You leave the kitchen cabinet open for a minute.
Then, suddenly, Fido’s in there. And he’s chomping on uncooked rice.
Will he be okay?
Don’t panic just yet.
Take a breath.
Then, keep scrolling.
After that, you’ll know what to do.
Keep reading to discover:
- 4 dangers if dogs eat uncooked rice.
- Why dogs can get food poisoning from rice.
- How to keep uncooked rice away from dogs.
- And so many more…
Table of contents
Can dogs eat uncooked rice?
Dogs shouldn’t eat uncooked rice. It’s not poisonous for them. But their stomachs can’t digest it. This can cause discomfort for your dog. And it can lead to mild to serious stomach issues. When that happens, seek a vet’s help immediately.
Dog ate uncooked rice: 4 potential health issues
#1: Diarrhea
If your pooch ate uncooked rice, be prepared.
There are a few things that can happen.
Topping the list is diarrhea.
This is because your pooch’s stomach can’t break the rice down.
That’s despite how small the grains are.
Some pet parents say the poop comes out as an orange-yellowish liquid.
And the rice grains remain intact. So don’t be alarmed.
Your pooch doesn’t have worms.
And this might not sound great.
But it’s better if that happens.
Why?
It means the rice is passing through their system.
And it’s not causing a blockage in their intestines.
The catch?
You’ll have a lot of cleaning to do.
To minimize the mess, I recommend setting up an area for your pooch.
You can let them outside.
Or you can prepare a separate room.
That way, you only have to clean a limited space.
Can dogs get dehydrated after eating uncooked rice?
Uncooked rice won’t directly cause dehydration.
Instead, it would be the diarrhea that’ll cause it.
However, some people think that giving your pooch water will be bad for them.
Their reason is that rice absorbs all liquids and acids in your dog’s tummy.
And when you give them water, the rice will swell.
In turn, this can cause more problems for your pup.
However, there hasn’t been solid proof of this yet.
So this idea can be safely considered a myth.
In fact, experts recommend keeping your pooch hydrated.
So give your pooch plenty of water.
But don’t give it all at once.
That’s because your pooch might drink it right away.
And this can make them vomit.
Instead, give small amounts time after time.
Now, how do you know if your pup is dehydrated?
Look out for these signs:
- Dry nose.
- Dull gums.
- Sunken eyes.
- Low energy level.
- Excessive panting.
- Thick, ropey saliva.
Now, let’s go back a bit to diarrhea.
Did you know?
Rice is a remedy for dog diarrhea.
That is if it’s cooked.
You see, cooked rice is easy to digest and low in fiber.
This makes it a great source of carbs for your pooch.
AKC recommends giving your pup plain rice if they have diarrhea.
They also recommend giving them rice water.
You can create this by boiling rice in a lot of water.
Once it boils, remove the grain.
Then, give your pooch the white soup left.
#2: Repeated vomiting
Aside from diarrhea, you can expect vomiting.
And it’s not just going to be once.
Again, this is better than nothing.
How so?
Vomiting can help your pooch remove the rice grains from their system.
And it stops the grains from passing through the intestines.
If the grains go into the intestines, your pup will be in trouble.
Here’s how you can properly and safely induce vomiting for your pup at home:
If you take your pup to the clinic, vets would induce vomiting through an injection.
This will also help prevent liquids from gathering in your pup’s tummy.
And once your pup vomits the rice grains, they should be good.
However, this remedy has a short time window.
That’s because the rice leaves the stomach after 2 hours.
At that point, you’ll have to wait.
Or your vet can recommend medications.
#3: Gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction
“My pup ate so much uncooked rice. What will happen to them?”
This can form a blockage in their intestines.
That’s because the undigested rice can lump together.
More specifically, they can form an obstruction in the GI tract.
What are the most common symptoms of GI obstruction for dogs?
#1: Abdominal pain
This is normal after your pooch eats raw rice.
Their tummy will be painful to the touch.
And your pooch might refuse to be handled.
