The Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Liver

We understand that some things can be a bit weird and icky to feed your pet, but if you are not yet feeding your dog liver they really are missing out! Including liver in a Raw diet not only benefits them nutritionally but it is something that your dog will most probably love! Liver is an important source of nutrients for any dog as it is rich in many of the vitamins and minerals that are vital for your pet to live a happy and healthy life.

What Makes Liver So Good?

The liver is a nutrient-rich organ that most dogs love eating. It is often said to be nature’s multivitamin as it will provide your pet with proteins, fat, vitamins, iron, folic acid, a variety of minerals and many more of the required nutrients your pets require to thrive.

Some of the things that make liver so good include:

VITAMIN A

Is a fat-soluble antioxidant, which helps your pet’s coat, muscles, nerves, skin and vision. In puppies, vitamin A helps them to grow and develop normally.

For females, vitamin A is essential for healthy ovarian growth and can help them reproduce successfully. The darker the liver, the more vitamin A it contains.

How can it help? If your pet is currently suffering with skin issues, dull coat, slow growth and night blindness, this could be a sign that your loved one has a Vitamin A deficiency so try out small amounts of liver and see if you notice a difference.

SOURCE OF PROTEIN

It is not only a nutrient, but it is also made up of amino acids, which are the foundation of your dog’s tissues, organs, enzymes, hormones and antibodies. Protein makes up approximately half of the water-less body mass of your dog and adult dogs as well as puppies need protein in order to restore and replenish this protein.

How can it help? Protein allows your dog’s body to function properly. The essential amino acids your dog gets from protein contribute to healthy hair and skin, muscle development and tissue repair, just to name a few benefits.

OMEGA 3 AND OMEGA 6 FATTY ACIDS

Omega 3 and 6 are essential for your pet’s health. Omega 3 and 6 are both incorporated in the structure of cells found throughout the body and when cells become damaged, these fatty acids are released into the body.

If your pet is suffering from an infection, then this release of fatty acids is the body’s way of fighting that infection. Not only do these fatty acids promote a fully functioning immune system, but they also help to improve the health of your pet’s fur and skin.

How can it help? Dogs that suffer from flea allergies, inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, auto-immune issues need more omega 3 and pets that have chronic illnesses such as cancer, need more omega 6 in their diets.

IRON AND COPPER

Iron combines with copper and protein to form the foundations of haemoglobin, which is the chemical found inside red blood cells, which carries oxygen throughout the body.

How can it help? Red blood cells are in a continuous life cycle whereby they live for 110 days, die and then need to be replaced. By adding iron and copper to your dog’s diet constantly, you are ensuring that their red blood cell life cycle is continuously working.

B VITAMINS

Niacin, which is alternatively known as vitamin B3 is another essential vitamin to feed your pup. Vitamin B3 is vital in promoting healthy skin and fur as well as proper circulation of blood and oxygen throughout the body. Vitamin B12 as well as iron work in order to promote a healthy nervous system for your dog. It is also a vital source of energy for your pet.

How can it help? Vitamin B3 can be used to help lower cholesterol and metabolise proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It is also often used to promote memory for dogs in training.

If you find that your dog is sluggish and does not want to go out for walks, the chances are that they are deficient in Vitamin B12. A lack of Vitamin B12 can lead to anaemia and can even cause gastrointestinal issues if left untreated.

PHOSPHORUS

Phosphorus works in conjunction with calcium, however, it is commonly known that any foods high in calcium are subsequently low in phosphorus and vice versa.

Liver is no different; it contains high levels of phosphorus however very low levels of calcium.

How can it help? Phosphorus works with calcium to promote and maintain the growth, structure and stability of your dog’s bones and skeletal system, which is especially important for growing pups.

ZINC

Liver contains a high concentration and is a natural source of zinc.

How can it help? Promotes healthy skin and coat for pets.

VITAMIN E

It is essential in preventing and aiding circulatory issues such as heart disease and arteriosclerosis. It boosts the immune system, helps to prevent cataracts, promotes fertility and slows down the ageing process.

How can it help? Vitamin E helps to oxygenate the blood and helps all internal organs to function at their optimum level. It is essential if your pet is suffering with any skin issues.

How Much Liver Does My Pet Need?

Our pets need a variety of wholesome foods to provide them with a wide range of nutrients. A Raw diet should consist of a wide variety of proteins so that your pet can receive an array of health benefits and reduce the chance of allergies to certain proteins

Organs are the nutrient-rich parts of the animal and without these organs, your pet could be missing some important vitamins. You should feed a variety of organs with no one organ, including liver making up more than 5 to 10% of your dog’s diet. You could notice reactions if you tend to go over the 10 to 15% as the meat is packed full of nutrition and it could be an overload that the body needs to deal with in its normal ways.

While so nutritionally beneficial for your furry friend there are reasons not to go overboard when feeding liver. You can use our Raw Food Calculator to get a recommended guide for your pets daily raw food intake.

Tips For Introducing Liver To Your Pet

Raw talks about liver a little separate from the other organs (kidney, lung, pancreas etc) because it’s probably the most power condensed area of valuable vitamins and nutrition. When you look at overall feeding this little organ has one of the highest levels of all the vitamins and minerals of the whole body plus some, so too much will get adverse reactions; we suggest, you move up to the percentage required rather than giving the right amount upfront and just notice reactions.

If your dog’s not used to eating liver, it can be best to start introducing it slowly. Liver is so rich in nutrients and because of this, it can cause tummy upset or loose stool in some dogs.

To ease him into liver-feeding gradually start with about ½ Tbsp a few times a week for a medium-sized dog. Keep an eye on their reaction and if you hear tummy gurgling or see loose stools, feed a bit less liver until the digestive system adapts.

Instincto Liver Products

At Instincto, our fresh raw pet food range is processed 3 times a week and delivered around Brisbane with no:

Preservatives
Additives
Fillers

We have a variety of liver products which include:

You can browse our huge range of fresh preservative-free raw pet food products via our online shop. When you are ready you can set up an Instincto account to purchase your products and subscribe to our newsletter.