Can dogs eat chicken?
AKC says plain cooked chicken is fine for dogs. Most sources advise against raw chicken because of Salmonella, and cooked chicken bones splinter easily (AKC, ASPCA).
How to serve it: fully cooked, no skin, bones or seasoning
How much is okay
All treats together: at most 10% of daily calories. Enter your dog’s weight:
Chicken
up to 1.3 oz a day
38 g
10% of 629 kcal a day, for a spayed or neutered dog with normal activity. If your dog gets other treats too, give less.
Questions
What amount of chicken is okay for my dog?
All treats together: at most 10% of daily calories. For a spayed or neutered dog with normal activity weighing 22 lb, that’s up to 1.3 oz (38 g) a day. Work out the amount for your dog above.
Can cats eat chicken?
Yes, but only a little. Cooked chicken without skin, bones or seasoning can be an occasional treat, but it doesn’t replace complete cat food (iCatCare, Cornell). Raw chicken is not recommended because of germs (Cornell, ASPCA).
Sources
- AKC – Can Dogs Eat Chicken?
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control – People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- Nutrition data: USDA FoodData Central (165 kcal per 100 g)
Last checked: October 2026