To keep your dog healthy and full of energy, it is recommended to feed it a variety of foods. The menu should include not only dog food, but also offal.
Experts are confident that beef heart is healthy for dogs and contains the vitamins and minerals they need. But before giving this food to your pet, you should know in what form and quantity it should be given.
Benefits for dogs
Not all owners know whether it is possible to feed their dog offal.
Heart as a product has the following effects on the body:
saturates with vitamins, microelements, minerals, which normalizes metabolism and eliminates hypovitaminosis;- replenishes strength and energy;
- normalizes the functioning of the digestive tract;
- strengthens dental and muscle tissue, bones, joints;
- prevents the development of osteoarthritis, osteoporosis;
- accelerates the growth of muscle tissue;
- increases endurance.
The product is useful not only for physical health, but also mental health.
Regular consumption of food improves the dog’s behavior, while:
the nervous system is stabilized, which is facilitated by zinc, phosphorus, copper contained in the heart;- Aggression and irritability decrease;
- the condition of the cardiovascular and nervous systems improves, and the dog’s behavior during training is normalized.
The positive effect is achieved by introducing an adequate portion of cardiac tissue into the diet.
Myths and their refutation
There is a lot of prejudice against pork on pet menus. However, the recommendations of experienced dog breeders and veterinarians refute some of them. Some of the most common misconceptions include:
Poor digestibility. This is not true: the product is absorbed by the body no worse than veal, duck or chicken, second only to lamb.
Increased fat content. Indeed, most of the pig carcass contains fat. However, you can choose lean cuts to feed, such as tenderloin or shoulder. They contain several times less fat than chicken.
Low content of vitamins and microelements. On the contrary, all parts are rich in B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and other substances necessary to maintain good health.
Dangerous intestinal volvulus. It is not provoked by pork, but by excessive physical activity immediately after a hearty lunch.
High cholesterol levels. This is true, but fatty fish and even chicken eggs can cause problems with blood vessels.
You should not be afraid to offer your pet pork-based food. The main thing is to observe moderation, use only high-quality and low-fat pieces for feeding, and subject them to heat treatment. You should not refuse to buy industrial feed, which contains pork processed according to all the rules.
Sources
- Kirillov, A.A. Commentary on the Federal Law “On Pawnshops” (article-by-article) / A.A. Kirillov. - M.: Justitsinform, 2009. - 187 p.
- Handbook of occupational safety specialist No. 5 2014 / Not available. - M.: MCFR, 2014. - 789 p.
- Shastitko, A.E. Application of antimonopoly legislation in the markets of derivative goods: from determining product boundaries to advocating competition / A.E. Shastitko. - M.: Synergy, 2015. - 809 p.
- White, Jana Strategic Real Estate Portfolio Planning / Jana White. - M.: Publishing solutions, 1977. - 913 p.
- Sushkevich, A.G. Application of legislation on competition protection to foreign persons and organizations / A.G. Sushkevich. - M.: Synergy, 2007. - 376 p.
Harm to the body
Products have not only beneficial properties, but also harmful qualities:
increased load on the digestive tract, which leads to diarrhea, vomiting, heartburn, nausea, increased gas formation in the intestines;- poisoning with intoxication of the whole body, the condition is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, increased body temperature, increased load on the liver;
- duration of impaired stool formation, leading to intestinal dysbiosis;
- an allergic reaction due to the accumulation of substances contained in the cardiac tissue (itching, burning, peeling, inflammation, swelling of the skin and mucous membranes appear).
When introducing offal into the diet, the age and weight of the dog should be taken into account. For pets of small breeds, small pieces are used. For large dogs 1 pc. enough for 1 week.
Are there breed restrictions?
It is possible for all breeds equally. It is allowed to be given to puppies and adults.
Dogs are carnivores with very specific digestive systems. They need to have ingredients containing animal protein in their daily menu. To the greatest extent it is meat, but it is impossible to imagine a properly composed diet without offal.
A balanced natural diet should provide the right amount of substances and microelements, which are often not found in meat, and not overdo it with them. Thus, an excess of certain vitamins can lead to the formation of kidney and liver stones. Due to the need to maintain balance, it is impossible to replace meat completely with giblets, but they must be added evenly.
