How to Add Rice to Dog's Diet
Rice can provide some substance---not to mention carbohydrates---to a dog's meal. This can be done one of two ways, either by adding rice to pre-made dog food or by making your own meals from scratch and adding rice. Whichever path you choose, make sure that you're giving your pet a balanced meal. Proteins should be emphasized, while carbohydrates like rice, in moderation, can be part of a healthy, well-balanced diet.
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Things You'll Need
- Pre-made dog food (optional)
- Brown or white rice
- Meat
- Trimmings for homemade dog food, such as carrots or potatoes
Instructions
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Purchase a dog food that contains rice. This is the easiest way to add rice to a dog's diet. Flint River Ranch, Iams, Blue Buffalo, Diamond Naturals, Purina One, Pedigree and Natural Balance all produce dog foods that contain rice. It is normally mixed into a lamb formula.
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Purchase large quantities of uncooked white or brown rice if you want to add it to your dog's food yourself. You'll need a large bag from a place like Costco or Sam's Club if you plan to add rice to meals more than a few times a week.
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Make a large batch of rice every few days or so, depending on how large your dog is. Place a scoop of this rice into his meat-based dog food at every meal.
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Make your own dog food, which you can add rice to. Chop up a cup's worth of meat. This can be anything from chicken to lamb to beef, whichever meat you happen to have on hand. Cook the rice according to the directions and set aside. Cook the meat thoroughly in a large pan.
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Add trimmings, such as potatoes, eggs or carrots, as you please. Just remember to chop pieces of vegetables and meats into digestible portions to prevent the dog from choking.
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Combine all ingredients and let the dish cool before serving.
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Tips & Warnings
Instead of cooking meals on the stove, try using a crockpot, as you can set it the night before and ration out servings throughout the week. Rice may become a little mushy if left for too long in the crockpot, but it should not matter to the dog.
Check the ingredients label on pre-made dog food if you're planning to add rice. If the food already contains a large amount of rice, approximately 25 percent or more, you should consider adding more meat and meat juice, not rice.
When making your own dog food, whether rice-based or not, you want to be sure that you watch your dog closely for allergies and upset stomach. Never give your dogs toxic foods like grapes or chocolate, and be sure to refrain from adding other seemingly enjoyable foods to their meals if they have adverse reactions to them.
