Can Dogs Eat Chicken Gizzards? Nutritional Insights for Pet Owners

Chicken gizzards are full of important nutrients, but are they safe for your furry friend to eat? The answer is yes, dogs can eat chicken gizzards in moderation. Because they are high in protein and other important vitamins and minerals, gizzards can help support your dog’s immune system and keep their joints healthy.

That said, gizzards are also high in cholesterol, so it’s important to make sure they are cooked thoroughly and not given to your dog too often.

This article will take a deep dive into a number of nutritional research studies and expert opinions to help you better understand the pros and cons of giving your dog chicken gizzards.

We will also look at this information in the context of what is generally recommended for a healthy dog diet to make sure you have all the information you need to decide whether or not to add chicken gizzards to your dog’s diet.

From how to prepare them safely to how much is too much, this article will give you everything you need to know to decide whether or not to add chicken gizzards to your dog’s diet.

Nutritional Value of Chicken Gizzards for Dogs

Chicken gizzards are a nutritional powerhouse, and they can provide your dog with a wide range of essential nutrients including protein, vitamins, and minerals. According to Livestrong, a 3.5-ounce serving of chicken gizzards contains 17.7 grams of protein, as well as several B-vitamins like niacin and B12, and minerals like zinc, iron, and selenium.

Chicken gizzards are also high in ‘nutrient density’ compared to many other dog treats, which means they contain more essential nutrients per calorie, which is great for maintaining your dog’s muscle mass and keeping their immune system strong without a lot of empty calories.

However, chicken gizzards also contain cholesterol. A 3.5–ounce serving contains 271 mg of cholesterol, and while this amount is high, according to NutritionValue.org, it’s important to consider it in the context of your dog’s overall diet to determine if it’s a problem.

The key to feeding chicken gizzards to your dog is to make sure that they are part of a balanced diet. If you make sure that your dog’s diet is varied, you can take advantage of the high nutritional value of chicken gizzards while minimizing the potential negative effects of a diet high in cholesterol.

How to Make Chicken Gizzards Safe for Dogs

It’s important to make sure that you’re cooking chicken gizzards in a way that’s safe for your dog. Recipes.net has a simple recipe that involves cleaning the gizzards, removing any excess fat, cutting them into smaller pieces, and then cooking them in olive oil until they’re done.

Make sure to let them cool before serving so that you don’t accidentally burn your dog. As a treat, gizzards should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet, and you should always check with your vet to make sure that you’re feeding your dog the right amount.

Feeding your dog raw gizzards can expose it to dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and Listeria. A study from the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine found that raw pet food is more likely to be contaminated than other types of pet food. To avoid any issues, make sure to introduce gizzards into your dog’s diet slowly and watch for any signs of digestive upset.

When you’re buying gizzards, make sure that you’re getting them from a reputable source. As K9sOverCoffee notes, this means that the gizzards will come from animals that have been humanely raised and that they won’t contain any antibiotics, steroids, or added hormones. Always make sure to cook gizzards thoroughly and to use them responsibly when adding them to your dog’s diet.

How to Avoid and Minimize the Risks of Feeding Chicken Gizzards to Your Dog

Although chicken gizzards can be a healthy part of your dog’s diet, there are some risks that you should be aware of. For example, bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli, which are often found in poultry by-products, can be present in gizzards and can cause severe illness in both dogs and humans.

As a result, the Clinical Nutrition Service at Cummings School advises that by-products, including gizzards, be sourced from reputable suppliers who have stringent safety measures in place.

Another risk is that overfeeding gizzards to your dog can lead to health issues like heart disease because of their high cholesterol content. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that your dog’s intake of high-cholesterol foods is limited and that gizzards are only a small part of their diet.

If your dog has a bad reaction to gizzards, look for signs like gastrointestinal upset, lethargy, or a sudden loss of appetite. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your vet immediately.

A study published in PMC also found that raw meat-based diets, which can include gizzards, can tax a dog’s immune system and introduce pathogens if they’re not handled and stored properly, so it’s important to make sure that you cook and store gizzards correctly.

To make sure that your dog stays safe, it’s important to be mindful of where their gizzards come from, how they’re prepared, and how much of them they’re eating. By doing so, you can make sure that you and your dog enjoy the benefits of this treat without taking unnecessary risks.

What Organ Meats Do in Your Dog’s Diet

Organ meats, like chicken gizzards, are important for dogs. These organs are high in protein and are also nutrient-dense, meaning they contain a variety of vitamins and minerals that are important for your dog’s overall health. Campfire Treats notes that organ meats like gizzards contain essential vitamins A, B, D, and E, as well as important minerals like iron, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc, all of which are important for different bodily functions.

In a Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) diet, chicken gizzards are important because they add to the variety of textures and nutrients that dogs would have eaten in the wild. That said, the BARF diet is also about balance, so while chicken gizzards are good to include, they shouldn’t be the only thing that your dog eats. Relying too heavily on any one food, including gizzards, can lead to nutritional imbalances.

To ensure that your dog’s diet is well-rounded, it’s important to make sure that you are feeding them a variety of foods. CanineCeuticals explains that this is especially important in today’s world, where many foods have lost their nutritional value.

Veterinary nutritionists also agree that feeding your dog a variety of organ meats, including gizzards, is important for their overall health, as long as they are part of a balanced diet that meets all of your dog’s nutritional needs.

Conclusion: Chicken Gizzards and Canine Nutrition

In summary, chicken gizzards can be a healthy addition to your dog’s diet if they are prepared properly and given in moderation. They are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. As discussed, chicken gizzards can help boost the immune system and promote joint health, making them a healthy alternative to store-bought dog treats.

Gizzards need to be cooked to a safe temperature to kill bacteria and should be part of a balanced diet that doesn’t rely too heavily on any one type of food. Pet owners need to be aware of the high cholesterol in gizzards and should talk to their vet about how much and how often to feed them to their dog for personalized advice.

It’s also important to note that chicken gizzards should be part of a well-rounded diet that meets all of a dog’s nutritional requirements. When given as an occasional treat, they can help contribute to your dog’s overall health and happiness, which is a great example of responsible and informed pet care.