Is pork a cooling protein for dogs

Read This Before Diving Into Warming/Cooling Foods for Your Dog

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Food energetics is a concept borrowed from traditional Chinese medicine, which holds that everything in the universeincluding foodhas its unique energy. This is largely based on the concept of Qi, or life energy, and the ancient belief that food can increase and decrease our own Qi depending on what we eat.

Proponents of food energetics believe that health problems can be better managed by consuming foods with different energetic properties; for instance, cooling, warming, stimulating, or sedating qualities. Ultimately, food energetics encourages us to tune into the bodys natural cues regarding what it needs and how certain foods may benefit us more than others.

Hot and Cold Dogs

Before diving deeper into food energetics, I would have classified most of our dogs as neutral. However, as I learned more, I found that my dogs leaned more toward cool or warm.

Neutral Dogs (Yin and Yang)

Neutral dogs have a chill, confident temperament because their Yin and Yang are in balance. To maintain this balance, it's suggested that we feed neutral foods. However, our dogs aren't limited to only neutral foods.

Cool Dogs (Yin)

Cool dogs are snugglers and can be found sleeping in front of a heater or fireplace or buried beneath the covers in our beds. Other signs that a dog may be a cool dog include:

• inactivity or fatigue
• poor appetite
• digestive issues
• weight loss

These symptoms can be serious, and a veterinarian should be consulted to rule out any health issues. Once you know your dog is healthy, these issues can be addressed by feeding warming foods. When a dog's energetic nature isn't addressed, a dog that is too cold can develop kidney disease, incontinence, anemia, and chronic digestive issues.

Hot Dogs (Yang)

Hot dogs seek out cool places to sleep and won't cuddle (or not for long) because they get overheated easily. Other signs that a dog may be a hot dog include:

• panting, even on cool days (not due to excessive exercise)
• drinks a lot of water
• becomes restless, especially at night
• has dry skin
• inflammatory conditions

These symptoms can be serious, and a veterinarian should be consulted to rule out any health issues. Once you know your dog is healthy, these issues can be addressed by feeding cooling foods. When a dog's energetic nature isn't addressed, a dog that is too hot can develop pancreatitis, arthritis, hot spots, skin rashes, and digestive issues.

Warming & Cooling Foods for Dogs

There are several charts online and after a lot of reading, I created the following classifications for various foods. Some foods fall into two categories based on how the animal was raised.

Cooling Foods

• Proteins: alligator, duck, duck eggs, wild goose, herring, mussels, oysters, pork, rabbit, whitefish
• Vegetables: alfalfa, asparagus, broccoli, celery, cucumber, mushroom, spinach*

Neutral Foods

• Proteins: beef, beef liver, beef tripe, bison, carp, cheese, chicken eggs (pasture-raised), mackerel, pork, quail, sardines, wild salmon, wild turkey
• Vegetables: cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, Shiitake mushrooms, sweet potatoes, yams
• Fruits: apple, banana, blueberries, honey, pear, persimmons, strawberry, watermelon

Warming Foods

• Proteins: chicken, goat's milk, pheasant, turkey (farmed)
• Vegetables: garlic, kale, oysters mushroom, pumpkin, squash
• Fruits: raspberries

Hot Foods

• Proteins: emu, lamb, shrimp, trout, venison
• Vegetables: garlic, ginger

*I feed store-bought mushrooms to my dogs (brown, Portobello, Reiki, Shiitake); not mushrooms picked in our yard. If a dog is prone to stones, high oxalate foods, like spinach, should be limited (or removed) from the diet. And, some of the foods are labeled with two energies; so I noted them both.

My Thoughts on Food Energetics

If you are trying to heal your dog through food energetics, I suggest working with a holistic veterinarian who practices Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Food energetics is more than feeding warming/cooling foods. Through TCM, I've learned how to prevent or resolve stagnation in the system, why it's important to feed food at room temperature, and what to do to cool down hot foods so I can still feed a variety of proteins to my dogs. A veterinarian experienced with TCM will direct you on this path while also ensuring that series health issues aren't ignored.

