Keep the Tail Wagging is supported by pet parents. I occasionally earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) when you click through an affiliate link to one of my favorite products. Thank you for your support. Read More
Welcome to Raw Foodie Friday! This Friday, I'm sharing the recipe for my organ blend. In my effort to save money, I've decided to stop buying the organ blend from GreenTripe.com and make it myself. I'm not able to get the variety that GreenTripe.com provides, but I have enough organ/offal that I believe that my dogs' will be fine.
Why I Feed Organ Meat to My Dogs
Organ Meat is Nutrient Rich
I feed organs because that's where most of the vitamins and minerals are; in fact, I prefer to feed closer to 15% organ meat to my dogs. I feel at that percentage, my dogs are getting enough of the water-soluble vitamins without getting too much of the fat-soluble vitamins. Yeah, it's not science, but it's working for my dogs so I'm going with it.
Organ Meat has Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Organ meat is also a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids, which just blows me away because I always thought the only source was fish and fish oil. I still alternate sardines and fish oil in my dogs' diet, I just don't need to add it daily.
Grass-Fed is Preferred, but not Always Available or Affordable
Although I know grass-fed meat is best for my dogs, it's not always available or affordable. So I do the best with what's available in my area and what works with my budget. I'm lucky because the couple who manages our raw food co-op has vetted all of our sources so I know that I'm getting quality meat.
What is Offal?
Offal refers to the secreting organs. As humans, we're used to the term “organ” including the heart, however, in raw feeding, the heart (and other organs) are fed as muscle meat. That being said, I do add the heart to my organ blend because it's rich in the B vitamins.
List of Offal We Can Feed to Our Dogs
- Liver
- Brain
- Kidneys
- Pancreas
- Spleen
- Testicles
List of Organs that are Fed as Meat
- Gizzards
- Green Tripe
- Heart
- Lung
- Ovaries
- Penis
- Tongue
- Trachea
- Uterus
Ingredients in DIY Organ Blend for Dogs
I feed pork and beef organs to my dogs, however, I get more variety with pork than with beef (where I live). For my first organ blend, I used the following ingredients, purchased by the case:
- pork heart
- pork liver
- pork uterus
- pork kidneys
- pork brains
I nice blend of organ meat and offal. Yummm.
I grind everything up to make it easier. I mixed it all in a huge cooler because I had over 100 pounds and then spooned the mixture into freezer-safe containers. I have enough to last at least 3 months.
Read: Top 3 Meat Grinders for Raw Feeders
Nutrients in My Organ Blend
The following organs are rich in…
- pork heart – B Vitamins, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper, Selenium
- pork liver – Vitamins A, C, and B Vitamins, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium
- pork uterus – Vitamins B2, B3, B12, C, Iron, Zinc, Copper
- pork kidneys – Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper, Selenium
- pork brains – Vitamins B5 and B12, Phosphorus
The organ blend also brings another source of Omega 3 fatty acids to the bowl.
Source: NutritionalData.Self.com, Slism.com (for pork uterus)
Where to Buy Organ/Offal for Dogs
If you're having trouble finding organ meat for your dog, try these resources:
- Local ethic markets
- Raw food co-op
- Restaurant meat supplier
- Local butchers
- Local farms
Connect with hunters, homesteaders, or people share in a cow to see if they plan to consume the organs. This is a source that I learned about over the past year and one of the reasons a good raw feeding group is valuable. You get the best ideas in those groups.
What if a Dog Won't Eat Organ Meat?
Now, this is a tough one because I've never had a dog that didn't eat their organ meat. Of course, I grind the organs and mix them into a raw food blend, so they can't pick it out. However, I have heard from pet parents who do the same and their dog will give the food a sniff, then walk away.
Of course, you can try Tough Love and take the food away until the dog starts eating, but I know that this isn't a favorite for a lot of pet parents, so I found this video by Scott Jay Marshall II, Dog Dad and founder of the online course, Raw Feeding 101, who shares tips on how to get your dog to eat organ meat.
Need help transitioning to raw dog food? Consider the online course Raw Feeding 101. This is a great way to learn how to transition your dog to raw, step-by-step, with the guidance of an experienced raw feeder.
Check out Raw Feeding 101 Today!
