Pork liver is a healthy, nutritious meal for your dog. It’s also relatively cheap and easy to find in most grocery stores. We’re going to go through the steps on how to prepare pork liver for dogs and make it into a tasty treat they’ll love!
You must know the correct way of preparing pork liver before feeding it to your pup, so we’ve detailed all the main steps below.
How to cook pork liver Properly
Cooking pork liver is the first step to ensuring your dog won’t get sick after eating it.
PRO TIP: We recommend getting fresh pork liver from a trusted source, or specifically freezing and storing your own. It’s preferred that you make sure they’re sourced from animals who were not given antibiotics or hormones and fed a natural diet free of additives. This is because the meat will be healthier for your dog and less likely to cause any adverse reactions.
First:
The best way to cook pork liver is by slicing it into thin, flat pieces and cooking it quickly in a frying pan with a little oil. This way, the liver will cook fast and evenly and retain less of a ‘raw’ taste – though you’re free to cook it however you prefer!
Simply add slices of pork liver to a frying pan with a little oil on medium heat. The liver should sizzle when the pan is hot enough – and flip once one side has cooked about halfway through. Depending on how large your pieces are, this should take around five minutes total for each side.
Second:
Once the liver has been cooked and cut into pieces, it will begin to harden up and the outside will brown. This won’t make it unfit for your dog, however, it’s advisable to keep the liver in an airtight container in the fridge until serving. By keeping it fresh and sealed, you’ll ensure that your pup gets the healthiest, tastiest possible meal!
Another option is to freeze your pork liver. This can be done by preparing it as mentioned above and then placing carefully sized portions in a freezer bag or airtight container once cooled completely. If freezing for more than a week, we recommend portioning them into smaller pieces first, as they’ll defrost faster this way.
You can also read how to cook cow liver for dogs.
How to serve cooked pork liver to your dog
Once the pork liver is cooked and cooled, you can then cut it into sizes that your pet will enjoy eating. This is important as larger pieces of pork liver are less palatable for dogs, while they may enjoy small, soft treats (though this depends on the dog’s taste!). Smaller treats are also much safer to feed as they’re less likely to be swallowed whole – which could lead to choking or digestive problems.
Remember, always ensure that any cuts or treats you choose are safe for your dog! It’s recommended that you don’t give dogs anything bigger than their canine teeth can easily chew and swallow whole. This can be easily done by splitting up larger treats and keeping them on a plate or in an air-tight container.
How to care/preserve a cooked pork liver for dogs
As with any other cooked meal for your dog, if you serve them something that’s been cooked and is then left at room temperature or in a hot environment, the meat will spoil much more quickly. To make sure your dog gets the tastiest experience when eating it, we recommend putting the tissue paper or lid back on immediately after cutting it up for them.
This will keep the pieces cool so they last longer! You should also make sure you don’t rub your dog’s nose into their food – this could cause irritation and lead to digestive issues later on. If you’d like to protect their teeth from any potential tooth decay, render pork liver using only bones – this will neutralize the acid in the meat and help it last longer.
How long can you give a cooked pork liver to your dog?
It is too difficult to say how long pork liver should be fed to your dog, as this will depend on several factors:
- How active your dog is throughout the day?
- How much exercise do they get? Overactive dogs might need a larger portion than inactive ones. We recommend you give them something smaller than a serving size each time rather than larger portions.
- How old they are? Puppies will need a different amount than an adult or older dogs.
What to avoid when preparing pork liver for dogs.
There are a few things you should avoid while preparing pork liver for dogs. Some people may choose to grind the liver with onions, but if you’re feeding it with anything acidic like steak or tomatoes, it’s possible that this could cause an upset stomach.
In addition, don’t give your dog any spoiled meat – this can cause food poisoning! Raw pork shouldn’t be given to puppies either because of the risk of trichinosis – which can cause serious health problems for small pups.
Once you’ve prepared the pork liver, all that’s left to do is give your dog its first bite!
We hope this guide has given you everything you need to successfully prepare pork liver for dogs. If you have any questions about buying, storing, or serving pork liver for dogs, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
10 reasons why the liver is good for dogs
Pork liver is good for dogs for a lot of reasons: it’s tasty, it’s nutritious, and serves many of the same purposes as kibble.
But what are those reasons? And why should you feed your pup pork liver? We’ll answer these questions and more in our quick guide below.
