Dogs are extremely fond of liver treats. You can see it in their eyes and the way they excitedly wag their tails when they catch a whiff of this delicacy! As a dog owner you might wonder if these delicious treats are good for your dog.
Well, look no further. This guide will tell you all you need to know about liver based treats for dogs!
Let’s get snacking!
Are liver treats good for my dog?
The mere thought of cooked liver may make you gag, but the tiniest hint of this treat would make your dog ecstatic! It is great to know that their excitement is not unfounded, because liver treats have great health benefits for your precious pooch! Liver treats, especially those made by beef liver, have the highest nutrient levels, and help cleanse the toxins from your dog’s body.
Liver dog treats, as mentioned before, have really high nutrient levels. They are a rich source of Vitamins A and B, while also being full of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Liver treats dogs well as it is high fat and protein content, while also providing your dog with necessary iron, zinc, copper, selenium, riboflavin, niacin, and phosphorus, all of which are needed to keep a canine healthy. It is vital to remember that too much of a good thing can be bad. Due to the high levels of Vitamin A found in liver treats, you should avoid giving it to your dog daily, or even in large quantities.
It is also helpful to know that liver treats can be used as excellent training treats for your dog. The strong smell of liver treats along with the rich taste makes this a superb tool to use while you’re training your furry friend. You will find that a liver treat for dogs will prevent your dog from getting distracted by surroundings during training ensuring a more effective session. Liver treats can thus be given a couple of times each week during training sessions to help your dog stay focused and become more disciplined. This is effective in allowing your dog to be better adapted to living within human society.
How much liver should you give a dog a day?
The amount of liver that can be given to a canine varies on the dog itself. To help you decide how much you can safely give your dog is by judging your dog’s weight. Generally you can use the proportion of one gram of liver treats for each kilogram your dog weighs. This means that if your dog weighs 12 kilograms, you can give it 12 grams of liver dog treat.
Overfeeding your dog is not a very good idea, as it can cause your dog to develop many stomach problems, such as indigestion and gas. Overfed canines are unhealthy and tend to develop health issues that can progress to becoming full-blown health conditions, such as obesity, and even tears in the stomach lining.
In order to ensure that you give your dog the best diet possible, you should keep in mind that dog treats should make up not more than 10 percent of your dog’s diet. Additionally, the treats you give your dog shouldn’t be ’empty calories’, rather they should be nutritious. This is why liver dog treats are a terrific choice.
What do you feed a dog with liver problems?
Sometimes dogs develop a canine liver disease which may be caused due to a number of different reasons such as bacterial or virus infections. If your dog has liver issues, you should immediately focus on altering his diet to guarantee that he receives the nutrients and calories he needs to stay healthy.
Usually dogs with liver conditions have to take in supplements like SAM-E, or even milk thistle. These can aid liver recovery for your precious pooch. Moreover, you can also give your dog homemade low-protein food that is made of a good recipe containing ingredients such as white fish and fresh vegetables. In order to reduce stress on your sick dog’s organs, you should feed your furry friend small portions multiple times throughout the day.
What can I give my dog for treats?
As you can see, liver treats are excellent to give to your dog because of how they help keep your canine bud healthy. You can acquire the perfect liver dog treats by either opting to get good quality pre-prepared treats from your local grocery store, or you could even get the ingredients and prepare awesome liver treats for dogs at home by using a recipe. Liver treats can be either wet or dry, and can be either mutton or chicken or beef liver treats, which are chosen based on your dog’s personal preferences.
Here are some liver treat ideas for your pooch’s next snack or training treat.
Homemade Liver Treat Recipe
A liver treat can be made using chicken or beef liver, and are remarkably easy to whip up at home. You can even use a food processor instead of chopping up the liver by hand. This is a simple recipe to follow and is particularly popular amongst dogs. To make a batch, the ingredients 1 cup rolled oats, all-purpose flour, trimmed livers (weighing half a pound), 2 large eggs, and a little vegetable oil, are needed.
To make the treat, you need to follow the following steps:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F
- Grease a pan then line it with parchment paper
- Add finely chopped oats, flour, and liver to a food processor and grind till a smooth paste is formed
- Add eggs, and oil, then stir till well blended
- Pour mixture onto the prepared pan, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes
- Remove the pan from the oven, then allow it to cool
- Cut the treats into the perfect size for your dog.
As you must have noticed, this recipe is easier than learning your email address!
Recipe for Dog Liver Treats made without Grain
This grain-less recipe can help you make a fantastic liver ‘biscuit’ treat for dogs, which can particularly be used as training treats. This recipe features the ingredients 1 pound of any liver (beef liver is a good option for regular use) along with flour, water, and a small amount of dog-friendly garlic.
Here are the simple steps to help you make these terrific training treats:
- Blend the liver until it becomes a paste.
- Add flour, water, garlic, and mix well until you form a dough
- Evenly spread the dough on a greased baking tray (lined with parchment paper)
- Bake for 30 minutes in an oven at 275 F
- Remove from the oven and use a cookie mold to form the biscuit shape of the treats
- Put back in the oven and bake for as long as needed (usually up to four hours) until a hard biscuit is formed.
- Refrigerate in an air-tight container and offer to your dog when needed!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any negative impacts of using liver for dog treats?
Yes. As mentioned before, you need to be careful you don’t give your dog too many liver based treats. Excess consumption can cause a surplus of Vitamin A, which causes a condition called Hypervitaminosis A in dogs. This condition causes health problems such as bone spurs, bone deformity, weight loss, muscle weakness, stiffness, and digestive issues.
Do liver treats affect a dog’s mental health?
Yes. A liver treat is rich in Vitamin B, where B12 is especially good for your dog’s mental health.
Do dogs prefer having beef liver treats?
Since dogs don’t have as many taste buds as humans, they are not able to distinguish between the small taste variations between chicken and beef livers. They love the smell and taste of all liver types and find it hard to share!
Conclusion
Veterinarians have rights reserved to recommend a specific dog treat, and they tend to lean towards liver based treats due to their high nutrition value which can improve your canine’s overall health. A good quality liver dog treat can keep your four-legged friend in good shape while also serving as an excellent training treat as it is a delicacy your canine can’t resist.
Dog liver treats can come in various types. There are many options that span from store bought ready made treats to those made at home with an assortment of healthy ingredients. Treats can also come in either wet or dry forms, depending on what your dog prefers.
However, relying too heavily on the use of a liver treat wouldn’t be wise as a liver dog treat is only good for your pooch in limited amounts. It is important that dog owners show love to their canine by making sure that it gets the best quality diet in the perfect quantity.
Each dog treats liver-based foods with a barely contained excitement that is fun to behold. With different ingredients readily available, you can easily try different dog treat recipes at home, to find what kind of liver treat your dog likes the best.
Your dog will love you for each small effort you make gathering information regarding its well-being. That doesn’t sound ‘offal’, right?
