Is Chicken Stock OK for Dogs?

The meaty smell of chicken broth may lead your dog to beg at the table, which can leave you wondering if it's OK to let Rover have some too. In general, chicken stock is safe for dogs to enjoy hot or cold. However, there are ingredients to avoid when preparing stock for your pooch.

  1. Significance

    • Fresh or frozen, chicken stock makes a nice treat for dogs. Add some chicken broth to Rover's dinner to give kibble more flavor. You may freeze the broth in an ice cube tray and offer your dog broth cubes in lieu of pet cookies. Or try freezing a mixture of kibble and chicken broth inside a dog toy, then offer it to Rover on a hot day.

    Acceptable Ingredients

    • Look for low-sodium broth if you're buying chicken stock to feed Rover. If you're making your own stock, you can moderate the salt content and all of the other ingredients so you know exactly what your dog is getting. A homemade stock might include chicken bones, water, carrots, celery, dried herbs and leafy greens like spinach.

    Ingredients to Avoid

    • Keep the salt content down; excess salt may cause excessive thirst and increased urination. Signs your dog's ingested too much salt include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and a higher than normal body temperature. Avoid using onions, which are toxic to dogs, when making your own chicken stock for your pet companion. If you think Rover has ingested a toxic ingredient or consumed too much salt, contact your veterinarian immediately.

    Warning

    • While chicken stock is safe for dogs, chicken bones are not. The bones can cause choking and can splinter when chewed. This may puncture your dog's throat or stomach. For this reason, strain chicken stock before offering it to Rover and dispose of the bones properly.