Have you ever purchased a whole chicken from the grocery store, but didn’t know what to do with the giblets? If you’re not a fan of eating chicken organs, you may wonder if you can feed them to your dogs to avoid wasting them.
Yes, chicken giblets are good for dogs. They are a low-fat, nutritious snack to add to your dog’s diet. Be sure to cook them fully to avoid gastrointestinal issues and give them to your dog in moderation.
Keep reading to find out how to prepare chicken giblets for your dog and the benefits and drawbacks of offering this tasty snack to your pup. Check out the best organic dog food on Amazon now!
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Giblets? How Often?
Dogs can eat chicken giblets. In fact, they absolutely love to chow down on them whenever they get the chance. Dogs love all meat, organs and all.
You can give your pooch chicken giblets as a rare treat or as often as once a day. The key is moderation: the giblets shouldn’t make up more than about 20% of your dog’s diet.
If your dog isn’t used to having meat as a treat, start slowly and build your way up to feeding chicken giblets more regularly.
If you cook up a big batch of giblets, you can store them in the fridge in Ziploc baggies for several days. This makes it simple to offer your pups a small treat each day.
What Are The Benefits Of Chicken Giblets For Dogs?
Chicken giblets are an incredibly healthy snack for your dog. Here are a few of the benefits of feeding your dog giblets:
- Vitamins A ; D. These potent vitamins are packed with antioxidants. They can help combat infections and autoimmune diseases, improve digestion, and increase muscle and bone strength.
- Iron. While chicken gizzards aren’t as high in iron content as beef gizzards, they still pack a powerful punch. Iron helps your dog to be strong and can help regulate their body temperature.
- Glucosamine. The glucosamine found in chicken giblets–especially in the gizzard–can help protect your dog’s joints.
- Chromium. This mineral helps regulate blood sugar levels.
- Protein. Like most meat cuts, chicken giblets are packed with protein. According to Purina, a popular dog food producer, protein serves many important functions in your dog’s body. It supports immune function, helps create and maintain healthy skin and hair, and helps with the production of enzymes and hormones.
- It’s natural. In the wild, dogs hunt small animals and eat their meat and organs. While commercially-sold dog kibble is a convenient choice, it doesn’t mimic your dog’s natural environment. Offering them chicken gizzards is an easy, inexpensive way to make your dog’s diet more natural.
What Are The Downsides Of Chicken Giblets For Dogs?
There are also a few downsides to feeding your dog chicken giblets.
- Overfeeding can cause a stomach upset. If your dog isn’t accustomed to eating meat on a frequent basis, suddenlyintroducing large amounts of chicken giblets to their diet may make them sick. It’s best to give your dog small portions to keep their tummy comfortable.
- They may overdose on Vitamin A. An overdose of Vitamin A over a long period of time may result in muscle weakness, bone spurs, and weight loss.
- They are high in cholesterol. Just like in people, consuming too much cholesterol is bad for your dog’s heart health. By only feeding moderate amounts of chicken giblets, you can safely manage your dog’s cholesterol levels.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken Giblets?
While dogs can technically eat raw chicken giblets, you should fully cook them before feeding them to your dog. If you don’t cook them first, your dog might be susceptible to food poisoning or other food-borne illnesses.
It’s true that dogs in the wild kill and eat raw chicken organs, but a domesticated dog’s diet is far different. By feeding raw giblets to your dog, they may end up with an upset stomach, especially if they aren’t used to eating raw meat.
The downside to feeding your dog cooked chicken giblets is the loss in nutrients. The cooking process removes many of the beneficial vitamins and nutrients, but the chicken gizzard will still be a delicious treat.
If you decide to feed your dog raw chicken giblets, make sure you give them a very small amount. This will help to avoid an upset tummy and potential vet bills!
How Do You Cook Chicken Giblets For Dogs?
Luckily, there are several simple ways to cook chicken giblets to make them safe for your dog to eat.
You can cook them in a saucepan for about 15 minutes on medium heat until they are fully cooked. Avoid cooking the giblets in oil or butter, as this will add too much fat to your dog’s diet.
Another simple way to cook chicken giblets for your dogs is to boil them in water. Fill a pot of water and bring it to a boil, then let the giblets boil for about 5-10 minutes.
Once they are fully cooked, let them cool completely before feeding them to your dog. You don’t want to burn your pup’s mouth!
Baking the giblets is also an easy way to prepare them for your dog, though it takes a while. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then place the giblets on a baking sheet and cook them for about 30 minutes until they are completelycooked.
If you’ve joined the air fryer craze (after all, they are so simple to use and cook up some delicious dishes!), you’ll love knowing that you can use them to quickly prepare chicken giblets in the fryer.
Turn the heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, toss them in the air fryer, and let them cook for about 8 minutes. Check out the best organic dog food on Amazon now!
Final Thoughts
Chicken giblets are a delicious snack for your dog. By cooking them thoroughly and feeding them in moderation, you’ll ensure your dog stays happy and healthy.
Your dog will be so happy for the special treat–not to mention you’ll cut down on food waste.
My name is Katie, and I have had different pets at home for as long as I can remember. While I can definitely say I love all animals in general, my heart belongs to cats and dogs. I know you are supposed to choose one or the other, but I could never really decide. I’ve also owned hamsters and fish when I was a kid, and they filled my childhood with very delightful memories.
