Poached chicken, rice vermicelli, raw carrot, bean sprouts and cucumber. You're already making this for dinner tonight — your dog eats the plain base while you add the fish sauce, lime and fresh herbs to yours. Same pot, same chicken, five minutes apart.
Chicken thigh provides all essential amino acids. Higher iron and zinc than breast, still low-fat.
Raw carrot delivers beta-carotene for eye health and immune support. Dogs digest it well grated.
Rice vermicelli is light, gentle on the gut, and provides clean energy without spiking blood sugar.
Bean sprouts are one of the most nutrient-dense additions for the calorie count. Blanching makes them safe and digestible.
Cucumber and fresh vegetables add natural hydration — great for dogs who don't drink enough water.
Chicken doesn't provide DHA or EPA. The salmon oil stirred in cold completes the fatty acid profile.
More flavourful and nutritious than breast — higher in iron, zinc and B vitamins. Skinless boneless keeps fat moderate. Poaching in plain water keeps it clean with no added sodium.
One of the easiest carbohydrates for dogs to digest. Low fibre, no gluten, easily absorbed. Keep the portion small — it's filler and energy, not the star of the bowl.
Grated raw carrot is easily digestible and delivers beta-carotene, fibre, and potassium. No need to cook it — dogs love the texture and it's perfectly safe raw when grated or finely chopped.
High in protein for a vegetable, rich in vitamin C and K. Blanch briefly before serving — raw sprouts can carry bacteria. Sixty seconds in boiling water, then drain immediately to keep them crisp.
Mostly water, so it adds hydration without calories. Great for warm weather. Keep the skin on for extra fibre. Dice it small so it blends into the bowl rather than getting picked out.
Chicken provides no omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon oil fills this gap with DHA and EPA for coat health, joint support and anti-inflammation. Always stir in after the bowl has fully cooled — heat destroys both DHA and EPA completely.
Amounts below are for a full day's food, split into two meals. Feed 2% of your dog's healthy body weight per day.
| Ingredient | Amount (per day) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | ||
| Chicken thigh, skinless boneless | 100 g | Poached plain, shredded |
| Carbohydrate | ||
| Rice vermicelli, cooked | 40 g | Plain, drained and rinsed |
| Vegetables | ||
| Carrot, grated raw | 25 g | No need to cook |
| Bean sprouts, blanched | 25 g | 60 sec boiling water, drain |
| Cucumber, diced | 10 g | Raw, skin on |
| Supplements — Add Cold After Cooling | ||
| Eggshell calcium powder COLD | ¼ tsp | Stir in once fully cooled |
| Salmon or sardine oil COLD | ½ tsp | Never add to warm food |
| Ingredient | Amount (per day) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | ||
| Chicken thigh, skinless boneless | 200 g | Poached plain, shredded |
| Carbohydrate | ||
| Rice vermicelli, cooked | 80 g | Plain, drained and rinsed |
| Vegetables | ||
| Carrot, grated raw | 50 g | No need to cook |
| Bean sprouts, blanched | 50 g | 60 sec boiling water, drain |
| Cucumber, diced | 20 g | Raw, skin on |
| Supplements — Add Cold After Cooling | ||
| Eggshell calcium powder COLD | ¼ tsp | Stir in once fully cooled |
| Salmon or sardine oil COLD | 1 tsp | Never add to warm food |
| Ingredient | Amount (per day) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | ||
| Chicken thigh, skinless boneless | 300 g | Poached plain, shredded |
| Carbohydrate | ||
| Rice vermicelli, cooked | 120 g | Plain, drained and rinsed |
| Vegetables | ||
| Carrot, grated raw | 75 g | No need to cook |
| Bean sprouts, blanched | 75 g | 60 sec boiling water, drain |
| Cucumber, diced | 30 g | Raw, skin on |
| Supplements — Add Cold After Cooling | ||
| Eggshell calcium powder COLD | ¼ tsp | Stir in once fully cooled |
| Salmon or sardine oil COLD | 1½ tsp | Never add to warm food |
| Ingredient | Amount (per day) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | ||
| Chicken thigh, skinless boneless | 400 g | Poached plain, shredded |
| Carbohydrate | ||
| Rice vermicelli, cooked | 160 g | Plain, drained and rinsed |
| Vegetables | ||
| Carrot, grated raw | 100 g | No need to cook |
| Bean sprouts, blanched | 100 g | 60 sec boiling water, drain |
| Cucumber, diced | 40 g | Raw, skin on |
| Supplements — Add Cold After Cooling | ||
| Eggshell calcium powder COLD | ¼ tsp | Stir in once fully cooled |
| Salmon or sardine oil COLD | 2 tsp | Never add to warm food |
Chicken is a lean, clean protein but it provides virtually no omega-3 fatty acids. Without the salmon or sardine oil, this bowl is missing DHA and EPA — the fats that support coat condition, joint health and inflammation control. One teaspoon stirred in cold after the bowl cools is all it takes. Never cook it in — heat destroys omega-3 completely.
