In the wild, a predator will usually go for the liver as one of the first meats to eat and that’s for a good reason. Liver is packed with nutrients that your pet needs. It’s rich in vitamin A, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and phosphorous just to name a few. It’s also higher in protein and lower in fat than muscle meat.
How does liver help your pet?
Vitamin A (1200x more in liver vs muscle meat):
- Dogs need vitamin A for healthy digestion. It is also essential for both body and neurological growth, making it very important for puppies and pregnant/nursing dogs. Moreover, since it’s an antioxidant, vitamin A supports eye health and aids in their ability to see in the dark.
- For cats, vitamin A is not only healthy, it’s essential! Unlike dogs, cats are unable to synthesize vitamin A and require it to be a part of their diet. It aids in skin health and, like dogs, eye health and the ability to see in the dark.
Vitamin B12 (2x more in liver vs muscle meat):
- B12 is very important for a dog’s nervous system and spinal health. It also aids in the production of red blood cells. Some breeds like Beagles, Giant Shnauzers, and Border Collies might have a harder time absorbing this vitamin, so it’s essential to provide more of it in their diet.
- Similarly, B12 is essential for cats to have a healthy nervous system. It’s also essential for a healthy gut and immune system. Cats require high amounts of vitamin B12 to maintain a healthy life.
Copper (100x more in liver vs muscle meat):
- For both cats and dogs, copper is vital for collagen, tissue, and bone formation. It’s also very important for skin and coat health and a healthy immune system
How to feed liver safely?
It’s a common misconception that liver contains a lot of toxins. The truth is that liver cleanses the body of toxins, it does NOT store them! It has been shown that cooking liver can destroy around 35% of it’s nutrients. Therefore, it’s more benefial to feed your pet raw, dehydrated, or freeze dried liver from a trusted source.
How to feed:
- Both cats and dogs require 5-10% of their diet to be liver ( so if your pet weighs 10kgs and they eat 250g a day, then 12.5-25g of the 250g should be liver).
- If your pet has never had liver start slow! The high amounts of nutrients found in liver can cause an upset stomach or loose stool. Increase liver portions gradually if you see that your pet is doing fine, until you reach the 5-10% mark.
- If your pet won’t eat liver, try hiding it in other foods to mask it.
Do not overfeed:
- Because liver is so high in Vitamin A, overfeeding can result in Vitamin A toxicity. This won’t happen overnight, you would need to overfeed liver for a few months straight for this problem to occur.
- Copper Toxicity is another issue with overfeeding liver. Similarly, this issue also appears over a long period of time and comes with signs like diarhhea, excessive peeing, vomitting, or loss of appetite. Some breeds like Labrador Retrievers and Dobermans are more susceptible to this since they have a harder time ridding of copper.
- Keep in mind that dehydrated liver is more concentrated than raw liver so you should give less of it.
With all its minerals and nutrients, it ‘s like a multivitamin for your pet! Liver can be the perfect meal topper for picky eaters or used as a high value reward for training.