Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM, says that canned chicken is okay for dogs, but it depends on the size of your dog.

“I have seen some dogs eat canned chicken with no problems,” she says. “But I’ve heard of others who have had problems with pancreatitis.”

Pancreatitis is a painful condition that affects the pancreas and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. It’s not something to mess around with, so if you’re going to feed your dog canned chicken, make sure he or she doesn’t eat too much at once.

Some dogs are more sensitive than others when it comes to canned chicken because they don’t absorb certain nutrients well from their food. If this sounds like your pooch, Coates recommends feeding him or her fresh chicken instead of canned chicken.

If your dog does fine with canned chicken but has problems digesting other poultry products (such as turkey), try feeding him or her only one kind of meat at a time instead of mixing them together in one meal.

If you’re worried about giving your dog any kind of meat product, talk to your vet about whether another type would be better for him or her (and which ones).

Last modified: October 26, 2022