Can I Feed My Dog Raw Liver Treats That Are Not Organic?

By Scott Ouska

I always consider the following factors before feeding my dog liver.

Is it...

• Free-range?
• Drug-free?
• Pesticide-free?
• No GMOs?

There are other things to consider as well.  Was the animal able to forage wild plants and other species-specific food?  Also consider access to large outdoor areas...

...including pure water, sunshine, and fresh air most of the time.  Finally...was the animal raised humanely?

At times, raw, organic liver seems expensive, or it's hard to find.

I'll help you feel confident when buying liver that is not stamped organic... and fed raw like a treat (all of my dogs think raw liver is a tasty treat!).

Our liver is not organic, but it's as healthy as...

My dog's liver came from a drug-free, "really" free-range animal

My dog's liver came from a drug-free, "really" free-range animal

Before You Feed Your Dog Raw Liver...

I've included all the information you'll need to make an informed decision about buying healthy liver for your dog.

Rest assured... you can feed your dog non-organic liver treats that are just as healthy as organic liver... maybe even healthier.

I've been feeding my dogs organic and non-organic liver and other dog foods for over 20 years...

Whatever is more convenient (less expensive).  I always make sure my dogs' non-organic (or organic) food is healthy before I buy it.

If you don't know the source... stay away from non-organic.

Here's What to Look for When Buying Your Dog's Liver

“Free to Roam”

 I mean, really free-range!   Sometimes, when the packaging or ad says:

• Free-range
• Free to roam
• Pasture-raised
• Etc...

...this means nothing more than a very short period of time outdoors... in a small, fenced-in area!  Make sure the animal spends most of the time outdoors, not indoors, in crowded (filthy) living conditions.

• No antbiotics and other harmful drugs of any kind... period.
  
  

Free of All Chemicals, Including Pesticides

Soil, plants, and other forage must be free of chemicals.

“After 'x' amount of days... the chemicals are no longer rendered harmful."  Don't believe this for a second!

Genetically Modified Organisms

Food and other forage must not be genetically altered in any way.

This is a bad excuse for increasing shelf life, discouraging insects and other hosts, etc.

Other Factors to Consider When Feeding Your Dog Non-Organic Raw Liver

• Raised in pastures:  Filthy, cramped living quarters harbor disease
  
  
• Automobile traffic pollution:  If possible, try to make sure the animals are not raised next to a high-traffic road
  
  
• Air-cooled vs water-cooled:  The packaging needs to say “Air Cooled.” Don't feed your dog birds that were injected with impure tap water...
  
  ...if the liver was included inside of the whole bird (don't feed the whole bird as well).

Speaking of... we purify our own water.  Healthy liver is not the only non-toxic, healthy ingredient your dog needs...

Healthy liver is just the beginning. Make sure all your dog food ingredients are just as nutritious

Healthy liver is just the beginning. Make sure all your dog food ingredients are just as nutritious

I add a little of our purified water to the skillet...

...while I'm gently cooking my dog's liver treats over a low heat.

Many of Us Don't Think of This...

Do you know the grower?  Have you been to their farm?  When you called the farm directly, did you:

• Speak with someone in customer service or...
  
  
• ...did you actually talk with the business owner or manager?  Did you get your information from a third party (website) or a 4th party (AI)?

Years ago, I called customer service about a so-called healthy, “natural” oatmeal dog treat.  Then I called back and happened to reach the owner.  I was shocked to get two different answers!

Some growers follow organic guidelines but do not want to pay for organic certification.  You just need to speak with the person in charge. Period.

“Natural” Is One of the Most Misleading Words Used in the Dog Food Industry

“If the dog treat packaging says 'Natural'... shouldn't it be healthy for my dog?”

Not always.  "Natural" is one of those words that can be deceiving when used as an advertising gimmick.  Unfortunately, it's loosely regulated by the dog and human food industry.  Also...

Watch out for:

• Organix
  
  
• Free-range
  
  
• Cage-free
  
  
• Free to roam
  
  
• Pasture-raised

My dog's non-organic frozen liver is grass-fed and super healthy!...

"Is it ok to feed my dog liver that's pre-frozen?" Sure! Feed fresh liver as well (if it's convenient)

"Is it ok to feed my dog liver that's pre-frozen?" Sure! Feed fresh liver as well (if it's convenient)

“Is Non-Organic Liver Loaded With Toxins Since It Acts As a Filter?”

The liver filters out toxins, which are usually stored in the fatty tissues.  However, this is not an excuse to feed non-organic raw or cooked liver.  Some harmful residue will remain in the liver... which is a good reason to avoid conventional raw or cooked liver unless you know the grower.

Cooking Your Dog's Raw Liver Treats

Sure, raw liver is more nutritious.  However, feeding your dog lightly cooked, healthy liver treats is more convenient during treat time!

If you're feeding your dog other species-specific healthy foods on a regular basis... just cook them for convenience.

How I Buy Healthy Liver for My Dog (and I)

I buy my dog's liver from two different sources:

• A friend of mine raises the animals.  These animals are raised like wild animals.
  
  
• I buy from my health store.  I visited the farm where the animals are raised and talked with the owner.
  
  

Thinking About Safety Before Feeding Raw Liver

To safely protect your dog from illness... please follow the following guidelines:

• “Should I freeze my dog's liver before feeding?”  Freezing your dog's liver for at least two weeks before serving... will help eliminate harmful bacteria like Salmonella or Listeria

• Feed the correct portions:  If you constantly feed your dog too much liver... this might cause vitamin A toxicity.  Keep it at around 10% of your dog's total diet and rotate with other organ meats.
  
