Sure, brown rice is a great little grain that works wonders for our human bodies, but can we feed it to our canine companions? In short, the answer is YES, and we’re here to give you the low-down on what’s so special about brown rice, as well as explain why you should definitely add it to your pup’s diet. Pet parents, you’ll want to carefully read through this entire article because we’ve amassed quite a bit of vital information. Even though there’s lots to learn, don’t worry, we’ve compiled all that info into this neatly-written, light-hearted post, complete with adorable pictures of fluffy, four-legged friends. So, come along with us on this exciting epicurean expedition, and find out the (not so) shocking truth about… BROWN RICE!

[Stay Informed – Discounted Dog food with Brown Rice]

The Nutritional Profile of Brown Rice

Look, I know what you’re thinking… “What’s so special about brown rice, anyway?”

Firstly, if you’re convinced that rice is all the same in the end, no matter the color, you’re one of the many people who are under a grave misconception. We’ll get into the differences between white and brown rice in the next section, but right now, let’s check out these key points before we explore the nutritional profile of this darker, less-refined grain.

Key Points About Brown Rice For Dogs:

High in carbohydrates

Great for dogs BUT too much can prove harmful

Improper source of protein and fat

Brown rice is high in carbohydrates. So much so that too many carbs from this grain, on a daily basis, could prove harmful to your dog. Mainly, this is due to how canines consume energy. You see, humans rely on many food sources to fulfil their daily energy requirements, carbs being one of them. However, dogs are different, and they get most of their energy from protein and fat. Having said that, brown rice is indeed healthy for dogs and they should have some in their diet, as long as your pet is getting the required amount of protein and fat.

Now, let’s check out the nutritional profile of brown rice.

As previously mentioned, brown rice is high in carbohydrates, but it’s also chalk full of vitamins and minerals, and an excellent source of fiber. While it does contain a very small amount of protein and fat, you can’t depend on it to fulfill that portion of your dog’s dietary requirements.

In a ½ cup serving, brown rice contains:

1 gram of fat

6 grams of protein

23 grams of carbs

Additionally, it also provides a long list of vitamins and minerals, namely:

Manganese

Magnesium

Phosphorus

Folic acid

Vitamin B-6

Riboflavin

Thiamin

Niacin

Sodium

Potassium

The Big Rice Debate: Brown Vs White

Nowadays, people are opting for healthier foods, forgoing processed meals for fresher fare. Suddenly, it’s “whole grain” this and “unrefined” that, all for the sake of living a healthier lifestyle. Following this frame of mind, these individuals, some of them pet parents, want the same for their families, including their furry beasties.

Stick to brown rice for dogs because it is:

All-natural, less refined

Healthier, less processed

High in minerals and vitamins

Again, there’s much debate over whether brown rice is better than white. Really, the answer is quite logical, and it all comes down to their manufacturing process. As with many other types of grains, rice is processed after harvesting, to remove its husk. Once the outermost shell is removed, you end up with brown rice.

At this point, companies would further mill the brown rice to create white rice. Yes, white rice is indeed brown rice, the difference being the further refinement process, which causes the removal of bran and much of the germ. Thus, drastically reducing its fiber and nutrient content. Simply put, they’ve taken out all the “good, healthy stuff,” which makes it harder to absorb and digest. Suddenly, that grain is missing a lot of vitamins and nutrients, all for the sake of appearance. But that’s not all, folks. Lastly, though it may sound counterintuitive, synthetic vitamins are added to the white rice to replace what was lost in the refinement process.

In the end, for the sake of your dog’s health, it’s highly recommended to stick to brown rice due to the fact that it is all-natural and much, much less refined.

Doggie Doodoo: That Good ‘Ol Rice Trick for Doggie Diarrhea

As a side note, we’d like to mention that vets regularly suggest giving boiled rice to dogs when they’re experiencing a bout of diarrhea. Although boiled rice, rice balls, and rice water work wonderfully at soothing an upset digestive tract, it’s important to use only white rice in this case. Brown is very high in fiber, and feeding it to a dog in digestive distress is just not going to work out well.

