Can Dogs Eat Chicken Nuggets?

As a dog owner, you understand this feeling. You just got a delicious meal from your favorite takeout spot: 6-piece chicken nuggets and a bottle of Coke.

You get up to pick a juice glass from the kitchen cabinet, only to come back and realize all your nuggets are GONE!

Where did they go?

But, after looking at your furry friend, you know exactly what transpired as it is grinning as if eating the chicken nuggets was the best thing it ever did. You may scold them, but you start wondering, can dogs eat chicken nuggets?

Let’s answer this question and many others you might have.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Nuggets?

No! It’s not safe for dogs to eat chicken nuggets. Even though your pup will be ok if they eat some once in a while, eating chicken nuggets frequently is bad.

That is because they contain lots of fat and other ingredients which are harmful to your dog’s body. Even though they are not toxic, the nuggets will cause detrimental effects on the pet’s health, in the long run.

Some people tend to think that some chicken nuggets are better than others. They couldn’t be further from the truth! All nuggets have the same nutritional facts, whether frozen or the KFC’s variety.

Nevertheless, you can give your dog at least two pieces of chicken nuggets if that’s the only food option when traveling or running out of dog food.

Can Chicken Nuggets Make a Dog Sick?

Yes! Feeding your dog chicken nuggets can make it sick. There are many ingredients in most chicken nuggets recipes that dogs should not eat. For instance, a high amount of salt can result in excessive urination and thirst.

Furthermore, the high-fat content in nuggets will cause your pup to experience unpleasant after-effects like gastric distress, vomiting, and lethargy. In severe cases, and if eaten frequently, chicken nuggets might lead to heart problems and kidney failure.

Can Dogs Die If They Eat Chicken Nuggets?

In all possibilities, the dog will not die if it takes nuggets unless the pooch cannot swallow the chicken nugget and chokes.
But the long-term effects of eating nuggets can kill the dog. It may become obese, develop heart issues, digestive problems and many more. These issues can get worse with time, eventually killing the dog.

What Makes Chicken Nuggets Bad for Your Dog?

Just as chicken is safe for humans, it’s also good for pets. Feeding your dog chicken triggers muscle growth, as the meat is rich in proteins. It also helps lessen the risk of heart illnesses.

Note that the lean protein in chicken isn’t a problem for your dog. But, that is not the case with chicken nuggets as they contain a lot of fat and other unpleasant things harmful to your pup.

Even though they do not contain chicken bones (a possible choke hazard) chicken nuggets are heavily processed, fried and salted. These things will lead to diabetes, obesity, dehydration, lethargy and heart issues.

That doesn’t sound like a healthy meal for your pooch, does it?

How Can You Stop a Dog from Eating Nuggets?

While chicken nuggets are bad for your dog, pets love how this delicious meal tastes. This means that when they begin eating one piece, they will most likely end up eating the entire package which is quite detrimental to their health.

Stopping your pup from stealing the chicken nuggets can be hard, especially if they have easy access. An effective way to achieve this is by keeping the nuggets away. Store them high up in a cabinet or under lock and key

Also, early training might assist in conditioning your dog not to eat chicken nuggets or anything else without your permission. With the help of positive reinforcement, you will establish good behaviors for your pet. A highly trained pooch will not take food off the dining table, even when you are not around to warn them.

What about Quorn and Vegan Nuggets?

If you know anything about Quorn or vegan nuggets, you may think that they are a healthier option since they don’t contain meat. That is not true. Dogs are carnivores, so they need to feed on meat products to remain healthy. As we know, Quorn and vegans do not have meat. So, it’s hard to justify using them as dog meals.

Additionally, Quorn and Vegan are fried. Too much fat is not good for your pup, irrespective of what comes out of that brown envelope. Even when the nuggets are fried with healthier oil options such as palm oil or sunflower, the end products will have a high-fat content.

Moreover, while plain chicken nuggets (without salt and too much oil) don’t contain any substance that can harm your dog, the same cannot be said about vegan and Quorn nuggets. Make sure you thoroughly check out their ingredients to be sure that they don’t have any lethal substance and are safe for the occasional treat.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

As mentioned above, dogs love chicken nuggets due to their tantalizing taste. You can reduce their craving with a healthy version of this treat – homemade chicken nuggets. This way, you get to control the ingredients and the amount of oil used to prepare this food.

What You Need

1/2 lb Chicken Breasts
1 cup of water
3 cups rice bran

Procedure

Pour the water in a pot, add the chicken and bring it to a boil.
Once cooked, take the chicken off the pot, and let the broth cool down.
Put the chicken and broth in a blender and blend.
Once you achieve an even consistency, pour the solution in a bowl and add the rice bran. Mix the contents thoroughly.
Roll the dough into sizeable balls and place them on a baking sheet. You can use a spoon to flatten their top.
Bake the balls for around 20 minutes.
Let them cool down then serve.

Final Words

To wrap it up, you shouldn’t let your dog eat chicken nuggets, irrespective of how much they beg. While an occasional treat won’t harm your pooch, consistently giving it nuggets will work against their happiness and health in the long run.

Even if you decide to make the nuggets at home, they will not be the best meal for your dog. Feeding your dog raw chicken and chicken broth specially made for dogs are way better options as frying and battering chicken may remove some of its possible health benefits.