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To be a dog lover or a veterinarian, you must get along well with dogs. Some dogs are naturals in social situations, while others need a little more persuasion. Treats are one way to interact with dogs and enable us to handle them and administer treatments as required.
Most dog lovers will tell their dogs they are loved by giving them treats. To connect with dogs and their humans, even total strangers carry some treats in their pockets. I’ve always had mixed feelings about letting other people give my dogs treats. Most dogs love junk food, and low-quality Milk Bones and other treats are widely available in shops, workplaces, and hotels.
“Just one” turns into many treats, so I devised a strategy of requesting people to refrain from giving my dog Pax (and my other dogs Skai and Pax) treats. I often carried healthier and safer treats in my pocket to give to the giver so that they could give them to Skai, avoiding disappointment on both sides. (Click here to read an article on selecting dog treats that are safe.) ).
This article serves as a warning against giving pets too much of one treat that can be toxic when given frequently but is safe in small amounts: dehydrated liver.
Nutritionally, liver is a rich source of essential nutrients such as amino acids and fat. It is also a rich source of some vitamins and minerals such as A, B6, B12, C, D, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, iron, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium. Naturally, liver is a relatively small portion of a canine diet.
The liver’s primary functions include producing vitamins and amino acids, detoxifying the blood and body, and managing the body’s supply of nutrients and energy. The organ also has the difficult task of neutralizing countless synthetic and harmful chemicals found in food and the environment. This explains why so many dog lovers experience success when they give their dogs a twice-yearly liver cleanse.
In the course of the last two decades, more people have tried to stay away from junky processed treats and go to single source meat or organ treats. This is one of the reasons why dehydrated liver has become one of the most popular items on the pet store shelves. Unfortunately, the popularity of liver treats has led to a new problem most dog lovers are unaware of: vitamin A hypervitaminosis, or so-called liver poisoning.
Large amounts of liver, a very rich source of vitamin A, a member of the group of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, are the primary cause of this condition. Vitamin A is good for you in the right amounts, but too much of it can be harmful because fat-soluble vitamins are much harder to get rid of in excess than, say, water-soluble vitamins B and C.
Due to their drastically reduced volume during dehydration and their high vitamin A content compared to raw or cooked liver, liver treats, especially the dehydrated ones, put our dogs at risk of hypervitaminosis A.
I’ve seen people give their dogs a lot of liver treats every day or frequently, which causes issues.
Increased bone resorption and decreased bone production are brought on by an excess of vitamin A. Osteoporosis, spontaneous bone fractures, hypercalcemia (high blood calcium levels), and abnormal joint calcification may result from this.
A disruption in the function of the other fat-soluble vitamins D, E, and K is another sign of hypervitaminosis A.
Dogs require vitamin A under normal conditions, and vitamin supplements containing fermented vitamins are acceptable. But it’s a major issue that dogs getting large amounts of liver in the form of treats was never intended by nature.
In general, diagnosis is not a straightforward process. The condition is diagnosed using radiographs, blood calcium, cholesterol, liver enzymes, and finally vitamin A (retinol) levels.
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF LIVER TREAT TOXICITY
Give your dog no more than a few pieces of liver treats per week, especially if they are dehydrated.
If you’ve been giving your dog a lot of dehydrated liver treats but they haven’t displayed any symptoms:
For at least three to six months, completely discontinue giving liver supplements.
If your dog shows symptoms of possible hypervitaminosis A:
Implement steps one to four, PLUS
How to Feed Your Dog Liver
Liver can be consumed by cats and dogs in a variety of ways. Your pets can consume liver raw, cooked, dehydrated, or freeze-dried. You could also feed raw for meals and dehydrated or freeze-dried liver treats, like I do. I wouldn’t advise starting with raw liver if your dog or cat isn’t typically fed raw food.
Too Much of a Good Thing
Liver is very rich and can cause loose stools. This goes for all pets and all ways of feeding. Start feeding liver in small quantities. Liver is also high in vitamin A and copper. A dog who consumes too much of either nutrient may develop health problems. Never give your pet more than 5% of his total diet as liver. You might need to reduce the liver or other foods if he consumes a lot of vitamin A and copper from his other foods.
FAQ
Can dogs eat dehydrated liver?
Dehydrated liver treats are not only a fantastic high-quality reward for your dog’s training, but they are also a great source of vitamins and nutrients.
Can dogs eat dehydrated beef liver?
Dehydrated Beef Liver for Dogs, All-Natural This all-natural treat is very nourishing. Our protein-rich, low-fat dehydrated beef liver is only 3% fat. Another excellent source of iron and zinc is beef liver. Both have a significant impact on your dog’s immune system and metabolism.
How much dried liver can A dog eat?
Therefore, gradually ease your furry friend into it. That amounts to no more than 1 ounce of beef liver per day for a medium-sized dog. A small breed dog would need about a fifth of an ounce of food each day, while a large dog could have two to two and a half. 5 ounces per day.
Is it okay to feed dogs liver everyday?
Only feed liver occasionally. Instead of giving your dog liver every day, use liver morsels as training or reward treats occasionally to give them a taste of some delicious human food. Although liver can be beneficial for a dog’s diet, too much of it can result in an excess of vitamin A.