Chicken in a dog and cat diet. Why it is not worth crossing it off the menu?

You're choosing a treat for your pet, you read the ingredients, and suddenly… chicken. A lightbulb immediately goes off in your head: “But chicken causes allergies!”. Sound familiar?

A lot of concerns have grown around this popular meat. Meanwhile, if your dog or cat tolerates chicken well and a veterinarian has not recommended excluding it, there is no reason to remove it from the menu just in case. It is a valuable source of protein that can be part of a well-balanced diet and a tasty reward.

Let's see what science actually says about it.

What good things are hidden in chicken?

Chicken meat provides primarily wholesome protein and amino acids, which a dog's or cat's body needs for, among other things, building and repairing tissues and producing enzymes [1].

Nutritional studies also show that chicken-derived ingredients can be a highly digestible source of protein. In a study conducted on adult dogs, the digestibility of amino acids in a chicken-based diet exceeded 80% [2]. Similar results were obtained earlier in cats when comparing chicken meal with other protein sources [3].

Of course, a piece of meat alone is not a complete meal. Cats in particular have very specific needs regarding, for instance, taurine and arginine. Therefore, it is the entire recipe of the food that counts, not a single ingredient.

And what about a chicken allergy?

Chicken can cause allergies. Exactly the same as beef, fish, dairy, or other protein sources.

And here comes an important “but”.

In one of the larger reviews of studies, a reaction to chicken was described in 45 out of 297 dogs and 4 out of 78 cats with diagnosed adverse food reactions [4]. However, these numbers do not mean that 15% of all dogs are allergic to chicken. The study involved animals that were already suspected of or diagnosed with food-related problems.

In short: the fact that an ingredient can cause an allergy in some animals does not mean that a healthy dog or cat should avoid it as a precaution.

If your pet has been eating chicken for a long time, feels well, and has no symptoms suggesting an intolerance, there is no need to swap it for a more “exotic” meat just because that sounds like a safer solution.

When is it worth taking a closer look at the bowl?

Recurring itching, intense licking, ear problems, or digestive system disorders are worth consulting with a veterinarian. Such symptoms can have many causes, and scratching alone does not allow you to point to a specific food ingredient.

In case of a suspected food allergy, the AAHA recommends carrying out an elimination diet, followed by a controlled trial of reintroducing the suspected ingredient [5]. Therefore, it is not worth crossing out further products from the menu on your own.

Chicken as a reward? Why not!

If your pet tolerates it well, chicken will also work perfectly as a treat. Just remember that treats are a supplement to the diet — according to WSAVA guidelines, they should provide less than 10% of daily energy.

And choosing the form? Here you can leave it up to your pet. 😉

For canine, but also feline fans of meat snacks, we have Mersjo Soft Chicken Strips, containing 92.2% chicken. They can be easily broken into smaller pieces and used during training.

The cat team can also choose the creamy Lick & Purr Soft Chicken Dream or the crunchy Crunch & Purr Soft Chicken Biscuits with added catnip.

Let's not rule out chicken for no reason

Chicken is neither a “bad” nor an automatically allergenic ingredient. The most important thing is how a specific dog or cat reacts to it.

If your pet feels well and eats poultry bites with appetite, there is no need to deprive them of their favorite taste just because chicken has developed a bad reputation on the internet. 🐾

Sources:
[1] Li P., Wu G. (2023), Amino acid nutrition and metabolism in domestic cats and dogs.
[2] Lee S.-Y. et al. (2025), Nutritional assessment of pork versus chicken as primary protein sources in canine diets.
[3] Funaba M. et al. (2005), Evaluation of meat meal, chicken meal, and corn gluten meal as dietary sources of protein in dry cat food.
[4] Mueller R.S., Olivry T., Prélaud P. (2016), Common food allergen sources in dogs and cats.
[5] AAHA (2023), Management of Allergic Skin Diseases in Dogs and Cats Guidelines.
[6] WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee, guidelines on treat feeding.