If you’ve stopped by McDonald’s or Wendy’s on the way home to pick up some nugs, then your doggo might be watching you eat expectantly.
You’ve likely got a lot of nuggets in that pack, so you might be thinking about popping one into your pup’s mouth. But should you?
Can dogs eat chicken nuggets? No, you should not let your dog eat chicken nuggets even if they’re homemade and not fast food or frozen.
It’s not that the nuggets are toxic, but that they are loaded with fat and other stuff that’s not good for your doggie. And he will love the taste of them.
So, it’s really a bad idea to give your dog any of your chicken nuggets.
Are Chicken Nuggets Good or Bad For Dogs?
You might be thinking that it’s not so bad since chicken is an awesome source of protein for your pup.
And that part is true – chicken is a good human food that you can feed your pup due to the high protein content of the meat.
But it’s not the lean protein of the chicken that’s the problem here. It’s everything else in the chicken nuggets that make them bad for your dog.
Pretty much all chicken nuggets are fried in some type of oil, which means that they are very high in fat.
In fact, chicken nuggets have such high fat content that they have too much fat for dogs. It’s not exactly toxic for them, but it can cause some health problems for your doggo.
Chicken nuggets are especially bad for dogs with heart problems and overweight puppers – it’s still that high fat content that’s the main problem here.
Additionally, most chicken nuggets are very high in salt and dogs just cannot handle high salt content in their bodies. It results in excessive thirst and urination.
In extreme cases, too much salt leads to kidney failure in dogs.
If you’re eating frozen chicken nuggets, then the processed meat that is in the nuggets may also be harmful to your dog. That’s because it’s not 100% pure chicken.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Nuggets From McDonalds?
No, you should not feed your dog chicken nuggets from McDonalds. Fast food chicken nuggets are filled with preservatives and are super high in fat and salt.
You also don’t know what potentially toxic additives are in the McDonald’s nuggets.
So, it’s a good idea to keep your McDonald’s chicken nuggets away from your dog. And if he eats some, then contact your vet for advice.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Nuggets From Wendy’s?
Even though I prefer Wendy’s to McDonald’s that doesn’t make them good for your doggo.
So, no, you should not feed your dog chicken nuggets from Wendy’s. Fast food chicken nuggets are filled with preservatives and are super high in fat and salt.
You also don’t know what potentially toxic additives are in the Wendy’s nuggets.
So, it’s a good idea to keep your Wendy’s chicken nuggets away from your dog. And if he eats some, then contact your vet for advice.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Nuggets From Burger King?
No, you should not feed your dog chicken nuggets from Burger King. Fast food chicken nuggets are filled with preservatives and are super high in fat and salt.
You also don’t know what potentially toxic additives are in the Burger King nuggets.
So, it’s a good idea to keep your Burger King chicken nuggets away from your dog. And if he eats some, then contact your vet for advice.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Nuggets From Chick-fil-A?
Let’s face it, the chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A are the best fast food option and they actually seem to be real chicken meat.
You might be wondering if nuggets from Chick-fil-A are safe for dogs.
No, you should not feed your dog chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A. Even the chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A are filled with preservatives and are super high in fat and salt.
You also don’t know what potentially toxic additives are in the Chick-fil-A nuggets.
So, it’s a good idea to keep your Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets away from your dog. And if he eats some, then contact your vet for advice.
Can Dogs Eat Frozen Chicken Nuggets or Tyson Nuggets?
Growing up, my mom always bought those frozen chicken nuggets, specifically the Tyson chicken nuggets in the big package.
You might be tempted to feed your dog these since they are home-cooked.
There is a safe way for you to feed your dog frozen chicken nuggets – read the ingredients to make sure that there’s nothing in them that’s toxic to dogs (like onions and garlic).
Remove all the breading and cook them by baking in the oven. Definitely do not deep fry them.
You should still keep a watch on your pupper to make sure he doesn’t get sick from eating these.
Can Dogs Eat Bird’s Eye Chicken Nuggets?
These are also frozen, so you likely already know the answer here.
If you must share these with your dog, then you have to remove all the breading and cook them by baking in the oven. Definitely do not deep fry them.
The good thing about this brand is that they are 100% real chicken.
But there are some ingredients in that breading that are toxic to dogs. Here’s the ingredient list:
Our ingredients… Chicken Breast (51%), Breadcrumbs (Wholemeal WHEAT Flour (8%), WHEAT Flour, Fortified WHEAT Flour (WHEAT, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Spices, Salt, Yeast), Water, Rapeseed Oil, Fortified WHEAT Flour (WHEAT, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Flour (Maize, Rice), Salt, WHEAT Starch, Cornflour, Natural Flavourings, Vegetable Stock (Salt, Dextrose, Onion, Carrot, Shallots, Leek, Tomato, Paprika), Garlic Powder, Onion Powder.
Can Dogs Eat Vegan Chicken Nuggets?
It depends on what the ingredients are. You have to make sure that there’s no ingredients that are toxic to dogs.
And you may have to completely remove the breading for it to be safe.
As a general rule of thumb, most vegan chicken nuggets are not good for dogs because they are made with soy.
And soy is not good for dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Quorn Chicken Nuggets?
Yes, dogs can usually safely eat Quorn chicken nuggets because they aren’t made with soy, like most began chicken nuggets.
Keep in mind that for these to be safe for you doggie, you should remove the batter and bake them instead of frying them.
And since they are high in calories, only give these to your dog in moderation.
Can Chicken Nuggets Make A Dog Sick?
Yes, if your dog eats chicken nuggets then it can make him sick.
The high fat content of the chicken nuggets can lead to gastric distress, vomiting, and lethargy for your doggo.
The high salt content leads to excessive thirst and urination.
In extreme cases, chicken nuggets can cause kidney failure and heart problems in your dog.
What About Fried Chicken? Can Dogs Eat It?
No, just like with chicken nuggets, dogs should not eat fried chicken. It’s doesn’t matter if it is homemade, frozen, or fast food fried chicken.
That’s because fried chicken is not good for dogs due to the high fat content from the oil it’s fried in.
If your dog eats fried chicken, then he may experience diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy.
In extreme cases, your dog may have heart problems from eating fried chicken.
What Happens If My Dog Ate A Chicken Nugget?
Dogs are fast little suckers and they’ll steal some of your food before you even know what’s happening. So, if your doggo stole a chicken nugget before you should stop him, then don’t start worrying yet.
How many did your dog eat? If it was just one, then you likely have no need for concern.
The biggest problem you’ll likely have is that now he has a taste for them and will try to steal them from you again in the future.
If your dog ate a few chicken nuggets, then you should keep an eye on him cause he’ll likely get a bit sick.
You should expect some vomiting and diarrhea. And maybe some lethargy.
If your dog ate a lot of chicken nuggets, then he can get really, really sick. So, you should call your vet or local animal hospital for advice.
Keep in mind that if your dog only ate one nugget, then you can still check in with the vet for helpful advice.
Final Word
While plain chicken is a great lean protein for dogs, never let your dog eat chicken nuggets. It has too much fat and salt in and it can make your dog sick.
And if you think that your dog has eaten a chicken nugget, then we suggest that you immediately contact your dog’s vet for advice.
image: Wikimedia