Should dogs eat chicken or beef
Can Dogs Eat Ground Beef? Vet-Approved Health Facts & FAQ
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreFeeding your dog is one of your most important tasks as a pet parent. Dogs, like humans, need the proper diet with the correct levels of fats, carbohydrates, and other nutrients. One of the most important for dogs is protein, which can come from several sources, including meat. One question you may have is whether dogs can eat ground beef.
Yes, ground beef is an excellent source of protein, but there are a few things to know first. To learn more about feeding your dog ground beef, including how to prepare it and how much your dog should eat, read on.
What Type of Ground Beef is Best for a Dog?
The main difference between types of ground beef at the grocery store is how much fat they contain. There are four common cuts of ground beef, with different levels of fat, including:
- Extra-lean ground beef: 10% fat (90% lean)
- Lean ground beef: 17% fat (83% lean)
- Medium ground beef: 23% fat (77% lean)
- Regular ground beef: 30% fat (70% lean)
The two types of ground beef best for most dogs are extra-lean and lean. Medium and regular beef are too high in fat to feed your dog regularly, but can be given as an occasional treat.
How Often Can Dogs Eat Ground Beef?
Ground beef should not be the only food source you feed your dog, but if fed as part of a nutritionally balanced diet, it can be given daily. Dogs are facultative carnivores, which essentially means that they have evolved to eat a carnivorous diet, but can do well, even thrive, as omnivores. They need the right balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins to stay healthy, and beef alone will not provide this. If you are thinking about feeding your dog a home-prepared diet, speak to your vet about making sure you are including everything your dog needs.
How Much Ground Beef Should I Feed My Dog?
The rule of thumb for feeding ground beef to your dog is that, for every 20 pounds they weigh, you can feed them of a pound (5.3 ounces/150 grams) of ground beef.
- if your dog weighs 40 pounds, you can feed them pounds of lean or extra-lean ground beef as an occasional special meal. If your canine companion weighs 60 pounds, you can feed them a pound of ground beef.
How Should Ground Beef Be Prepared for a Dog?
Although raw diets have become fashionable in recent years, ground meat/mince is one meat that should NEVER be fed raw. The reason for this is that most of the pathogens associated with meat are on the outside surface. This is why just searing the outside of a steak is generally considered to be safe; the hot temperature kills off any bacteria on the meats surface.
With ground beef, the outside and the inside are all mixed together, meaning that any potential pathogens have also been mixed through. The USDA states that the pathogens Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Listeria, and Staphylococcus aureus are all found in raw meat. To make sure they are eliminated, the ground beef needs to be cooked all the way through.
A few more things to keep in mind when cooking ground beef for your dog:
- Pour off the excess fat drippings before feeding.
- Never add salt, pepper, garlic, or onions.
- Let the ground beef cool before serving so your dog doesnt burn its mouth when it gulps the beef down.
Should You Add Ground Beef to Your Dogs Regular Dog Food?
Adding ground beef to a dogs regular kibble can help picky dogs eat their regular food with more enthusiasm. One thing to remember, though, is to reduce the amount of regular dog chow when you add ground beef so that the overall amount equals their daily food requirement.If you dont make this adjustment, they are likely to gain weight.
Conclusion
Dogs need protein, and ground beef is an excellent source. As weve seen, it should be lean or extra-lean ground beef, it must be fully cooked, and you should never feed ground beef to your dog in its raw state.
When cooked correctly, your dog can eat of a pound of ground beef for every 20 pounds it weighs. You should cook the ground beef without seasoning and pour off any fat that rises to the surface, especially if your dog is overweight.
You can feed ground beef as an occasional treat or as part of a nutritionally balanced diet. Talk to your vet if you are thinking about feeding a homemade diet, to ensure you are meeting all your dogs nutritional requirements.
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Featured Image Credit: Vezzani Photography, Shutterstock
Can Dogs Eat Bones? The Ultimate Guide To Whats Safe & Whats Not
Give a dog a bone a common saying weve all heard, but in reality, should you satisfy those pitiful eyes begging you for your leftover bone from dinner? We all know dogs consider a bone a prized possession, but do you know which bones are safe, and what do you do if your dog eats a bone thats harmful? Find out all the answers to your questions and more in our comprehensive guide to safe bones for dogs.
Types Of Bones Can Dogs Eat?
Although it depends on the type of animal bone, you should follow some general rules when considering giving your dog this treat.
- Raw vs cooked: Can dogs eat raw (uncooked) bones? Most veterinary experts agree that giving your dog raw bones is much safer than cooked ones. Cooking causes bones to soften and increases the risk of splintering when chewed. Raw bones are also an excellent source of minerals and vitamins. However, raw bones may contain bacteria that cause food-borne diseases, so talk with your vet about how to handle the bones safely to prevent illness in you and your dog.
- Bone size: Opt for large, thick bones rather than small or narrow bones. Dogs are less likely to chew down large bones into shards and smaller pieces they can swallow.
