicken organs, like kidneys or liver, for example, are also great options for huskies.
These organs tend to be even more nutritious than chicken breast but contain slightly less protein and more fat.
It’s a good idea to cook them like you should do with regular chicken meat due to the bacteria.
Best Way To Prepare Chicken For Huskies
The best way to prepare chicken for huskies is to simply boil it and remove any skin or bones.
Fried or roast chicken is more likely to upset their stomachs due to the addition of oil and flavorings, whereas boiled plain chicken is likely to be easily digestible.
You can boil chicken in bulk and store it in the fridge for a few days to keep a supply of chicken for your husky and add it to their meals.
How Much Chicken Should Your Husky Eat?
The general rule of thumb is to feed your husky 1/4 to 1/3 cup of boiled chicken for every 20 lbs of body weight.
So, for the average husky that weighs anywhere from 35 to 60 lbs, that works out as roughly 1/2 a cup to 1 cup of boiled chicken per day. You can always add more if they are particularly active but don’t substitute commercial dog food entirely with chicken.
FAQs
Can Huskies Eat Frozen Chicken?
Frozen chicken is fine as long as it is cooked frozen chicken.
Raw frozen chicken can still contain a lot of bacteria that can be potentially harmful to your husky, so it should be avoided the same as regular raw chicken from a refrigerator.
The freezing process can kill some bacteria in raw chicken, but it doesn’t make it fully safe to eat.
Can Huskies Eat Chicken Feet?
Chicken feet are a bit of a strange case because they contain lots of small bones that ideally need to be kept raw to be eaten.
This leads us straight back to the issue of raw chicken though. Just like raw chicken meat, raw chicken feet can contain harmful bacteria that can cause issues not only for your husky but for other people in the house as well.
In Summary
Chicken is a great option for huskies, as long as it is cooked and any bones removed. You should always be cautious first just in case your husky has a chicken allergy by giving them a small amount to start off with.
Raw chicken is a popular option but it does increase the risk of complications relating to bacteria and parasites often found in chicken. Even if your husky’s stomach can handle it, there’s a chance it might spread around the house through their saliva or feces.
Want to learn about other husky snacks? Check out some of our other articles below for some quick and easy foods you can give your husky:
