benefits of organs

Now this is the part of the raw feeding programme that can make even the strongest stomach turn, but if you can understand the concept behind the benefits, you might find a coping strategy.

Most pre-packed raw foods will have offal already incorporated into their dishes, especially minces. The benefit of pre-made is that you don’t get to see the offal in its natural form as it has usually gone through the mincer.

The problem that can occur when you serve your dog a premixed food is that it limits the types and amounts of offal that your dog is ingesting. If you continuously serve you dogs a premixed meal, he/she will not get the full range of nutritional benefits that each one has to offer.

I would recommend that if you give a pre-mix such as beef and liver for breakfast, then either give a straight mix (one that has nothing else added to it such as lamb mince, meat only) and either add an offal mixed mince or add your own.

How much to feed:
As a guide, the ratio of raw feeding is calculated at 80-10-10. 80% muscle meat, 10% bone and 10% organ.

The 10% of organ can vary slightly, depending on your dog’s likes/dislikes and responses.

Organs are super enriched with vitamins and minerals. More so than muscle meats. This is why it is important to blend them into your dog’s diet. Each organ is unique and contains its own nutritional value, all of which are beneficial for dogs in some shape or form.

The bigger the variety, the better!!
What is classed as an organ and what are their nutritional values? Below we have provided you with a guide to the nutritional values of some of the readily available organs.

Liver
Liver has one of the highest concentration sources of vitamin A and it can act as an effective antioxidant. It also contains folic acid, iron, copper, and vitamin B.  

Due to its high content of vitamin A, it is advisable to restrict liver serving to 5% or less of your dog’s diet.

Based on 28g of beef liver

Pancreas
Although the pancreas does not have the same concentrations of vitamins and minerals like other organs, it still has other essential nutrients that are beneficial. The pancreas provides digestive enzymes and is suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Based on 28g beef pancreas

Spleen
The spleen is highly concentrated in the amino acid tryptophan and iron. Due to its content, the spleen provides an excellent source of iron for puppies

Based on 28mg of beef spleen

Kidney
Kidney contains a wide variety of B vitamins and is highly concentrated in selenium. It is also a better source of vitamin D than other organs.

Based on 28g of beef kidney

Brain
The fat to protein ratio of brain is approximately 1:1 and is a rich source of DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), which is an omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural component of the brain.

Lower levels of DHA can also be found in fish

Based on 28g of beef brain

Thymus
The thymus contains essential nutrients that can aid in providing hormones which aid the function of the immune system. It is one of the least concentrated organs for vitamin and mineral values, but it still contains beneficial factors.

Based on 28g of beef thymus