If your dog has diarrhea:

Avoid brown rice, opt for white

Brown rice is high in fiber , which will further stimulate the digestive tract

rice is , which will further stimulate the digestive tract White rice is low in fiber, which will help alleviate diarrhea

rice is which will help Feed them boiled WHITE rice, rice balls, rice water

There’s visual chart on brown rice for dog diarrhea at the bottom of the page

How to Make Brown Rice for my Dog

Trust me, it’s incredibly easy to cook brown rice for dogs. The simplest method is to use an automatic rice steamer, though not everyone owns this specialized kitchen appliance. For properly boiled brown rice, you’ll only need water, rice and a pot. In less than 40 minutes, you’ll have fluffy, healthy rice for your furry friend. Follow the package directions, or try this super-simple recipe.

Boiled Brown Rice:

Add 4 cups of water to a medium-sized pot, and set the stovetop to High.

Once the water boils, add 1 cup of brown rice and stir to make sure the grains don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.

Once the water returns to a boil, set the temperature to low and cover the pot.

Boil for 20-30 minutes, or until preferred texture.

Drain, then let cool.

Once it’s cooled down, add the brown rice to some dog food, or stir it into your pal’s favorite, dog-appropriate, vet-approved, home-cooked meal.

Looking for an easy, home-cooked dish that’s both yummy and good for upset doggie tummies? For quick stomach relief (and one seriously happy dog), try adding boiled rice to plain, boiled chicken. Around the world, this combination is a popular dish, widely known to be easy for sensitive stomachs to digest. As such, it’s a great pairing for dogs, too!

How Much Brown Rice Should I Feed My Dog?

As discussed at the very start of this post, you shouldn’t substitute your dog’s regular meals for brown rice. Instead, aim for a healthy balance of all foods that are good for them, regardless of your dog’s age. Carbohydrates typically make up anywhere from 30-70 percent of a dry dog food, so you don’t want to add “too much of a good thing.”

Yet, since there’s so many advantages to adding it to your dog’s diet, consider giving brown rice 2-3 times a week. Good, quality ingredients will usually include the word “whole” in the name of the item, letting you know that product provides vital nutrients and fiber to keep your dog energized and satisfied all day, every day.

When it comes to doggie nutrition, pups require substantial levels of protein. Before canines were domesticated, their diet consisted of meat, meat, and more meat. So, it’s easy to see where they’re supposed to be getting the majority of their diet. Sure, your Bichon Frise or standard Poodle may be a total “couch pup,” but genetically speaking, they’re still linked to wild, ferocious beasties!

In the end, feeding your dog large quantities of brown rice will mess up their ideal carb levels. And what happens when your furry best eats too many carbs? If you guessed a “puppy paunch,” you guessed correctly. You see, as with humans, too many carbs normally result in excessive weight gain. Instead of the positive effects of brown rice, you’d be left on the tail-end of the negative effects of high carb intake.

As a rule of thumb with any type of food, be it human or canine, stick to labels that include “whole grain” ingredients. Typically, it’s indicative of good, wholesome, high-quality food. It’s exactly these kinds of ingredients that you want in your furry friend’s diet as these products are rich in nutrients and minerals, creating the perfect blend to keep your dog satisfied, healthy, energized, and happy.

Why Should Dogs Eat Brown Rice?

Now that we’ve covered several topics, let’s take a quick look at some of the advantages of feeding brown rice to dogs.

Consider feeding your pup this awesome grain because it’s…

A cholesterol level reducer.

Low in fat.

Low in sodium.

A proven way to soothe sensitive stomachs.

A good way to improve growth of useful bacteria in the intestines, thus improving bowel movements.

A great source of fiber, which improves digestion.

Known to help skin allergies and various skin conditions.

A great source of carbs, which boosts energy, and improves cognitive function.

High in vitamins, like vitamin D.

High in minerals, like iron, calcium, niacin, thiamine, and riboflavin.

The DON’TS Of Feeding Dogs Brown Rice:

Don’t give more than 2-3 servings per week.

Don’t substitute their regular food for brown rice.

Don’t add too many additional carbs, like rice, to meals.

Don’t pick a cheap, low-grade product, opt for organic to avoid pesticides.

Don’t use brown rice as a replacement for protein and fat.

Don’t feed it to a pet with diarrhea.

Now that you’ve read through our informative guide, will you be feeding Fido some brown rice today?

That being said…

Here’s the most awesome one-stop figure for you to understand everything I just talked about

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