Rules for introduction to nutrition
By-products should not be introduced in excessive portions, immediately. This process is carried out according to the following rules:
To start feeding offal, the puppy must be at least 6 months old;- removed in small pieces so that the digestive tract has time to get used to the food;
- gradually increase the dose corresponding to the age and weight of the dog;
- the heart is given in large quantities 2 times a week, or in small portions daily.
If these rules are followed, gastrointestinal dysfunction will not occur. The total amount of daily ration should not exceed 15% of the entire food portion .
Correct heat treatment
It is recommended to boil for no more than 30 minutes to preserve the beneficial components.
Fried and stewed foods are prohibited from being given to animals.
Beneficial features
First of all, it is nature’s nature for dogs to consume the entrails of other animals. Wild relatives of domesticated dogs eat their prey completely, without neglecting its internal organs, legs, and skin. All this can be digested and even bring great benefits.
In addition, in the entrails, due to the peculiarities of the functions they perform, much more essential substances accumulate than even in the best meat. They include microelements:
Useful substances that improve metabolism, digestion and hair are Omega 3 and Omega 6.
And the most important part, which can only be replaced with special nutritional supplements – vitamins:
- A.
- Group B.
- TO.
- E.
- Folic acid.
- D is the most important of the entire list. A deficiency will lead to improper formation of the skeleton, rickets and problems with muscles and bones. The body primarily absorbs vitamin D from sunlight, so in winter or when living in the north of the country, it is extremely important to add ingredients to your diet that contain the required amount of this substance.
Can it be given raw?
A medium or large dog without diseases of the digestive system is allowed to give the product without boiling it.
The component is introduced into the menu gradually so that diarrhea or vomiting does not occur. Recommended to combine with cereals, liver, and vegetables. But the owner must not forget that the total portion of offal at one time should not exceed 15-20% of the entire meal.
Small breeds should not be given raw heart: their digestive system cannot cope with such a load.
How to cook?
Before consumption, the heart is thoroughly washed and cleaned of contaminants. It’s better to chop it finely: it’s more convenient to consume and it’s better absorbed by the body.
If there are hard and tough particles, or elements that are difficult to chew, they are removed. They can cause difficulties and disgust when consumed.
Recipe example
Preparing this product for your pet is not difficult at all. There is a recipe for porridge that is beneficial for dogs' health. To prepare porridge you will need :
- 1 kg beef heart;
- 120 g rice;
- 1 carrot;
- half a medium sized zucchini;
- a pinch of dill;
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
To prepare the porridge, the heart is boiled for 30 minutes. While it is cooking, cut the vegetables into cubes . When cooked, place it in a separate plate, dilute the broth with water, and cook rice in it.
While the rice is cooking, cut the heart into cubes . Then add it to the prepared cereal and let it cool, then mix it all with the vegetables. All that remains is to add the greens. The dish is ready to eat, the portion is large, so it can be divided into several meals.
This dish is good for the dog’s digestion , is easy to digest, and contains many vitamins and minerals. Thanks to such food, the pet will feel full and filled with strength and energy.
How long to cook?
Cook the product for 30-35 minutes. If it turns out to be tough, cook it a little longer: 40-45 minutes. This time is enough for the heart to be usable.
Fried and stewed
It is not recommended to serve the product fried or stewed, since it becomes greasy and loses many useful substances during frying and stewing.
After eating a large amount of fried or stewed heart, a dog can become poisoned. This type of heat treatment should be abandoned.
Dried
Experts do not recommend drying this product at home, because you can make a mistake during the drying process. This will spoil the product and increase the risk of poisoning.
In order not to risk the pet’s health, do not dry the heart yourself.
Tips for choosing a product
It is worth using the following recommendations to choose a quality product:
it is better to buy a product that has just arrived on the shelf: the fresher it is, the lower the risk of digestive upset;- the color of the heart tissue should not be bright red, without darkening or a sharp change in color, which indicates the development of the decay process;
- beef heart is always large; if it is small, it is pork, so it is recommended to choose medium or large specimens;
- The product can be purchased with fat, but at home it should be completely cut out, since fatty foods negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract.
The smell of the product should be fresh, without rot.
At what age and how often should you feed your dog offal?