If you don't have a veterinarian in your area, look for someone in another town or state who can collaborate with your veterinarian and consult with you on health and nutrition.

You can find a vet through the AHVMA.

Resources on Food Energetics

My favorite resource isYin & Yang Nutrition for Dogsby Dr. Judy Morgan, available on Amazon. I also have a food energetics chart in my kitchen that I reference.

Read More About Raw Feeding

Can Dogs Eat Pork?

We all know that dogs love to eat meat and that high-quality meat is a fabulous source of protein and healthy fats. Yet people often ask us (and the internet, it seems):Can dogs eat pork?

Its understandable pork is, in a way, more complex than some other meats, particularly when it comes to thehealth of your dog.

To find out more about if, how, when and why dogs can eat pork, we spoke to Braeden Ruud, Co-Founder and CEO of5-star-ratedRaised Right. This is what he told us.

Can dogs eat pork?

If fed the right way, pork is a nutritious protein source that is particularly helpful for dogs with allergy issues because pork is considered by many to be a novel protein. Veterinarians often recommend pork for dogs with allergies as its less likely to cause an allergic reaction when compared to other protein sources.

Some companies likeRaised Rightare aware of how helpful pork can be for dogs with allergies and this is why they offer limited-ingredient recipes with pork as the protein source.

Are there any risks with dogs eating pork?

With that said, we dont want you to confuse a complete and balanced dog food with different types of highly processed pork that are prepared for humans like bacon and ham. When were in the kitchen preparing meat for us humans to eat, we often add salt and a variety of seasonings. Too much salt and certain ingredients commonly found in spices like onion powder are very dangerous for dogs so you need to be careful on what table scraps you feed to your dog.

Why are people worried about pork?

The main reason people are worried about pork is because of trichinosis. Raw pork can potentially contain the parasite called trichinella, which can cause the parasite infection known as trichinosis. To avoid this all you need to do is make sure the pork is cooked properly.

According to the USDAs FSIS Compliance Guideline, theres variety of time and temperature combinations that eliminate trichinella from pork, but the simplest is to cook the pork to an internal temperature of 144 Degrees F (62.2 Degrees C) because once this temperature is reached trichinella is instantly eliminated.

To be on the safe side, we cook all of our recipes to 162 F and we test every single batch for E.coli, listeria, and salmonella because they are killed at 160 F so if these pathogens pass the lab safety test we know there is no risk of trichinosis as the trichinella parasite is killed at a much lower temperature (144 F), which makes it pointless to test for trichinosis.

We have never had a pet contract trichinosis from our food as we have a hold release program where we dont ever ship our food unless it passes the lab safety test. For transparency, we post the test results of every batch on our website for everyone to see.

Heres a chart showing the various time & temperature combinations listed in theUSDAs FSIS Compliance Guideline:

Can dogs eat sausages?

Pork sausage is high in fat, salt, and is usually processed with a variety of seasonings that arent safe for your dog. If youre making the sausage yourself from scratch and dont add any salt or seasonings then you can give some to your dog as a treat in moderation.

Can dogs eat ham?

Processed ham is very high in sodium and too much sodium can cause a variety of health issues for dogs. Symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. In more serious cases, too much sodium can cause seizures, comas, and kidney damage so it would be wise to avoid feeding processed ham to your dog.

Can dogs eat bacon?

With how processed bacon is, its not a good idea to feed too much of it to dogs because bacon usually contains high amounts of salt. Bacon is also very high in fat, which can cause indigestion.

Can dogs eat pulled pork?

Plain pork thats cooked properly is safe for dogs to eat just as long as there arent any seasonings or spices added to it. Also, make sure youre not adding any barbecue sauce to the pulled pork as its only safe to feed to your dog if its completely plain.

