Written by Nick Thompson (vet)
BSc (Hons) Path Sci., BVM&S, VetMFHom, MRCVS. Founding President of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society. Petplan Vet of the Year Nominee 2009, 2015, 2017, 2018 & 2020. The practice of the Year Nominee 2018.
Introduction to offal raw dog food
Is organ meat good for dogs? Simply put, yes. As we discuss over on our tripe raw dog food page, all the internal organs that make up the ‘viscera’ or ‘offal’ contribute to a diet providing all the necessary nutrients for the long and healthy lives of our dogs. Let’s have a look at the main organs and the part they play in a balanced diet and answer the question, “what offal is good for dogs?”
Liver offal
Liver is the supremo of the body organs (don’t let the brain and heart hear me say that!). In humans, it packs a whopping 1,386% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin B12, 730% RDI for copper and 522% RDI for vitamin A in a 100g serving. The B vitamins are water-soluble, so you can’t overdose on these, but you shouldn’t feed too much liver for too long because vitamin A and copper can build up. I usually say add organ meat up to 20% of the diet, but only 2-3 times a week. Alternatively, you can feed smaller amounts more regularly.
Kidney offal
The kidney, the rock star filterer of blood and producer of urine to cleanse the body of toxins, is packed with goodness. For humans (dogs are similar) they contain, per 100g serving, 167% RDI of riboflavin, vitamin B2, essential for cellular metabolism, 458% of vitamin B12, cobalamin, which is used in the treatment of human cervical cancer, migraine headaches and even burning feet syndrome! Interestingly, it contains twice the amount of vitamin C compared to raw liver and is a huge source of omega-3 fatty acids for anti-inflammatory effects in the body. Because it is lower in copper and vitamin A than liver, it can be fed more generously.
Heart offal
Heart is rich in folate, iron, zinc and selenium. It is also a great source of vitamins B2, B6, B12 and essential choline, taurine and the antioxidant coenzyme Q10. When combined, they are known to have a ‘cardio-protective effect’ – they support and protect the heart from disease. Because the heart works so hard and so continuously, supplying organ-derived nutrients is really beneficial. In my practice, I always prescribe high levels of heart in the diet of my cardiac patients.
Pancreas offal
You’re probably familiar with how good liver, kidney and heart are. Their PR machines have been working overtime for centuries. Less well known is the wonderful nutrients and enzymes found in pancreas. In the body, the pancreas does two main jobs. It makes hormones (insulin to reduce blood sugar, glucagon to increase blood sugar and somatostatin, otherwise clunkily known as growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHIH). It is also THE digestive enzyme factory of the intestine. Nutritionally, pancreas provides loads of vitamin B12, but otherwise a really nice range of all the other minerals and vitamins the dog needs. It doesn’t, interestingly, contain any vitamin A, but contain ten times as much vitamin C as raw liver.
Pancreas’s other super-power is its enzymes. If pancreas is fed to dogs who have difficulty digesting protein, fat and carbs, it can add to the enzymes produced by that dog’s pancreas. You can get digestive enzymes as powders or capsules. Feeding raw pancreas seems so much more natural for those dogs who need it.
Skin offal
If the liver is the supremo of the organs, which is the boss? Perhaps it’s the skin. Yes, an animal’s entire skin system, including hair, nails and glands are considered an organ. Not only that, the biggest organ of any body. I call the skin organ the boss because without it all the other organs would have nowhere to live! Skin is not often discussed in conversations about organs, unfortunately, because it’s packed with minerals, fats and vitamins. It’s also essential because it cleans teeth.
Many raw fed dogs have gleaming white molars and incisors, but often, even the very healthiest can have a trace of tartar on the outside of the canines, the big fangs at the front corners of the jaw. In the wild, dogs chew skin, as well as crunch bones. Chewing through leathery hide brushes this little niche. If feeding dried hide, complete with fur, is not part of your raw food routine, then you should make it so. Large, furry, leathery hide chews are available. I’m not talking about the knotted ‘raw hide’ nightmare chews – they are rubbish and should be avoided. I’m talking skin taken from deer, cattle or sheep that’s just been dried, sometimes rolled and dried. They make perfect chews, even for dogs whose owners can’t bring themselves to feed bones.
Why do dogs need organ meat? Because they’ve been eating them all, including skin and hooves and every other conceivable tissue for millions of years. A well thought out raw dog food diet cannot be without a broad rotating range of offal. And dogs love it.
And now over to ProDog to tell you a bit more about offal, raw feeding and their “with offal” range…
How much offal should I feed my dog?
Wild canines prize offal before anything else in their kill. Also called variety meats, pluck, viscera or organ meats, organs are the body’s work machines. For dogs, they are a natural multivitamin, extra rich in macronutrients (fats, carbs and proteins) and micronutrients (vitamins D, B, K, C and A, for example) minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, selenium and magnesium.
We recommend that you feed one of our offal inclusive meal options at least 2 to 3 times a week. Our offal options include liver, kidney and pancreas from beef, lamb, turkey, rabbit, wild boar and chicken.
At ProDog Raw, we promote a balanced approach to nutrition for healthy, species-appropriate feeding. Variety equals nutritional balance! Your dog’s individual requirements, breed, age, level of activity can all play a part in finding the combination of proteins, offal and bone that will help them thrive. Each dog is unique and has specific nutritional needs. By offering a range of raw food and treat options, you will, over time, establish the perfect raw food diet for your dog.
You don’t need to feed offal in a precise percentage daily and we don’t recommend feeding more than 10% offal in the overall diet. Some authors recommend up to 25% offal. Most prey animals (aka animals dogs would eat in the wild) are about 25% offal, but single dogs/wolves/canids don’t usually eat a whole sheep in one sitting, so if you’ve got a dog who likes or needs more, that’s ok, too, but don’t overdo it.
Please click the links to find out more information about our approach to offal and raw feeding.
*A very small number of dogs can’t tolerate any offal of any type. If your dog requires offal free, check out our Complete Range; we have several offal free options.
Raw feeding tips
ProDog Raw’s mission is to help your dog thrive. We believe nutrition is the cornerstone of canine health and, as such, invest our all into providing fresh, natural, raw dog food, natural treats and nutritional dog supplements designed with 100% species-appropriate ingredients from human quality production sources, operating with the best possible welfare practices.
We advocate feeding your dog a variety of proteins; by incorporating a selection of protein options you provide your dog with vitamins and minerals from across the nutritional spectrum. If one meat type delivers a select range of nutrients, offering a diverse range of meats will ensure you fuel your dog in a nutritionally comprehensive way.
Variety equals nutritional balance!
Your dog’s individual requirements, breed, age, level of activity can all play a part in finding the combination of proteins, meal options and treat choices that will help them thrive. Each dog is unique and has specific nutritional needs. By offering a range of raw food and treat options, you will, over time, establish the perfect raw food diet for your dog.
Why not find out more about raw feeding or contact us today to speak with one of ProDog Raw’s dedicated feeding advice team, who will be ready to help you find the perfect raw feeding menu for your dog.
