When it comes to feeding your dog, it’s always best to be selective. Feeding your pup a balanced and nutritious diet should be your priority. That way, your beloved pet will always be strong and healthy. But can dogs eat beef kidneys? It may sound a bit gross but the answer is yes!
Organ meat such as beef kidneys is good for them. It’s one of the healthiest parts among others. Beef kidneys are more nutritionally dense compared to the lungs. This organ meat can be added to the usual dog food. It will boost the nutrients for your canine.
Benefits of Beef Kidneys for Dogs
Now that you know that dogs can eat beef kidneys, it’s time to learn about its benefits. Beef kidneys are good for your pup because it’s packed with vitamins and minerals. The vitamins A, B6, B12,
C, Niacin, Riboflavin, and Thiamine. These are all essential for your dog’s health.
The beef kidney also contains key minerals such as iron and selenium. It’s an amazing source of protein as well as Omega 3 fatty acids. The nutrient density of beef kidneys and other organ meats is impressive. Most vets are advised to add them to the meat and bone for a well-balanced diet.
Beef Kidneys Nutritional Value
- Vitamin A
This will improve your dog’s immune response, have healthy bones, and possess a near-perfect vision.
- Vitamin B6
It’s essential to keep your canine glucose levels to stay normal and help with their immune response as well as the nervous system function.
- Vitamin B12
This will keep your pup’s cellular health and metabolism to be better.
- Vitamin C
It’s an antioxidant that will make your dog a stronger immune system to fight off diseases.
- Riboflavin
This will be responsible for good digestion and metabolism of your canine.
- Niacin
Its anti-inflammatory responses support their immunity.
- Thiamine
This will also help your buddy with digestion and metabolism.
- Omega-3 fatty acids
It will help your dog’s immune system, brain function, vision, and skin to be healthy.
Things to Know Before Feeding Beef Kidneys to Dogs
Beef kidney’s nutritional benefits will help improve your dog’s health. It’s highly recommended by vets and dog owners. Before you decide to add beef kidneys to your dog’s diet, there are other things you need to learn about this organ meat.
1. Health Risks
Beef kidneys are good for your dog’s health. Although, it doesn’t go without some risks. This organ meat is high in cholesterol. It’s also high in purine which is a compound that causes uric acid crystals. If your canine is kidney stones prone, it’s best to skip it.
2. Raw Beef Kidney
If you’re wondering if you can feed raw beef kidneys to your dog, no problem. It’s fine to feed canines with raw beef kidneys. Just make sure that you got it fresh from a trustworthy source. It should be properly handled and they follow hygiene protocols.
3. Cooked Beef Kidney
If dogs can eat raw beef kidneys, they can also have them cooked. It depends on what your canine prefers. Try to test if your pup likes cooked or raw beef kidneys. It’s better to cook it especially if you are not used to handling organ meats.
4. Recommended Amount
When feeding your dog beef kidneys, it’s best not to go overboard with it. That will result in health issues. The amount should always depend on your dog’s size. Feeding too much beef kidney can cause a spike in blood pressure.
Generally, the recommended amount should not exceed 5 – 10 percent of beef kidneys. It means that if your beloved pet normally eats one pound of dog food, it should only have a maximum of 1.6 ounces of organ meat.
5. Bad Smell
The beef kidney may have a bad smell since it processes urine. If you’re preparing this for your dog, it’s best to soak it before cooking. Wash them a few times and soak them for a while to get rid of the bad smell.
Preparing Beef Kidneys for Dogs
If you’re going to beef kidneys to add to your dog’s diet, go for organic, grass-fed organic meat. It should be available in some supermarkets. Try your local processing plants or specialty markets as well. Check the packaging date to ensure that you’re not buying spoiled organ meat.
Before shopping for beef kidneys, expect that they will smell like urine. It should only be a little smelly. Since it came from a large animal, the scent might be a bit stronger. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean that it’s already spoiled. Try soaking a bit with milk to get rid of the unpleasant smell.
When looking for fresh beef kidneys, they should feel firm and look glossy. If it’s slimy, that means it went bad already. Use butcher paper to keep it dry. When it looks darker, the bad smell will no longer be subtle. Don’t feed the beef kidneys to your dog if 48 hours have passed already.
Cooking Beef Kidneys
If you want to add beef kidneys to your dog’s diet, you can offer it raw or cooked. Both of those ways are safe for canines so don’t worry. Of course, cooking is a better option to avoid cleaning after your dog eats raw food. Cooking will also get rid of the bacteria on the organ meat.
The preparation only requires the beef kidney and water. That’s to wash and soak them first to get rid of the smell. Slice them into small bite-size pieces. Add cold water to a bowl and soak the beef kidneys for around 15 to 20 minutes. Boil a small pot of water while waiting for the soaking time.
Once ready, add the beef kidneys to the boiling water. Reduce the heat and cover it with a lid. Boil it for about 8 minutes and then drain the water after. Using cold water, rinse the beef kidneys to remove bad odor or flavor. Let it cool before serving it to your beloved canine.
Photo Credits:
Photo by Kabo on Unsplash
Photo by FLOUFFY on Unsplash
