What Happens When a Dog Eats Raw Chicken? Consequences and Precautions

Eating raw chicken can be dangerous and even fatal for dogs. While some pet owners believe feeding raw meat is natural and healthy, raw chicken contains harmful bacteria that can lead to food poisoning, infection, and nutritional deficiencies in dogs. Understanding the risks of raw chicken will help you safeguard your dog’s health

How Dogs Get Sick from Raw Chicken

Raw chicken often contains these harmful bacteria:

• Salmonella – Causes vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Can be life-threatening.

• Campylobacter – Leads to diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Can spread to humans.

• Listeria​ – Causes vomiting, diarrhea, and neurological symptoms like tremors and seizures Often fatal

Dogs can get sick from ingesting raw chicken through

• Eating raw chicken meat, skin, bones or eggs

• Chewing on toys contaminated with bacteria

• Eating food that touched raw chicken or its juices

Even if the dog shows no signs of illness, they can still shed bacteria in their stool for weeks and infect humans or other pets.

Risks and Dangers of Feeding Raw Chicken

Feeding raw chicken to dogs carries many health risks:

• Food poisoning – Raw chicken is likely contaminated with Salmonella, Campylobacter or other bacteria that cause foodborne illness in pets.

• Bacterial infection – Pathogens from raw chicken can cause systemic infections if they enter the bloodstream. Requires antibiotics and hospitalization in severe cases.

• Gastrointestinal injury – Bones can splinter and pierce the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Requires emergency surgery.

• Salmonella poisoning – Dogs can get Salmonella infection from ingesting raw chicken. It leads to severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, weakness and bloody stools. Can be fatal if untreated.

• Nutritional deficiency – Raw chicken alone lacks the balanced nutrition dogs need. Feeding it exclusively could lead to health issues over time.

• Choking or intestinal obstruction – Bones, cartilage or other pieces can get stuck in the throat or block the intestines. Requires immediate veterinary care.

• Foodborne illness transmission – Even if dogs don’t get sick, they can shed bacteria through saliva and stool for several weeks and infect human family members.

Signs Your Dog Ate Raw Chicken

Watch for these common symptoms if your dog ate raw chicken:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)

• Loss of appetite

• Fever

• Lethargy and weakness

• Dehydration

• Abdominal pain

• Inability to defecate (if intestinal obstruction)

Symptoms usually start within 6-24 hours after ingestion but can appear days later. Seek veterinary care immediately if your dog ate chicken bones or shows any concerning symptoms.

What to Do If Your Dog Eats Raw Chicken

Follow these steps if you think your dog ate raw chicken:

• Prevent further ingestion – If you catch your dog eating chicken, take it away immediately. Don’t let them continue consuming it.

• Check for bones – Look in your dog’s mouth and feel their throat for any lodged bones or pieces. Remove them if possible.

• Phone your vet – Describe how much and what parts of the chicken they ate. Follow your vet’s advice. They may recommend bringing your dog in immediately or monitoring them at home.

• Monitor symptoms – Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and other symptoms for up to 2 weeks after ingestion, and call your vet if you have any concerns.

• Avoid raw chicken – Take steps to ensure your dog can’t access raw chicken in the future, like keeping meat out of reach.

With prompt care, most dogs recover fully after eating raw chicken. However, salmonellosis and other serious infections do occur and can be fatal without treatment. Preventing access to raw chicken is key to keeping your dog safe.

Can Dogs Safely Eat Raw Chicken?

It’s generally not recommended to feed raw chicken to dogs. The risks of bacteria contamination and nutritional imbalance outweigh any perceived benefits.

If you choose to feed raw chicken, take these precautions:

• Consult your vet first

• Select fresh, high quality chicken

• Freeze it for 3 weeks to kill parasites

• Thaw in the refrigerator

• Remove skin, fat and bones

• Wash hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling

• Never feed raw chicken from grocery stores or questionable sources

There are also commercial raw dog foods designed to be safer and more balanced. But cooked chicken is still the easiest way to avoid risks.

Providing Chicken Safely

Chicken can be a healthy source of protein and nutrients for dogs when prepared properly:

• Cook chicken thoroughly – Cook to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill harmful bacteria. Never give dogs raw or undercooked chicken.

• Remove skin and bones – These present choking hazards and provide little nutritional value. Stick to lean meat.

• Avoid seasoning – Onions, garlic, salt and other seasoning can be toxic for dogs. Only feed plain, unseasoned chicken meat.

• Refrigerate leftovers – Store cooked chicken safely and don’t leave it sitting out where your dog can access it. Discard after 3-4 days.

• Give in moderation – Chicken shouldn’t make up more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calories, as too much can lead to gastrointestinal upset.

When preparing homemade dog food containing chicken, consult your vet to ensure it provides balanced nutrition to meet your dog’s unique needs.

The Takeaway on Dogs and Raw Chicken

Raw chicken is unsafe and unhealthy for dogs to eat. It often harbors harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter that can lead to serious illnesses in pets, even if they don’t show symptoms. Cooking chicken thoroughly eliminates these risks while still providing high quality protein. Avoid feeding any raw or undercooked chicken to ensure the safety of your furry companion. Monitoring your dog carefully and contacting your vet at the first sign of symptoms can help prevent severe illness if accidental ingestion occurs. With proper precautions around food handling and preparation, chicken can be an excellent addition to your dog’s diet.

If your dog ate raw chicken, especially a large amount or if it was discarded and potentially contaminated, it’s best to monitor for signs of illness like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite.