What To Do If My Dog Ate Chicken Skin

Chicken skin is a common treat that many dog owners like to give their pups. It’s tasty, fatty, and dogs seem to love it. However, while small amounts of chicken skin probably won’t hurt your dog, too much can cause some issues. So what should you do if your dog got into the trash and ate a lot of chicken skin?

How Much Is Too Much?

Before worrying about any potential problems, first assess how much chicken skin your dog actually ate. Small nibbles here and there are usually not a cause for concern. Dogs can digest and metabolize fats and proteins well, even in fairly large quantities.

For example, if your dog weighs 50 pounds and ate a 2 oz piece of chicken skin, that equates to about 15-20% of their daily caloric intake from fat. While not ideal, this amount spread over the day shouldn’t cause any issues.

However if your 50 pound dog managed to eat half a pound or more of chicken skin in one sitting that could potentially cause some GI upset. That quantity would equate to over 50% of their RDI for fat – quite a lot to take in all at once!

So consider first how much chicken skin was actually consumed. If it was just a small amount, your dog will probably be just fine. But for large ingestions, read on for what to watch for.

Potential Issues

The main potential problems that can arise from a dog eating too much chicken skin relate to

• Pancreatitis – High amounts of fat can trigger inflammation of the pancreas. Watch for vomiting diarrhea abdominal pain, lethargy.

• Gastroenteritis – Fatty foods may aggravate the GI tract. Watch for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

• Obesity – Chicken skin is very high in fat and calories. Too much can quickly lead to weight gain in dogs.

• Gut blockages or obstructions – If a large amount of skin is eaten, it could potentially cause a blockage in the intestines. Watch for vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain.

What To Do

If your dog ate a concerning amount of chicken skin, here are some steps to take:

• Call your vet – Describe how much was eaten and get their advice. They may want to induce vomiting if it was a large amount and recently ingested.

• Monitor for symptoms – Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain. Call the vet if you notice anything abnormal.

• Feed a bland diet – Boiled chicken breast and rice for a day or two can help settle the stomach.

• Avoid fatty foods – Don’t give any treats high in fat for a few days to allow the GI system to recover.

• Increase exercise – Add extra walks and play time to help burn off any excess calories and prevent weight gain.

With prompt care and a bland diet for a couple days, your dog will likely recover just fine from a chicken skin indiscretion. But do consult your vet, especially if symptoms arise or a large amount was eaten. They can advise you on any testing or treatments needed for conditions like pancreatitis.

Preventing It In The Future

To avoid issues in the future, here are some tips:

• No chicken skin treats – Avoid giving chicken skin as a regular treat or meal addition. While tasty, it provides no nutritional value.

• Secure the trash – Make sure the garbage is in a cabinet or can with a locking lid so your dog can’t get into it.

• Supervise counter access – Don’t let your dog wander the kitchen unattended to counter surf for food.

• Store food securely – Keep meat and chicken stored away in the refrigerator until ready to use. Don’t leave it sitting out after cooking/prepping.

• Use a crate or baby gate – When you can’t actively supervise, place your dog in their crate or use a baby gate to restrict access to kitchen.

• Train a “leave it” command – Teach your dog to leave food alone when told to “leave it.” This command could prevent sneaky snacking.

While most dogs will naturally gobble up anything tasty they find, you can take steps to limit their access to high fat foods like chicken skin. And resist giving it as a treat – while delicious, it provides no real nutrition. With some management and training, you can help prevent chicken skin binges in the future!

When To Worry

In most cases, dogs recover just fine after eating some chicken skin, especially if care is provided promptly. However, contact your vet immediately if you notice any of the following:

• Repeated vomiting or diarrhea
• Signs of abdominal pain – whining, groaning, sensitive to touch
• Hunched posture, unwillingness to move
• Lack of appetite for more than 24 hours
• Dark or bloody stools
• Loss of energy, lethargy
• Yellowing of gums or eyes

These could indicate a more serious condition like pancreatitis or a gastrointestinal blockage. Do not wait to see if the symptoms resolve on their own. Get veterinary care right away if any of the above are noticed after a dog eats chicken skin.

While scary in the moment, try not to panic if your dog gets into some leftover chicken skin. With proper veterinary guidance and a few days of bland foods, your dog will likely recover just fine. Just be sure to prevent future chicken skin binges by securing food, supervising your dog, and skipping the fatty treats. With some training and management, you can help avoid this panic-inducing scenario in the future!