OFFAL dog treats are GOOD for dogs!

Firstly we want to say that offal dog treats have had a bad name ONLY because humans aren’t into eating them much anymore.  During times of extreme food shortages (like world wars) offal used to be used as much as meat, and so many European descendants still value good offal.

BUT offal is often even more important in a dog’s diet than meat.

And here is the reason.  Meat is great for protein, it is much more bioavailable than almost any vegetable or grain, BUT offal often provides an extra lay of fun (the texture of lung cubes) or a big boost in minerals (such as iron found in liver treats).

Even just from a VARIETY point of view, let alone providing a COMPLETE diet, OFFAL should remain a staple of ANY dog’s diet.

WHY ARE LIVER DOG TREATS IMPORTANT

Because LIVER DOG TREATS are the perfect nexus of being affordable, providing high nutrient loads, and are extremely tasty and smell wonderful to dogs, making them the PERFECT DOG TRAINING treat.

We have several liver dog treats on our site, and will be adding more in future. But as the main one that most people know about is BEEF LIVER – we provide a detailed analysis of the nutritional benefit of this offal treat below:

Beef liver treats for dogs are the world’s leading dog training dog treats. But urban whisperers have it that they are bad for your dog.  This is completely incorrect.

Raw feeder considerations:   Raw meat feeders often work by the rule of a “meat to offal to bone” ratio of  “80 : 15 (offal) : 5″

I am a dog walker and I regularly feed our pack dried beef liver as a recall treat. And my own dog goes on several walks per day, and he often gets a fair amount of beef liver treats but how much is safe and is there any value nutritionally in beef liver?

Small packs of beef liver dog treats often are around 100-150g in size.  My dog also gets lamb kidney as part of his raw diet so raw kidney plus dried beef liver are the two components that make up the 15% of offal in his diet. 15% of dry matter (200g) means that he could have up to 30g of dried beef liver (if that was his only offal), but since he gets kidney too, let’s put that value at 20g (on the high side of what he usually gets ) which is  20/ 150 =  13% of the packet of liver per day.

Beef liver dog treats & DOG PROTEIN requirements

There are NO MAXIMUM protein levels required by affco (ie you cant overdose a dog by feeding it a high protein diet) – unless it has a disease or is a very rare breed that cant have protein levels that every other dog needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Organ Meat Dog Treats 

Q1: Why are organ meats good for dogs?
Organ meats like liver, kidney, heart, and lung are some of the most nutrient-rich foods for dogs, packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals that support overall health.

Q2: Which organ meats are best for dogs?
The most popular organ treats include beef liver, lamb liver, kangaroo liver, chicken hearts, and lamb kidney. Each provides unique nutrients while being highly palatable.  And are excellent dog training treats because of their unique smell profiles.

Q3: Are liver treats safe for daily use?
Yes, liver is excellent in moderation. However, because it is very rich in vitamin A, it’s best to use liver as a treat and not as the main diet.  Though the richest in these nutritional benefits are the secreting organs. So organs or offal like heart and lung (non secreting) are more like muscle meats and have less restrictions.

Q4: Are organ meat treats suitable for puppies?
Yes. Puppies benefit from the high protein and essential nutrients found in organ meats. Choose smaller, softer options like dried liver pieces for training. Lung is also very easy for puppies to chew and eat.

Q5: Do organ treats help with training?
Yes. Liver and heart treats are considered high-value rewards, making them perfect for obedience training and reinforcing positive behaviour.

Q6: Are organ meats low in fat?
Yes. Most organ meats, such as liver and kidney, are naturally lean and suitable for dogs on a low-fat diet.

Q7: Are organ treats safe for dogs with allergies?
Yes, organ treats are usually single-ingredient and suitable for dogs with food sensitivities. For allergy-prone dogs, novel proteins like roo liver or goat liver can be ideal. If your dog is allergic to beef then it is likely to be allergic to beef offal too.

Q8: How often can I give organ meat treats?
Organ treats can be given daily as part of a balanced diet. Use small amounts regularly for training or rewards.