Feeding a dog the right food is important if you want them to live a long and healthy life. Many pet owners are aware of the health benefits of feeding their dogs raw foods, such as raw ground beef. It’s known to be a great source of protein and essential nutrients. But is raw ground beef safe and nutritious for dogs? Can you feed your dog raw ground beef?
In this blog post, we’ll be looking at the potential benefits and risks associated with feeding your dog raw ground beef. We’ll also be discussing the difference between raw and regular ground beef, and whether or not it’s a good idea to feed your dog raw ground beef. We’ll also be covering the importance of sourcing the right kind of raw ground beef and how to properly prepare it for your pup.
By the end of this post, you’ll have a better understanding of whether or not you should feed your dog raw ground beef
What Types of Meat are Good?
It’s best to feed raw ground beef from a reputable source, like a nearby farm or co-op, from a safety perspective. While acceptable to provide, grocery store ground beef is not as high quality as that from a nearby farm. Salmonella and other dangerous bacteria can be present in raw meat, so high-quality beef is essential to lowering bacterial risks. If the raw ground beef is grass-fed, that’s also a plus.
Unfortunately, a raw meat diet is not as simple as putting raw ground beef, eggs, and bones for calcium in a dog bowl and feeding it. You need to make sure that you are meeting nutrient requirements for your dog using NRC or AAFCO standards, and a raw diet like the one listed above would considerably fall short in meeting nutrient requirements. Dog owners who want to feed a raw diet are best off feeding a commercial raw pet food product to meet nutrient requirements or working with a canine nutritionist for a complete and balanced recipe.
Fatty Acids in Ground Beef for Dogs
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid (LA), and a few long-chain fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, are among the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in ground beef. Native Pets Omega Oil, which is bursting with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support healthy skin and fur, is a great option if you want to make sure your dog is getting the right amount of fatty acids in their diet.
Ground beef can be purchased with 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% fat, depending on the product. Depending on the precise percentage you choose to feed your dog, the ground beef’s fat percentage also means the amount of fatty acids it contains will change. In the world of human nutrition, ground beef is renowned for having a high content of saturated fat, but your intake of fat will determine this. Ground beef with a higher fat content has more saturated fat. However, humans are not affected by saturated fat in the same way that dogs are. Unlike humans, healthy dogs do not develop heart disease from saturated fat.
The right amount of ground beef to feed your puppy will depend on a few things and the specific dog. Below are a few scenarios:
What is the goal of feeding the ground beef?
- For instance, a higher fat ground beef may be the best option for a healthy, young, active dog if fed as an additional energy source on top of the dog’s diet of kibble or freeze-dried dog food, provided the dog can tolerate more fat.
Does your dog have an intolerance to fat pancreatitis, or is your dog overweight or in the obese range?
- You should only feed your dog ground beef that contains no more than 10% fat if your dog has any of these conditions.
Is your dog having an upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting? Do you want to use ground beef as part of a temporary bland diet?
- When using ground beef, it’s best to select ground beef with 5–10% fat and to always cook it. The lower the fat for digestive problems, the better.
2 – Mixing Raw and Kibble Together
I want to emphasize that not all dogs should consume kibble and raw meat together. Many people do this without any problems, but in my opinion, this diet combination may be too much for dogs with sensitive stomachs. This is what happened to my dog Rodrigo, who has a history of digestive problems.
What people have to say about combining raw meat and kibble is as follows:
By replacing 20% of the kibble with fresh food (raw dog food or vegetables), you can lower your dog’s risk of developing cancer. It’s a great way to add fresh food to the bowl.
While some people advise pet owners to fill the bowl with fresh food, including raw dog food, others think it’s a bad idea. Changing to raw food is intended to improve our dogs’ health. If we continue to feed kibble, we risk negating the advantages that raw food offers in the bowl. Kibble is difficult to digest, it causes inflammation, and the ingredients’ provenance is in doubt. Some believe that the 20% fresh food added to the bowl is insufficient to make up for the drawbacks of feeding kibble.
Ive heard two stories of why raw and kibble dont belong in the same meal. Some believe that raw and kibble digest at different rates (raw is digested faster). When raw dog food is mixed with kibble, its held in our dogs digestive tract longer, causing it to decompose inside our pups, making them sick. Another theory is that raw and kibble require different pH in the tummy, which is what creates the digestive upset.
FAQ
How do you cook raw ground beef for dogs?
The simplest way to prepare ground beef for your dog is to break it up and boil it until it is no longer pink. You can remove the fat before cooling it down and feed your dog if it is overweight.
How much raw ground beef can a dog have?
If you know how much to give, you can use ground meat as part of your dog’s regular diet. In essence, you want to ensure that the meat is as lean and unseasoned as possible. According to Founders Veterinary Clinic, a dog needs 0. 25-0. 20 pounds of body weight equals 3 pounds of meat per day.
What type of raw meat can dogs eat?
Dogs should consume muscle meat (hamburger, chicken, and turkey), as well as a variety of healthy organ meat (heart, liver, and kidneys), whole fish, and raw meaty bones (also known as RMBs), according to the majority of raw feeders.
Can I feed my dog ground beef everyday?
Yes, beef is a good source of protein that keeps your dog’s energy levels high. Additionally, beef contains vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids like omega-6 that support your dog’s healthy coat, skin, joints, and muscles. Generally speaking, feeding your dog lean, plain beef is healthier.