  A wild dog might gorge on a prey animal's liver, then get chased off by a bigger predator and eat nothing else that day.  But this does not happen on a daily basis... spikes in diet are normal
  
  

• Source safely:  As mentioned previously...you need to know the source. Do your research.  Don't rely on some labels or customer service.
  
  Instead of talking to the butcher, find out where the food comes from and contact the grower.  Do not feed you dog meat meant for wildlife bait or unknown sources
  
  

• Practice good hygiene:  To prevent cross-contamination in your kitchen... wash your hands, utensils, and countertops thoroughly with soap and water after handling raw liver

I'll use Dr. Bronner's All-Natural Soap to wash my hands when I finish cutting up my dog's liver treats.  Do not use a cleaner with harmful ingredients.  Getting ready for the oven...

My homemade cutting board is also a chopping block for meaty bones... just a piece of a wooden plank

My homemade cutting board is also a chopping block for meaty bones... just a piece of a wooden plank

Here's what I Do

I've never froze my dog's liver before feeding except for storage purposes.  For hygiene, I only wash my hands, utensils, and cutting block with hot water...

With or without soap for cleaning purposes.   I followed this routine for over 20 years at the time of this writing and have never had a problem.

I am not advising you to do the same... I just wanted to share my thoughts.  But... if I had to scrub myself and the kitchen every time I handled raw liver... I would not feed it to my dog.

How to Properly Prepare Your Dog's Liver Delights

My dogs love this stuff so much I consider it a treat!

• Raw:  I cut up into little pieces for my 7-10 lb dogs... preferring not to feed large pieces because they won't chew them up.  In the wild... dogs are much larger, and they probably rip it apart from the prey animal.
  
  
• Frozen:  Same as above, but sprinkle the liver morsels over a cookie sheet and freeze.  Then, place them in a container and keep them in your freezer. I store my dog's liver in vacuum-sealed jars.  However, your dog might gobble them before they get a chance to freezer-burn!  In that case, forget about vacuum-sealing!

Nimble can't hardly stand this much longer!...

Freeze your dog's liver treats first on a cookie sheet, then add to jar

Freeze your dog's liver treats first on a cookie sheet, then add to jar

"How Should I Feed Liver to My Dog?”

There's not one food my dogs like better than liver (there's other food they like just as much).  Period.  I feed my dogs other healthy foods they don't like as much first, then the liver.  Works like a charm!.

“Can I Feed My Dog Frozen Raw Liver?”

Yep!  On hot days... I cut the liver into chunks and feed it while frozen. 

“I've read that you should not feed frozen liver to your dog.”  My dogs have never had a problem eating liver while it's still frozen.

I also enjoy feeding tiny frozen liver dog treats.  Remove the frozen pieces from your cookie sheet and place them in a jar that's already "pre-froze."  Put the jar back into your freezer and remember to shake it a couple of times...

...the first hour so the liver pieces won't stick together.

Raw vs Frozen:  What's the Healthiest?

I guess fresh is always the best.  I used to just feed fresh, but I was throwing away a lot of food.  Now... I freeze left-overs before spoilage and do less shopping while saving time and money.  However... I try to feed some fresh food every other week.  Here's how I see it...

The food I feed my dogs is the healthiest food on this planet.  If it's been frozen, it's still probably still healthier than most fresh store-bought conventional dog food!

How to Store Your Dog's Liver

I store all of my dog food in glass... vacuum-sealed jars are used for the freezer.  I'm concerned about plastic particulates from plastic bags.  I heard from a reliable (I guess) source that zip-lock bags are harmless (?).

I use the jars for lots of other things as well, and I have the freezer space.  Use the lids and rings over and over... don't throw them away until the lids no longer seal the jar.

Nutritional Powerhouse

Even our homemade cooked liver treats are loaded!...

My dog's non-organic raw liver treats are slow-cooked and ready to feed!

My dog's non-organic raw liver treats are slow-cooked and ready to feed!

Liver is loaded with almost every nutrient needed for your dog's body, including:

• B Vitamins:  A healthy metabolism, brain function, and energy levels are enhanced.
  
  
• High-Quality Protein:  Muscle-building and maintenance
  
  
• Iron and Copper:  Needed for building your dog's healthy red blood cells
  
  
• Vitamin A:  Great for vision, healthy skin, and a top-notch immune system
  
  

Nimble and Biscuit will hang around if you need them.  They'll share a tip every time you see this box  :-)

Gidget Doggie is around as well but... I didn't have a computer back then to store her pictures so I could upload them here.  I've got bunches of pictures from my "old-fashioned" camera... I'll see what I can do.

Biscuit and I just finished a steep hike.  "Take your dog out and exercise, really exercise.... arf!"...

Now You're Ready to Feed your Dog Liver That You Know is Healthy!

Hopfully, we've convinced you that feeding your dog non-organic raw liver is very healthy for your dog...

...if you know the source and researched how the animals were raised.  Liver is a nutritional powerhouse.

Make sure you feed liver treats in moderation... likewise with all other organ meats.  Variety is key.

Non-organic is less expensive, but... it's not worth it if the animals were raised improperly.

Furthermore... remember that even though you feed organic... it may not be healthy if the animals are raised in filthy, crowded conditions.  Make sure the animals were raised humanely.

Know your dog food source!

Like my dog... all farm animals should spend most of their life in the fresh air, sunshine, and large, open areas...

Nimble is resting after a long hike into our fishing hole

Nimble is resting after a long hike into our fishing hole

This Might Be a Good Idea in Some Cases

If you're unsure...

Consult with your holistic veterinarian before adding new raw foods to your dog's diet, especially if your dog has a history of pancreatitis, kidney issues, or a compromised immune system.

If your dog's vet is a conventional doctor... make sure he practices and has a holistic background.

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