- Existing digestive problems: If your dog suffers from digestive issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or frequent diarrhea, then its a good idea to take all bones off the table. Bone marrow is extremely rich and can exacerbate these problems.
Beef Bones
One of the most frequent questions we see is, can dogs have beef rib bones? Yes, as long as theyre large. Beef bones are naturally harder than most other types of animal bones, making them more difficult for dogs to break down. Can dogs eat steak bones? The same rule applies to rib bones.
Can dogs eat rib bones or cooked beef bones? Theres been some disagreement among veterinary experts in the past on if dogs can have cooked beef bones,but the general consensus is that cooked bones, regardless of the type, are not good for dogs. Talk with your vet about feeding your dog cooked beef bones.
Chicken Bones
Can dogs eat cooked chicken bones (or raw, for that matter)? The consensus on chicken bones of any kind is a resounding NO. Why? Chicken bones, especially when cooked, easily break and splinter. This can cause your dog to choke from bones getting caught in their throat.
Even worse, the sharp, splintered bones can puncture your dogs gastrointestinal tract, which not only can cause extreme pain and infection but can also lead to death if not treated immediately.
Turkey Bones
Turkey bones splinter easily like chicken bones. So, feeding turkey bones of any kind (raw or cooked) is notrecommended.
PorkBones
Can dogs have pork bones, or can dogs eat pork chop bones? Like chicken bones, veterinary experts typically agree that pork bones arent safe, whether theyre cooked or raw. This includes pork ribs, ham bones, and pork chop bones. The adverse health effects can be the same as youd see with chicken bones.
Lamb Bones
Lambs bones are more similar to beef bones in their density. So, follow the same rules as beef bones. Raw is better but cooked is okay if the lamb bone is large and thick.
What Do I Do If My Dog Eats A Bad Bone?
We all try to be responsible pet parents, but pups can be sneaky and steal a bone off a plate or counter when you turn your back for a second. So, lets say your crafty canine ate cooked chicken bones. What do you do? Stay calm and follow these steps:
- If you catch your dog in the act, try to take the bones awaybefore he gobbles them all down.
- Make sure they are not choking (see the video below for how to help a choking dog).
- Call your veterinarian to see if they have any immediate suggestions. Some vets and the American Kennel Club recommend giving your dog a few pieces of white bread to help cushion their GI tract. Every situation is different, however, so be sure to call your vet ASAP.
Watch Your Dog Closely
Ingesting chicken bones doesnt necessarily lead to any problems, but keeping a close eye on your dog for the next several days is crucial to ensure hes in the clear.
- If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, go to your vet immediately: vomiting, lethargy,abdominal bloating, not eating, constipation or straining to defecate, or bloody stool.
- Check your dogs stool for a few days to see if the bone fragments passed through.
- If you havent seen the bones in his stool within 3-4 days, visit your vet to make sure the bones arent stuck in your dogs GI tract.
The injuries resulting from damage to a dogs intestinal tract could require expensive surgery. Signing up for pet insurance before your dog ends up in an unexpected veterinary emergency is an excellent way to reduce your financial risk as a pet owner. Use our tool below to get multiple quotes instantly.
Can Dogs Eat Bones Infographic
You can reference this handy infographic we created that summarizes tips about dogs eating bones.
How To Help A Choking Dog (Video)
If your dog is choking on a bone (or anything else), watch this brief video that illustrates how to help him right away until you can get him to your vet.
What Other Foods Should I Keep Away From My Dog?
If youve been in the habit of feeding your dog table scraps or giving them human food, stop what youre doing and read our article telling you what foods are toxic to dogs right away. You might be surprised at the number of foods dogs should never eat. You might also check out our rawhide alternatives article for some safe options for your dog to chew on.
Tagged With: Food Safety, Reviewed By Dr. Pendergrass, DVMCan Dogs Eat Chicken?
Considering how many dog foods contain chicken as an ingredient, its a safe bet that you can feed your dog chicken. In fact, its a good source of protein, and cooked chicken can even be substituted for or added to his regular meal.
Most sources recommend against raw chicken, due to the risk of salmonella or bacterial infections, although the movement toward raw food, including raw chicken and raw chicken bones, is growing. But if youre not sure about raw food diets, any unseasoned roasted, poached, grilled, or baked chicken can be served on its own, mixed with your dogs regular meal, or served as a treat. You can even mix it with a healthy grain, and a vegetable such as string beans or other vegetables safe for dogs, for a special homemade dinner.
There are two things to be aware of before serving your dog chicken.
- Some dogs are allergic to chicken, and it ranks among the top 10 allergy-inducing ingredients. The most common allergens are beef, dairy, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit, and fish.
- Be sure to take cooked chicken off the bone. Cooked chicken bones splinter easily, which can cause choking or a gastrointestinal tract puncture
If youve determined that your dog happily and healthily eats chicken, go ahead and let them enjoy it. And, just for fun, try these homemade, vet-approved chicken recipes for dogs: a yummy mini omelette or frozen chicken treat.
Learn more about human foods your dog can and cant eat.
