Author: Paulius Narkevičius
Maintaining a balanced diet is crucial for topping up your dog with the right nutrition and maintaining a healthy life. However, choosing the type of diet is a complex process that might need assistance from a professional.
With that said, you can do your own research and try to balance the diet that will provide them with all the important minerals and vitamins like selenium, zinc, iron, and vitamins A, B, D, E.
In today’s article, we will talk more about organ meat, is it safe for dogs, what the benefits behind it are, and how to prepare it for your dog.
What is Organ Meat?
Just as the name suggests, organ meat is the entrails and internal organs of larger farm animals like sheep, cattle, or cows. Additionally, gizzards, hearts, and livers from chicken, duck, or turkey also fall under the same category of organ food for dogs.
Is Organ Meat Safe for Dogs?
Organ meat is not only safe for dogs but also plays an important part in their diet. Organ meat is packed with many helpful minerals and vitamins that will help them maintain a shiny coat, strong muscles, and healthier life in general.
While the health benefits of organic food are undeniable, it is very important to know which organ meat is safe for dogs.
Most entrails and internal organs from larger farm animals are safe for dogs to consume. They are packed with vitamin A, B (B1, B2, B6, B12) and minerals like copper, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and much more.
Best Organ Meat for Dogs
Just as we mentioned at the beginning, knowing all the facts about organ food will help you optimize your dog’s diet.
Liver – So, is beef liver good for dogs? Yes, liver is a super healthy food for dogs since it is rich in vitamin A, potassium, glycogen, copper, B vitamins, as well as, vitamin K, D, and E. On top of that, the liver is the favorite food for dogs when it comes to taste.
Heart – Hearts contains are also a great food for dogs since they are an excellent source of super-nutrient CoQ10, essential amino acid, and taurine.
Kidneys – Kidneys are also on the top of the food chain in organic foods for dogs since they are nutritionally dense. They are rich in vitamin A and B, as well as spleen, iron, and zinc.
Of course, there are plenty of other organ foods like lungs, stomach, pancreas that are safe for your dog, but they are a lot less nutritionally dense.
In the end, we have the D-listers like intestine, thyroid, brain, and neck which are often lumped together with other by-products like feathers, feet, and hooves just to create other dog snacks that have lower nutrition qualities.
How Much Organ Meat Should Dogs Eat?
Too much organ meat won’t result in healthier benefits for your dog. In fact, it can cause complications which can lead to problems. That’s why it is really important to find the right balance in your dog’s diet.
Even though organ meat provides many health benefits for dogs, it shouldn’t be more than 25% of your dog’s diet.
The amount of organ meat for dogs depends on the type of organs you give your dog. For example, if you get a beef heart, that shouldn’t be more than 5% to 10% of their meal. If you get your hands on mixed organs, then 25% is the mark you should hit on every meal.
Organ meat shouldn’t be a part of your dog’s diet every day. In fact, you should aim for some variation in their diet.
In case you have never fed your dog with organ meat before, it is recommended that you start with small amounts and increase it just to help your dog get used to the new food.
How to Feed Organ Meat to Your Dog
Most people are shocked to find out that organ meats are best when fed raw. Feeding raw meat will ensure that your dog is getting all the right nutrients since they are not burned away with high temperatures.
The easiest way to feed your dog with organ meat is to grind them up in a food grinder or ask your local butcher to do the job for you. That way it is easier to split the meal into daily rations and store it in your freezer. When it is time to eat, you only have to defrost the portions you are planning to give to your dog.
Read Dog Food Labels Carefully
Since organ meat is a superfood for dogs, it is often used as a marketing term that might fool you into thinking you are giving your dog healthier food. Since most dog foods say that they contain organ meat, you should read the label and find out how much organ food it actually contains.
With that said, the best way to feed your dog with organic food is to buy raw meat and avoid processed foods. Then blend it into their everyday diet and they will love it!