They can also lie down in weird positions. And they’ll be avoiding putting pressure on their tummy.
#2: Lethargy
Your pup might suddenly become uninterested.
They’ll ignore activities they love. And they’ll look so sleepy.
They might even sleep more than usual.
#3: Diarrhea
Your pooch’s stomach can get very sensitive.
And they can have diarrhea for up to 2 days.
#4: Continuous vomiting
A single vomiting episode is normal in this instance.
However, it can be serious if your pooch keeps vomiting.
This is especially so if there’s no rice in their vomit.
#5: Lack of appetite
Dogs can’t resist food.
That’s a fact.
However, if your pooch has a blockage, they might not be able to keep the food down.
So they might refuse to eat.
They can also refuse to eat because of pain.
#6: Blood in their stool
Bloody stools aren’t fun for both dog and pup parents.
It’s not normal. And in this case, it’s serious.
It can mean that your pooch has internal wounds in their GI tract.
Moreover, it can be a sign of other serious problems.
Just to be clear, these stools will be like tar. And they’ll have a dark brown or black color.
Their odor will also be different from normal.
#7: Weakness
If your pooch won’t eat, they won’t have energy.
You might see them just laying in the corner.
They might also refuse to get up when called.
In severe cases, some dogs can’t walk.
Meanwhile, others can experience body tremors.
In this case, you need to take your dog to the vet immediately.
If more than 2 hours had passed, your vet can’t make them vomit the rice.
But your pup’s stomach still needs to be emptied.
How?
The best way is through surgical treatment.
According to VCA Hospitals, your pup will go through an endoscopy first.
Then, they’ll undergo open-abdominal surgery.
But don’t fret.
A few days after the surgery, your pooch will be back to normal.
However, don’t let them go running yet.
It’s important they get a full week’s rest first.
But vets say that you can still take them on short walks for exercise.
Also, make sure your pooch doesn’t lick, bite, or scratch their wound.
You can do this by putting a cone on them.
#4: Food poisoning
Rice?
Poisoning?
That doesn’t seem right for some.
But poisoning is a true consequence of eating uncooked rice.
How?
It can have the bacterium Bacillus cereus.
It’s often found in soil. And sometimes, it gets into rice and rice-based products.
According to WebMD, every year, 60,000 US residents get sick due to this bacterium.
And dogs can get sick of it too.
But don’t worry.
This bacterium can only get you sick if your rice isn’t stored or cooked properly.
So you have to be careful with your rice.
Store it in a clean and moisture-free space.
And wash it before you cook it. Only once the water is clear is it good to go.
Read next: 5 Dangers When Feeding 4D Meats To Your Dog
Dog ate uncooked rice: 3 tips
#1: Determine how much rice your dog ate
One spoon?
Half the bag?
It’s important you know how much rice your dog ate.
If they only had one lick, you might be able to treat them at home.
But if they ate a handful, you’ll need to take them to the vet immediately.
Note: The seriousness of eating raw rice can also vary per breed. For instance, a tablespoon of rice can be nothing to a Great Dane. But it can be dangerous for a Chihuahua.
#2: Take your pup for a vet visit
After they ate rice, taking your pooch to the vet immediately would be best.
Your vet can ensure that your pup gets all the rice grains out.
And they can make there are no complications.
Moreover, they can also give you medication to treat your pup’s symptoms.
#3: Keep your rice out of your dog’s reach
The next time you store your rice, consider your pup.
Think of their habits and abilities.
For some canines, it’s not enough to just tie off your bag of rice.
They can still get into it even if it’s in a cabinet at floor level.
So if possible, store your rice in a high place.
When choosing the spot, make sure they can’t jump it as well.
Then, when you’re shopping, don’t just drop your bags on the floor.
Dogs can be quick thieves if they want.
So it’s better to place the bags on the table.
Another way to safeguard your rice is to place them outside your dog’s territory.
This can be in a pantry.
Or it can be in a spare room you can lock.
That way, your dog won’t be able to steal your food.