I’ve already talked about the benefits of rice for your dog. And of course, I also included some classic Mitch Hedberg jokes. Because I don’t want this article to feel left out, I’ll include another joke: “When I was a boy, I laid in my twin-sized bed and wondered where my brother was.” So while Hedberg might wonder where his brother is, you might be wondering this: “Can dogs eat brown rice?”
Well, lucky for you and your furry friend, they sure can!
Brown Rice Is Oh So Nice
Either brown, whole grain rice or plain white rice make a perfect snack for your pup. However, consider feeding your dog brown rice because it contains more beneficial nutrients than other types of rice.
The high amounts of insoluble fibers in brown rice not only help your dog’s digestive system, but they also help prevent cancer. Also, PetsWorld explains that rice is the best food to feed a dog with high blood pressure because of its low sodium.
Brown rice also provides nutrients that aid in the prevention of doggy Alzheimer’s, a brain disease that affects older pups.
While your pup has the ability to eat any type of rice, remember that brown rice contains more beneficial nutrients than the other types.
Let’s dig a little deeper into those benefits, shall we?
Why Can Dogs Eat Brown Rice?
Like many other human foods, brown rice makes a great little snack or dog food topper. In fact, there almost always seems to be some rice leftover after making a stir fry or curry. But what to do with all that leftover rice?
Well, your furry friend might have an idea or two. Just bunch some of that rice into some tiny rice balls and, voila! You’ve got yourself some mini rice ball snacks for your next trip to the dog park or stroll around the neighborhood.
Your fur baby can eat brown rice because it’s safe and very rare for your dog to have an allergy.
A lot of carbohydrate heavy foods tend to also contain a lot of salt and fats, as well. Lucky for your pup, brown rice is a great source of carbs without any added sodium, cholesterol, or harmful fats. That is, of course, so long as you don’t add any while you cook it!
Also, rice provides a wide array of beneficial nutrients:
- Niacin: aids in lowering cholesterol levels
- Vitamin D: promotes bone health and growth
- Iron: supports health of red blood cells
- Riboflavin: produces energy by helping break down fats
- Thiamine: enables the body to convert carbs into energy
- Fiber: helps with bowel movements
- Calcium: builds strong bones and aids heart function
- Starch: helps useful bacteria grow in the digestive system
Isn’t it amazing how a little grain of food packs so much nutritional punch?
Avoid Raw Brown Rice
The only time you won’t want to feed your dog any brown rice is when it isn’t fully cooked. The small, hard, uncooked pieces pose a choking hazard for your furry friend and are also difficult to digest.
At The Finish Line
There you go, you’ve made it to the finish line! And now you know the answer to “Can dogs eat brown rice?”
Awesome! Now go give your fur baby a good pet and some proper cuddles. Happy trails!