You can offer your puppy chicken necks starting from three months. But, it is advisable to beat them first with a meat hammer so that the bones are softer. And until the puppy learns to chew and not swallow the necks whole, be sure to feed them under supervision.
Other types of tripe can be given to four-legged animals from 5-6 months, starting with small pieces.
If you observe intolerance or disorders when your dog eats any of the by-products, you should eliminate it for a while and then gradually add it to the diet in small portions.
It is especially useful to feed your pet tripe in the winter, since the vitamin D present in offal protects the dog’s body from inflammatory, infectious and colds.
Feed with by-products
To compensate for the lack of vitamins and microelements, veterinarians advise using feed containing by-products.
The positive side of this method is the exclusion of hypovitaminosis. With the help of dry food, animals receive all the useful substances that replenish their daily requirements.
The disadvantage of dry food is the lack of variety in the diet. Many dogs get bored with this type of food, so they refuse to eat.
Rules for choosing dry food with a heart
When the packaging states that the composition contains dried heart fibers, this is not always true.
The owner needs to carefully read the composition. It must contain a direct indication of the presence of components.
It is recommended not to purchase goods with the following information:
- meat and bone meal;
- a large number of by-products.
The occurrence of dyspeptic disorders and other reactions are signals to stop feeding.
Nutritional value
Beef lung is good for dogs if the animal is not allergic to it. Pork and lamb lung can also be cooked for your pet. Lungs belong to the second category of offal, along with lips, legs, ears, spleen, brains, etc.
Belonging to category II means that the nutritional value is low. The bulk of the organ is made up of difficult-to-digest connective tissue. It also contains a lot of proteins, but they are incomplete, that is, they are not absorbed by the body.
Among the beneficial substances, beef lung contains the following:
- iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium;
- iodine, phosphorus;
- vitamins C and group B;
- sulfur.
Vegetable stew with goat milk
Ingredients (for a 1.5 liter pan)
Take:
- 1/2 eggplant.
- 1 zucchini.
- 1 carrot.
- 1 bell pepper.
- 1 tomato.
- 1/2 apple.
- A little cauliflower.
- 1 clove of garlic.
- 2 cups goat milk.
Preparation
Everything is very simple:
- Finely chop the vegetables.
- Pour milk and simmer for 40-50 minutes over low heat.
- The dish is ready.
Meat mix (from boiled offal)
Your dog will love this recipe. The dish prepared using it is very healthy, our pets simply adore it.
Ingredients (beef by-products)
We will need: heart, lung, liver, scar, trachea, and so on (but under no circumstances give kidneys).
Preparation
Do this:
- Take different types of meat.
- Cut it into small pieces, add water and put on fire. Cook for 20-30 minutes.
- Drain the water. The dish is ready.
Beef trachea
Ingredients
You will need beef trachea. Trachea can be given to your dog very often. It is useful for strengthening your dog's teeth and gums. Requires virtually no processing other than 3-day freezing in the freezer.
Preparation
You do this:
- Take the trachea out of the freezer.
- Thaw, scald and give to the dog.
- The trachea can be cut into pieces (so that the dog does not drag it around the apartment).
We usually give Jack a whole trachea, since he knows that he can't carry it around the apartment. Jack immediately goes to his place with the trachea in his teeth and deals with it there.
But these recipes for dogs are recommended for both adult dogs and puppies.
Possible consequences
So, we have already understood that offal is very useful for the four-legged body. But, despite the apparent benefits, they can also be harmful to health.
Here are some negative reactions that may occur due to excessive consumption of organ meats:
- Individual intolerance.
- Allergic reactions.
- Diarrhea.
- Nausea.
- Rash and redness on the skin. Most often in the area of the paws and ears, in the armpits and near the anus.
- Ear infections due to allergies.
By-products are very beneficial for dogs. They contain a huge amount of valuable vitamins and microelements that are not found in other types of meat. Therefore, it is possible, and even necessary, to include offal in the diet.
But, in order to avoid negative consequences, this should be done with caution and in small quantities.
If your pet is allergic to any of the by-products, it should be immediately excluded, since food allergies cannot be treated.
The material uses photos by Elena Ten “Menu of two watchdogs”.
Good luck and take care of your pets!
