Mary Allen
The right diet for dogs is often associated with many question marks. What can dogs eat and which foods are rather unsuitable?
Dogs are naturally carnivores. The BARF movement is based on this diet, in which meat and offal are primarily fed.
The question quickly arises: Can my dog eat chicken hearts at all? How much can he eat and how is it prepared? We’ll answer all of that and more in this article!
In a nutshell: Can dogs eat chicken hearts?
Yes, dogs can eat chicken hearts. Chicken hearts are offal and muscle meat in one. They are therefore very popular when barfing the dog.
Chicken hearts have a particularly high proportion of taurine and are therefore very valuable for dogs. In addition, they are high in protein, healthy fats such as omega-6, iron and B vitamins.
Chicken hearts are not only suitable for large dogs, but are also very healthy for small dogs. They can be fed as a special treat or as a supplement to normal food.
In principle, your dog should not eat more than 3% of its own body weight in chicken hearts, as these have a very high protein content.
Puppies and very active dogs often tolerate a little more. Chicken hearts are a great dietary supplement for dogs.
How to Prepare Chicken Hearts for Dogs: Raw or Cooked?
Chicken hearts can be eaten by dogs either raw or cooked. Both variants are very healthy for dogs. The way of preparation can be wonderfully varied.
Some dogs prefer the cooked version as it is also easier to digest. It is simply a matter of trying out what your dog likes best.
When feeding raw, you should only make sure that the chicken hearts are fresh.
How long does chicken heart need to cook?
Chicken hearts are prepared quickly. This is particularly advantageous when there is little time to prepare an additional meal for your four-legged friend.
The chicken hearts can easily be placed raw or frozen in a pot of boiling water. They should then simmer for 15 minutes.
After the hearts have cooled down, they can be fed straight away. If you don’t have time to prepare it directly, you can simply freeze the chicken hearts and thaw them if necessary.
Dried Chicken Heart
Another great variation is dried chicken heart. Dried chicken hearts can be bought ready-made. This saves you the preparation time. This alternative is particularly good as a treat between meals.
Another advantage of dried chicken hearts is that the dog’s chewing muscles are strengthened. By nature, dogs have an innate instinct to chew, which is encouraged by dried products.
Here the dog has something to nibble on for an extra long time, which stimulates its chewing muscles. The stimulation in turn leads to relaxation and calming in the dog.
How Much Chicken Heart Can Dogs Eat?
Chicken hearts should not be used as a staple food, but rather as a dietary supplement. They should not make up more than 10% of the total diet.
Basically, dogs are allowed to consume up to 3% of their own body weight of chicken hearts. Puppies, young and very active dogs may consume up to 6%.
This has to be assessed individually from dog to dog. In case of doubt, the trusted veterinarian can be consulted.
As a rule of thumb, chicken hearts can be on the menu about 2-3 times a week.
Are chicken hearts healthy for dogs?
Chicken hearts are very healthy for dogs as they are very high in taurine. Taurine has an antioxidant effect in the body.
This means that it scavenges free radicals and thus prevents serious diseases. It also regulates cell metabolism and strengthens the immune system in dogs.
In addition to taurine, chicken hearts contain many B vitamins, vitamin A, proteins and iron. They already cover a wide range of important nutrients.
Nevertheless, chicken hearts should not be given as the sole food, but always in combination with other foods to cover the complete nutrient requirement.
What recipes are there?
Chicken hearts can be fed raw, cooked or fried. To turn the chicken heart into a balanced and wholesome meal, it can be combined with other foods.
This will give your dog all the important nutrients it needs.
Chicken heart with rice and vegetables
Dogs have the ability to move their nostrils independently. So they can smell right and left at the same time. This has the advantage that they can follow several tracks at the same time.
- 175 g chicken heart
- 150 grams of rice
- 110 grams of carrots
- 1 tbsp linseed oil
Cook the rice according to the instructions. Do not salt the water. Wash and cut the carrots into small pieces. Fry the chicken hearts in some oil. Add the carrots and simmer for about 10 minutes. Fold in the rice. Let the pan dish cool down a bit. Mix with the linseed oil before serving.
Conclusion
Chicken hearts are extremely healthy for dogs. Due to the high vitamin and protein content, they benefit from this feed supplement. However, they should never be used as sole food.
Rather, they are a valuable dietary supplement that optimally supports your dog in the supply of nutrients. It doesn’t matter whether you barf your dog or feed it the classic way.