First reason:
Pork liver is good for dogs because it’s packed with nutrients, which can benefit your dog in both the short and long term. Let’s take a look at a few:
A lot of vitamins and minerals. As with any organ meat, the liver is high in minerals like copper, selenium, and iron. It’s also loaded with vitamins A, B-complex, and B12. In fact, a cup of pork liver contains more than twice the vitamin A as a cup of sweet potatoes!
Given all this, it’s no surprise that pork liver – especially organ meat like liver – is considered very nourishing.
Second reason:
Pork liver provides the same nutrients as kibble; it’s just much more nutritious than kibble alone. Kibble is packed with protein, but only a few vitamins, minerals, and fats by comparison.
Third reason:
Pork liver, especially organ meat-like liver, is high in protein and low in fat. In fact, it’s just about as low in fat and calories as a piece of air-dried beef jerky. That means your pup can get all the nutrients without packing on the pounds.
Fourth reason:
The liver is much easier to digest than other forms of protein, such as red meat. Because of this, your pup’s body doesn’t have to expend a lot of energy on digestion. That means he can use that energy on other things – like playing and being a puppy!
Fifth reason:
Pork liver has a relatively low amount of fiber by comparison, so it’s great for pups with digestive issues like diarrhea or gas. It’s also easier to digest and less likely to cause an allergic reaction than chicken or beef.
Sixth reason:
Pork liver is a good source of iron, which strengthens your dog’s immune system and helps him stay healthy. It’s also a source of selenium, a powerful antioxidant that protects your pup from heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.
Seventh reason:
The liver has a lot of B vitamins and choline – both of which are important in maintaining healthy hair and skin and supporting the nervous system. Choline plays an especially crucial role for pregnant or nursing dogs, as it helps the baby’s nervous system develop properly.
Eighth reason:
Your pup also needs Vitamin C in his diet because it keeps tissue strong and healthy – both of which are necessary as your pup grows up. Plus, vitamin C plays a role in fighting off illness by boosting the immune system and creating healthy blood vessels.
Ninth reason:
Pork liver is also high in taurine, an amino acid that’s crucial for your puppy’s growth and development as a puppy. This is especially true for puppies under 6 months old, as their bodies can’t produce taurine on their own. Ensuring they’re getting enough can lead to all-around better health, from larger body size to a stronger heart and brain.
Tenth reason:
And lastly, pork liver has a high amount of B12, which helps keep your puppy’s red blood cells healthy. A sharp red blood cell count is crucial for your pup’s overall health and wellbeing.
Benefits of feeding your dog pork liver
The benefits of feeding your dog pork liver are quite numerous. We’ll go over the most important and interesting in this article.
Pork liver is one of the best sources of protein and other nutrients that your dog needs, as well as being a treat they will enjoy. It is low in fat and contains few carbohydrates, making it an excellent option for weight loss diets. It’s high in vitamins and minerals and the many essential amino acids that dogs need for good health.
Pork liver is an especially rich source of:
1. Amino acid tryptophan
Which helps to regulate blood sugar, improves mood and helps some depressed dogs to feel better. It also helps dogs that suffer from seizures.
2. Vitamin A
It has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (good for skin problems) as well as is vital for healthy eyesight. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin so too much can be toxic.
3. Vitamin B12
Pork liver is a vital nutrient for healthy skin, hair, and nerves. It is also necessary for the production of red blood cells.
4. Selenium
Helps to reduce the toxic effects of mercury and other heavy metals in your dog’s diet. It is also important for a healthy immune system and reproductive health.
5. Iron
The liver is necessary for producing hemoglobin (red blood cells) and myoglobin (protein in muscle). The liver contains more iron than any other food so if your dog doesn’t like beef or chicken liver you can try pork liver instead. This vitamin also helps to build muscles and it plays an important role in neurological functions.
6. Vitamin D
Pork Liver is also known as the Sunshine Vitamin. It is a fat-soluble vitamin and can be hard to get in adequate quantities from dog food.
7. Beta-carotene
Which converts to vitamin A in dogs. It is also essential for healthy skin and eyesight, as well as for promoting healthy immune systems.
8. Carnoine
It is an amino acid that helps the body resist muscle damage (especially during exercise) and helps the immune system fight off infections and inflammation.
These beneficial ingredients are not just antioxidants; they also have many other benefits for your dog’s health and well-being. All of these are included in pork liver:
In conclusion, pork liver is a healthy, nutritious, and delicious food for dogs that can be used as a treat or as part of your dog’s regular diet. It’s low in fat and packed with the nutrients that your dog needs.