Can Dogs Eat Pork Loin? The Pros and Cons of Feeding Your Dog Pork

Introduction

As a dog owner, you may have wondered whether your furry friend can eat pork loin. After all, it is a delicious protein source that we humans love to consume. Heres what you need to know about feeding pork loin to your canine companion.

Pork Loin Nutrition for Dogs

Pork loin is an excellent source of high-quality protein and essential nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and zinc. However, it is also high in fat content which can lead to digestive issues if not consumed in moderation.

Risks of Feeding Pork Loin to Dogs

There are some risks associated with feeding pork loin to dogs as well. Raw or undercooked pork meat may contain harmful bacteria such as salmonella or E.coli that can cause food poisoning or other health problems in dogs. Also, the excess amount of salt used sometimes while cooking the pork may lead to sodium ion poisoning resulting in vomiting and diarrhoea.

Feeding Pork Loin Safely

If you decide to feed your dog cooked pork loin occasionally then make sure it is thoroughly cooked without any added spices and seasoning that could be toxic for them. It should be served plain without any bones too because sharp pieces might hurt their intestines on consumption.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while its not unsafe for dogs consumption but when done improperly there are many potential hazards related with eating raw meat including bacterial infections from pathogens such as Salmonella or E.coli along with choking hazards from poorly cut slices containing bone fragments etc making proper caution essential before sharing this human favorite food item with our four-legged friends.

A guide to the best protein sources for dogs

Can dogs eat a vegetarian diet?

Though dogs are naturally omnivores, they can thrive on a vegetarian diet of balanced nutrients. Without the proper supplements, however, its possible that a dog on a vegetarian diet can experience protein or vitamin deficiency.

What is the best protein for overweight dogs?

Not all dog foods and protein sources are created with bioavailability in mind, so its important to consult your vet before making major dietary changes to Fidos nutrition plan, especially when it comes to weight loss. That being said, vets may recommend fresh, lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, fish, and eggs coupled with high fiber foods such as fresh brussels sprouts and broccoli.

What is the best protein for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

This actually depends on your dog as certain proteins may increase stomach sensitivity in your dogs. For example, your vet may recommend switching from a chicken-based diet to a diet with more beef or fish if your dog has a sensitive stomach. In general, youll want to look out for high-quality ingredients when shopping around for dog food.

Is meat better than meat-meal?

Actually, ingredients that list chicken meal refer to chicken with the water and fat removed, meaning it can actually contain a higher percentage of protein⁴ compared to just chicken as an ingredient. When you see chicken listed as an ingredient, it refers to unprocessed chicken with water.

Whats the healthiest meat for dogs?

To determine whats healthiest, you need to understand how the meats have been processed, whether your dog has an allergy to a certain meat, and whether your pup enjoys the food to ensure they will even retain the nutrients! Protein sources like chicken, turkey and lean ground beef are all great options for animal-based protein diets.

Is chicken or salmon better for dogs?

Chicken and salmon both retain high biological value for dogs, but the quality of protein depends on how the meats have been processed and whether or not your dog has an allergy to a certain meat.

Whats the most easily digestible protein for dogs?

Whole eggs have high biological values and are a great source of protein for Fido, but there are many recommended options, including chicken, turkey, salmon, and lean ground beef.

How much protein should dog food have?

The minimum requirement of crude protein³ for adult dogs is 8%, but the average diet for an adult dog typically contains 25-30% crude protein on the food label. Exactly how much protein your dog needs varies depending on your dogs breed, weight, health conditions, and activity level.

What fish is best for dogs?

Salmon and tilapia are highly recommended by vets! When trying out Fidos tolerance to any particular fish, start with a small amount.

Are any meats bad for dogs?

Not generally, though pork is a fattier cut of meat and can increase risk of developing pancreatitis, so youll want to keep consumption to a minimum. If your dog is sensitive or allergic to a certain meat, youll also want to avoid this as a protein source and consult your vet for an alternate source.

Do dogs prefer beef or lamb?

It all depends on your dogs allergies and pickiness! Many pups with allergies to chicken, fish or beef switch to lamb-based diets.