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We may shy away from this meat member, but the liver is a doggy delicacy! Full of nutrients and protein, that’s why you should serve your dog more liver.
Many dog owners say their dogs will eat anything and everything—especially things that seem discouraging to us. When it comes to organic meats like liver, something that might look or taste disgusting to you is actually healthy (and delicious) for your pup!
Why is liver good for dogs?
Liver is a type of organ meat, and as such, you might not think of feeding your dog the same way you might feed him chicken or beef. But organ meats like liver are rich in nutrients and are a vital part of your dog’s diet. In fact, a raw food diet for dogs places special emphasis on raw organ meats such as liver in combination with raw bones and muscle meats. Not only is liver rich in protein, but it also contains healthy fats and essential nutrients. Liver is a good source of vitamin A, iron, copper, phosphorous and zinc as well as various B vitamins and essential fatty acids.
Related: Homemade Beef Liver Dog Recipe Recipe
Vitamin A is one of the most important vitamins a dog needs in his diet — it helps aid digestion, keeps his reproductive organs working well, and acts as a powerful antioxidant. Various B vitamins (particularly vitamin B12) help protect your dog’s mental health and also help prevent anemia. Iron, an essential mineral, plays a role in many important functions such as brain development, body temperature regulation, and metabolism – this mineral can be found in abundance in fresh liver. Liver also has an anti-fatigue factor which can be especially beneficial for active and working breed dogs. It is important to note that the nutritional value of liver is greatly affected by heat, so avoid cooking it if possible.
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How much should you give your dog?
It is generally safe to feed your dog small amounts of liver once or twice a week as a supplement to his regular diet. It is up to you whether you feed your dog pieces of fresh liver or you can buy liver treats online or at your local pet store. Liver treats give you easy to keep track of how much medication you are giving your dog – this is very important because overfeeding your dog can lead to them excreting too much vitamin A known as hypervitaminosis A. For small breed dogs, one or two liver treats twice a week should be It is safe while medium sized dogs can have 3 or 4 treats twice weekly and large dogs can have 5 or 6 treats. You can feed your dog liver from chicken, beef, lamb, or pork — even bison — but be wary of liver that comes from wild game because you can’t guarantee the quality of the organ’s meat.
As with all things, liver is a food that should be enjoyed in moderation for your dog. While it provides some important health and nutritional benefits, there can be too much of a good thing. Stick to the recommendations presented above and your dog will experience the benefits of liver as much as possible.
