What is Offal And Is It Good For Dogs & Cats?
If you’re choosing to feed your dog or cat a raw balanced diet, there are some new terms and words you will hear for the first time; one being “offal”. So, what is offal?
Offal is essentially the internal organs of animals such as the liver, kidney, stomach, intestines, pancreas, spleen, lungs, brain, testicles, etc.
The Amazing Health Benefits Of Offal
Most people in Australia may turn their nose up at the sound of offal, this sounds but when it comes to pet food and feeding your pet, they think the opposite. They love it!
When fed in the correct ratios, including offal into your pet's diet is the most natural way for them to get what they need for a nutritionally balanced diet. Offal offers the most bioavailable forms of vitamins and minerals, meaning it's the easiest way for their bodies to break down nutrients. Compared to normal cuts of meat, organs are extremely rich in B vitamins, (B1, B2, B6 & B12), Folic Acid, vitamins A, D, E and K; as well as minerals like phosphorous, iron, copper, magnesium and iodine.
Our article on 'Offal For Dogs' does into more depth about feeding organ meats to your pet dogs.
What Are The Dangers Of Feeding Offal To Pets?
But be warned, it’s not something you can just ‘whack together’. If you give your pet the wrong balance/ratio you can make them sick with either vomiting or diarrhea in the short term. If done over a long period, health deficiencies can also occur. Since many organ meats are so nutrient-dense, a small amount goes a long way.
And to be honest this is the main reason some vets worry when they hear their customers would like to feed their pet a raw diet; there are a lot of ‘cowboys’ out there not doing it right. This is enough to scare some pet owners away from even trying to offer their pet a raw diet. It's made out to seem too confusing and overwhelming and too technical. But here at Raw & Fresh, we do it for you, so get it in touch and let’s get your pet started towards a healthier life today.
Our Raw Feeding Guide is a great place to get started.
What Is The Best Way To Feed Offal?
Raw & Fresh have carefully balanced the inclusion of offal into several of our ready-made raw pet meals.
Our Basics Range and Essential Range contain human-grade offal to ensure your pets are getting the nutrient-dense benefits of these amazing superfoods. We also include offal in our AAFCO complete dog meals.
Another great way to get offal into your pet's diet is by offering occasional beef liver treats for dogs.