While liver might not be common in your diet, it’s actual a very nutritious choice for your dog. Here’s everything you need to know about feeding your dog liver!
Cooking is all about getting creative and experimenting with new flavors and tastes. This also means that you might start using some of the less usual ingredients to prepare a nice and delicious dinner for your family.
If you live in the USA, then you’re probably not too familiar with liver and organ meat. However, the liver is a delicious delicacy in several European, African, and Middle Eastern cuisines. So, while you’re preparing your next meal, you might have asked yourself this question: Can dogs eat liver?
The answer is yes. Your dog can safely eat liver because it’s rich in nutrients that your pooch needs to grow healthily. The question lies in how to prepare and serve liver to your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Liver?
Liver is rich in copper, iron, zinc, and healthy fatty acids that keep your dog’s vision and nervous system in the best shape. This is why several manufacturers include it in high-quality canine food because it’s considered to be a superfood that keeps your pup in perfect health. It’s perfectly safe for all dogs.
Why Should Your Dog Eat Liver?
If you’re preparing your dog’s food at home, you want to make sure that you’re adding the right ingredients. Here are some reasons why you should add liver to your dog’s diet.
- Liver is rich in iron, which is essential to regulate the body’s temperature and helps the blood cells carry more oxygen to different organs. Without enough iron, your pooch won’t have enough energy or stamina.
- Adding liver to your dog’s diet will cover its Vitamin D needs. Vitamin D helps in managing the calcium levels inside the dog’s body. Just like humans, dogs can’t produce Vitamin D naturally, so you need to include it in the dog’s food.
- Liver contains more calcium than beef, so adding it to your dog’s diet will keep the teeth and bones healthy.
- It’s rich in Vitamin A, which is a necessary antioxidant that supports vision, the nervous system, and the reproductive system.
Which Type of Liver Should My Dog Eat?
Both chicken and beef liver are safe for your dog. However, beef liver is lower in calories and fats, so it will work better for you if you’re trying to maintain your dog’s weight. It’s also rich in several nutrients like calcium and zinc.
If you have a younger puppy who needs more protein, you can use chicken liver instead because it’s richer in protein and Vitamin A. Your pooch can also eat pork, duck, goat, turkey, and lamb liver.
Should My Dog Eat Raw Liver?
Your dog can eat frozen raw liver, which you can serve as a treat. If your dog isn’t fond of raw food, you can bake dog treats using liver or boil it, and then put it in the oven. You should avoid adding garlic, onion, and spices to liver.
How Much Liver Should My Dog Eat?
Although liver is healthy for your dog, overeating liver isn’t good. Liver is rich in nutrients like Vitamin A, and increasing your dog’s intake of such nutrients can cause toxicity.
Summary
Liver is actually good for your dog, and you can serve it raw, bake it into dog treats, or cook it on the stove and in the oven. You can serve different types of liver to your dog, but avoid doing this every day as it might cause toxicity.