Place chicken thighs in a pot. Cover with cold water — don't use stock, broth or any seasoning. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 15–18 minutes until cooked all the way through. Remove and rest for 5 minutes, then shred with two forks.
💡 Save the plain poaching water — it's an unsalted chicken broth. You can drizzle a little over the dog's bowl for extra flavour and hydration.Soak rice vermicelli in freshly boiled water for 3–4 minutes (check the packet). Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and prevent clumping. Keep plain — no oil, no sauce.
Drop bean sprouts into boiling water for exactly 60 seconds. Drain immediately and run under cold water. This makes them safe and digestible while keeping them slightly crisp. Don't overcook or they go mushy and lose most of their nutrition.
Grate the carrot — no need to cook it. Dice the cucumber into small pieces, skin on. These go in raw and that's fine. Dogs digest grated and finely chopped raw vegetables well.
Build the bowls at the same time. Dog gets: shredded chicken, vermicelli, grated carrot, blanched sprouts, cucumber — in the right portions for their weight (see the size tabs above). You get the same base, plus the additions below. Set your dog's bowl aside to cool completely before adding the supplements.
To your bowl: fish sauce to taste, juice of a lime, fresh mint, coriander and Thai basil, sliced red chilli. Mix a quick dipping sauce with hoisin, peanut butter, and a squeeze of lime. Done.
Once your dog's bowl is fully cool to room temperature: stir in the eggshell calcium powder and salmon oil. Check it's not warm — if it's still warm, wait. Heat destroys both the calcium absorption and the omega-3. This step takes 30 seconds and matters.
🧊 Room temperature means you can comfortably hold the bowl. If it feels warm, wait another 5 minutes.The classic additions to a Vietnamese bowl are mostly off the list for dogs:
This recipe scales up well. Poach a large batch of chicken on Sunday, refrigerate it shredded. Cook a big pot of vermicelli at the start of the week. Grate carrot fresh at each meal — it takes 30 seconds and the texture is better fresh. Add the salmon oil and eggshell calcium fresh at each serving, not to the batch. The pre-prepped components keep for 3 days in the fridge.
If there's a Vietnamese dog breed that deserves more attention, it's the Phu Quoc Ridgeback. One of only three ridgeback breeds in the world (alongside the Rhodesian and Thai Ridgeback), the Phu Quoc comes from the remote island of Phu Quoc in southern Vietnam. They are lean, athletic, deeply loyal dogs with a distinctive ridge of hair running forward along the spine. A spotted tongue, not unlike the Chow Chow, is a breed trait. Most unusually for a dog their size, they have partially webbed feet — they are naturally strong swimmers.
Like most primitive breeds that were never heavily interfered with by human breeding programs, Phu Quoc Ridgebacks are generally hardy and long-lived. They stay lean naturally and do well on clean, varied protein. The Saigon Chicken Bowl is a natural fit — lean chicken, light carbs, plenty of fresh vegetables, and the salmon oil to support their dense short coat and active joints.
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