Yellow: with caution
Yes, cooked, unseasoned and boneless. Chicken is used in many dog foods and is a good source of protein. The preparation matters.
Why chicken gets a yellow rating
The meat itself is not the problem. Chicken gets a yellow rating here because it is only safe when properly prepared. According to the ASPCA, raw meat can carry Salmonella and E. coli, which harm animals and people. The American Kennel Club says cooked chicken bones splinter easily and can cause choking or injure the digestive tract. Boiled, grilled or baked chicken without seasoning, on the other hand, can go in the bowl as a reward or part of a meal. For diarrhoea, Cornell University’s veterinary hospital recommends boiled chicken and rice as a bland diet.
What to watch out for
- Remove the bones: Always take the meat off the bones, including leftover roast chicken.
- No seasoning: No onions, garlic, salt or marinade.
- Leave out the skin: Skin and fatty edges contain a lot of fat.
- Not a complete long-term diet: According to Cornell, chicken and rice is a bland diet for a few days, rather than a complete food.
- Allergies are possible: According to the AKC, chicken is one of the more common food allergy triggers.
What if your dog has eaten chicken bones?
Call your vet and explain whether the bones were raw or cooked, roughly how many were eaten and when. Do not give home remedies. If your dog gags, coughs, vomits, has blood in their stools or a hard, painful abdomen, seek veterinary care immediately.
If you suspect poisoning, go straight to your vet or an emergency veterinary service.
Check whether your dog is getting the right amount of food in just a minute with our feeding calculator. Our book takes a closer look at feeding: “Hundeernährung und Futterplan” (book in German). For those first weeks with a puppy, try our free Puppy Starter Pack, and for a picture of your dog to hang on the wall, explore dog portraits from your own photo or choose a single portrait.
Further reading
- Adding rice and potatoes to dog food: how to account for extras
- Calculating your dog’s food portions: how much your dog really needs
- Puppy checklist: essential supplies and the first 3 days
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: American Kennel Club, Can Dogs Eat Chicken? and Human Foods Dogs Can and Can’t Eat (Turkey); ASPCA Animal Poison Control, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets (Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs, and Bones); Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center, Re-evaluating your dog’s diet.
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