Can Dogs Eat Jasmine Rice?

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Back in the day, I loved making stir-fried rice with fresh veggies.

I used jasmine rice since it’s a light, easy rice to cook.

One time, I scooped the stir-fry into my bowl, went to the fridge for some soy sauce, and came back to find Maggie eating my dinner on the kitchen floor.

I quickly ran through my mental list of foods that are safe for dogs.

The veggies all passed the test, but I wasn’t sure about jasmine rice. What if there was something different that made it bad for dogs?

Since then, I’ve done my research and discovered everything you can read below.

Maggie ended up being just fine, but now I know to keep a closer eye on my rice dishes.

Related: What is Brewer’s Rice? Why is it in Dog Food?

Is Jasmine Rice Safe for Dogs?Organic California white Jasmine aromatic rice dog food safety

Yes, jasmine rice is totally safe for dogs to eat!

Although it might worry you to give your dog something different than traditional white rice, jasmine rice is a type of white rice.

They have very similar nutritional profiles and both are super easy to digest[1].

Why is Jasmine Rice Healthy?

There are a few reasons jasmine rice is healthy for dogs.

The first is that it contains a small amount of protein and contains vitamins like thiamin and niacin (B1 and B3)[2].

It also contains fiber, so it’ll help your dog slowly recover from diarrhea if you serve it with chicken or chicken broth[3].

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How to Handle Jasmine Rice

If you decide to give your dog jasmine rice, here are some common ways people handle it.

Raw

Can dogs eat raw jasmine aromatic rice grains without cooking first

The first time you interact with jasmine rice will be when you get a bag from the store.

This is the raw form of the rice.

It will be hard and inedible, so don’t pour it into your dog’s kibble thinking they can crunch it alongside their food.

Cooked

There are multiple ways to cook jasmine rice, which you’ll discover with a quick internet search.

It’s a standard form of rice, so you can boil, fry, bake and dehydrate it.

If you want to give some to your dog, stick with boiling it.

Benefits of Jasmine Rice

You may wonder if jasmine rice is worth your dog’s time.

I know I’ve heard people say that rice has no nutritional value.

Actually, there are a few health benefits to jasmine rice that your dog will enjoy[4]:

Nutrient profile jasmine rice health benefits fiber b vitamins calories

  • It contains insoluble fiber, which helps flush the digestive tract.
  • It has some amino acids, which may be lacking in your dog’s kibble.
  • It provides B vitamins your dog may not otherwise get in their diet.

Talk with your dog’s vet if you’re not sure whether your dog needs these benefits or if it could interact with any of their health conditions.

Possible Dangers of Jasmine Rice

As with any food, there are a few dangers for dogs who eat jasmine rice regularly.

It’s a High Glycemic Index Food

Dogs can sometimes suffer from diabetes mellitus[5] or “sugar diabetes.”

Jasmine rice health issues for dogs can you feed to overweight diabetic puppies

It’s a disorder that affects their metabolism, so they shouldn’t eat foods that spike their blood sugar or cause weight gain.

The International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition recently released a study that classified jasmine rice as a high glycemic index food[6].

It should be given sparingly, if at all, to dogs with blood sugar issues.

Jasmine rice high in carbohydrates starch fiber upset dog stomachIt’s High in Carbs

When you look at the nutritional content of your dog’s kibble, you’ll notice that it contains carbs.

Dog owners often hear that dogs can’t tolerate carbs, but they can if they come from most plants (such as celery) or grains[7].

Starchy carbs are what cause issues for dogs.

There’s 39 grams of carbs in one cup of cooked jasmine rice[8], which all comes from the starch in the rice. It may upset your dog’s stomach if they eat this kind of carb too often.

It May Cause An Allergic Reaction

Dog food allergies are much less common than you’d think, but sometimes dogs are allergic to rice.

If you feed your dog jasmine rice and they start itching or losing their hair[9], they could have a rice allergy.

How to Serve Jasmine Rice to Your Dog

How to feed jasmine rice to your dog cooked with white chicken meat
Be sure to cook the chicken, too!

If you want to give your dog jasmine rice, boil it in water according to the directions on the packing.

Don’t add any spices or seasonings, including salt.

Wait until the rice is extra soft to serve it and only give it in small portions (⅛ to ¼ of a cup at a time).

When you want to only give your dog soft foods to help their digestion, you can give them up to ⅔ cups of rice in a meal[10], combined with white meat chicken (or maybe salmon!).

Dog Food Recipes with Jasmine Rice

For those looking to give their dog food in more creative ways, try out these recipes and see if your dog enjoys them.

Chicken and Rice with Veggies

Chicken jasmine rice and vegetables recipe for dogs unseasoned without salt pepper
Save the seasonings for non-canine eaters

Treat your dog to fresh food when you combine jasmine rice with chicken and veggies[11].

Be careful that no garlic or onions are included in your chosen vegetable blend.

You can also alter this recipe for sensitive stomachs by leaving out the veggies.

Pumpkin Rice Congee

Whether you’re ready to embrace the season of fall or want to spoil your dog with something new, try making pumpkin rice congee[12].

It’s super soft and easily digestible.

Plus, the pumpkin will soothe the digestive tract and firm up any loose stool.

Tips for giving jasmine rice to dog eggs in boiled rice with chicken and vegetables
It’s less messy than other methods for feeding your dog eggs

Egg and Veggie Rice

When you make yourself fried rice and want your dog to enjoy it with you, make them egg and veggie rice for dinner.

They’ll adore the mix of chicken, eggs, rice, and broccoli, and you’ll love that it keeps in the fridge for up to five days.

Conclusion

Jasmine rice is a great food for dogs to eat and can be mixed into different ingredients to create a balanced diet.

Feed it to your dog for fun or to help them calm an upset stomach.

As long as you watch for any allergic reactions or further diarrhea, they’ll love trying something new.

Resources

  1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/jasmine-rice-vs-white-rice#bottom-line
  2. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/447540/nutrients
  3. https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/common-emergencies/e_dg_diarrhea
  4. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/535965/nutrients
  5. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/diabetes-in-dogs/
  6. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09637486.2013.869797?journalCode=iijf20&
  7. https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_carbohydrates_key_to_balanced_dog_food#
  8. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/480213/nutrients
  9. https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/caring-for-a-dog-that-has-food-allergies#1
  10. https://www.ardmoreah.com/pet-care/diarrhea-protocol-for-dogs/
  11. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/139453/lucky-and-rippys-favorite-dog-food/
  12. https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/8-stomach-soothers/

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