Is Liver Good for Dogs?

   Is liver good for dogs? YES! Here at Barking from the Bayou, we are liver lovers. Okay, before you say, “Gross!” let me say that I understand. I believe most people’s reaction to eating liver is a long held prejudice from childhood. Cool kids don’t eat liver, Brussels sprouts or a lot of other healthy foods. I have always been a fan of liver whether it is beef or chicken. My mom makes the best liver and onions as well as fried chicken livers. My own children wouldn’t touch it but fortunately, that is not an issue with my dogs. Bentley and Pierre LOVE liver and I love feeding it to them.

Is Liver Good for Dogs?

   Liver gets a bum rap. Did you know that it contains 10 to 100 times the nutrients of muscle meats? That’s right, hamburger and chicken breasts pale in comparison to it. When you add liver to your dog’s food, they benefit from large amounts of vitamin A, B, and iron. They will also get trace minerals, CoQ10, and protein.

   I buy liver from my local grocery store and look for “grass-fed” or “Pasture-raised” on the labels. The liver cleans toxins from the body but it doesn’t store those toxins. You can also use a dehydrator to make your dog their own liver jerky treats. They will love them!

   Remember liver is good for the liver. If you have ever been diagnosed with anemia, you were probably urged to eat more liver. It is also beneficial for vision and to increase energy. These are all things that will benefit your dog too. While I am a fan of beef and chicken liver, the dogs can also enjoy lamb, pork, and bison liver. It’s not a good idea to feed them the liver from wild game because you can’t be sure of the quality. Some deer are infected with liver flukes, which are a type of parasite, and can be dangerous if ingested.

   I prepare Bentley and Pierre’s meals with the help of Dr. Harvey’s Canine Health or Veg-to-Bowl so it is necessary for me to add my own protein source. I try to include liver at least once or twice a week along with other meats. When I prepare any meat for their meals, I boil or brown it instead of feeding it to them raw. That is just my personal preference. Liver as with any protein should not be overused. Most raw feeders use liver as 5% of their dog’s protein source. You will find in many commercial dog foods too.

   Here is a recipe for Liver Dog Cookies that I used to make when I was showing my German Shepherd. It is a perfect high-value treat. 

*This recipe calls for 1 tbsp. garlic powder. I know many people believe garlic is poisonous to dogs. Studies show that a dog would have to consume 50 cloves of garlic to be poisoned. However, if you are uncomfortable with adding garlic, you can certainly omit it from the recipe without any problem.

   Are you or your dog liver lovers? It’s time to confess in the comments.

Is liver good for #dogs? Find out the facts on Barking from the Bayou. Fetch a great treat recipe too. https://t.co/jZxz7CFn2q

— M. K.Clinton (@mk_clinton) March 1, 2016

Sources:

https://www.vetinfo.com/the-benefits-of-liver-for-dogs.html

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/why-you-need-to-feed-your-dog-liver/

https://www.sojos.com/learn/articles/pet-mythbusters-5-pet-food-myths

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/garlic-for-dogs-poison-or-medicine/