Can dogs eat rice? White vs. brown rice and how much

Yes, dogs can eat rice, as long as it’s cooked and plain, with no salt or seasoning. It’s a common ingredient in commercial dog foods and the backbone of the bland diet vets often recommend for an upset stomach.

That said, rice isn’t a complete food. Below you’ll learn which type is better, how much your dog can have based on size, when it helps with diarrhea (and when it isn’t enough) and which rice dishes to keep off your dog’s plate.

Is rice good for dogs?

Rice is an easy-to-digest carbohydrate and a solid energy source. A cup of cooked white rice (about 158 g) has roughly 205 calories, almost all of it starch, with little protein (about 4 g), almost no fat and very little fiber.

The upsides:

• Very digestible, which is why it’s used during recovery and for tummy troubles.
• Low in fat, good for dogs that don’t handle fat well.
• Cheap and easy to make.

The limits:

• Low in protein and micronutrients: a dog eating mostly rice would end up with deficiencies.
• High glycemic index in the case of white rice, something to consider for diabetic or overweight dogs.

White rice vs. brown rice for dogs

For healthy dogs, either one works as an occasional extra. When there’s a digestive problem, white rice is the better choice because it’s gentler and more easily absorbed.

How much rice can a dog eat?

If rice is an extra rather than part of a bland diet or a formulated home-cooked diet, follow the rule that extras stay under 10% of daily calories. General amounts of cooked rice (1 tablespoon is about 10 g and 13 calories; ¼ cup is about 40 g and 50 calories):

If your dog will be eating rice regularly, for example in a home-cooked diet, the proportions should be worked out with a vet so the diet is complete. We cover that in our guide to homemade dog food.

Rice for dogs with diarrhea

This is rice’s best-known job. For one to three days, many vets recommend a bland diet of well-cooked white rice and a lean cooked protein such as skinless, boneless chicken, fed in small, frequent meals, followed by a gradual switch back to the usual food. You’ll find ratios and steps in our guide to the bland diet for dogs.

Keep in mind that rice doesn’t cure diarrhea: it simply gives the gut something easy to handle while it recovers.

How to cook rice for your dog

1. Rinse it and cook it in plenty of water (about 6 parts water to 1 part rice), then drain the excess: this removes part of the inorganic arsenic that rice absorbs as it grows.
2. Cook it until soft, a little longer than you’d cook it for yourself.
3. Skip the salt, oil, butter and bouillon, which usually contains salt, onion and garlic.
4. Let it cool before serving.
5. Refrigerate it as soon as it cools and use it within 1–2 days: cooked rice left out for hours can grow Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that causes food poisoning.

Rice dishes your dog shouldn’t eat

• Rice pilaf, jambalaya and Spanish rice: usually made with onion and garlic, which are toxic to dogs (see can dogs eat onions or garlic), plus salt, oil and sometimes spicy seasoning.
• Fried rice: fat, salty soy sauce and scallions.
• Rice pudding: sugar, lactose and often cinnamon or nutmeg.
• Sushi: rice seasoned with sugar and vinegar, often with raw fish or salty sauces.
• Uncooked rice: dogs digest it poorly and it can cause stomach upset.
• Flavored rice cakes, such as salted, cheddar or chocolate-coated ones; plain unsalted rice cakes are fine in small pieces.

Frequently asked questions

Can dogs eat rice every day?

They can if it’s part of a complete and balanced diet, as in many commercial foods or a home-cooked diet formulated by a vet. What isn’t a good idea is adding rice on top of every meal on your own, because it adds calories and crowds out other nutrients. If your dog gets rice often, rotate it with other grains to limit arsenic exposure.

Does rice water help dogs with diarrhea?

Some people use it, but the evidence in dogs is thin. It may encourage your dog to drink a bit more, but it doesn’t replace proper rehydration or treatment if the diarrhea is severe or comes with vomiting. Ask your vet before relying on it, especially for puppies and small dogs, which dehydrate quickly.

Can puppies eat rice?

Yes, cooked and in small amounts, as an occasional extra. Their main diet should be a complete puppy food, because rice provides very little protein and not the calcium and phosphorus they need to grow. If a puppy has diarrhea, let your vet set up the bland diet, since puppies dehydrate much faster than adult dogs.

Is rice good for dogs with allergies?

Rice rarely causes allergies in dogs; most food allergies are triggered by proteins such as beef, dairy, chicken or wheat. That’s why rice shows up in many hypoallergenic diets. But if your dog is on an elimination diet, don’t give anything outside of it, rice included, or you could invalidate the trial.

Can I mix rice and eggs for my dog?

Yes. White rice with hard-boiled or plain scrambled egg is a gentle meal most dogs accept readily, handy for a day with a touchy stomach or as a topper mixed into dinner. It isn’t a complete diet, though, so it shouldn’t replace your dog’s regular food for more than a few days.

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual: dietary management of gastrointestinal disorders in dogs.
• WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association): global nutrition guidelines.
• USDA FoodData Central: nutrient profiles of cooked white and brown rice.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): inorganic arsenic in rice and the effect of cooking methods.