Posted on November 19, 2010 by: WayCoolDogs

Dog Question about a liver dog diet:

My friend adopted a medium sized dog from a shelter some time ago, and she joined the existing family of two large black dogs and two cats (oh, and I forgot, two adults).

In short order she had the big dogs wrapped around her little paw, but the cats were a different matter.  Perhaps in retaliation, she lurks at the kitchen door, and when the coast is clear, she nips in and steals the cat food.  My friend says this is why she is putting on weight.

I myself doubt that a few small dishes of cat food would make such a difference to her girth, but a vet has been consulted and has put her on a diet of half a pound of liver daily and nothing else.  My eyebrows shot up at this, as I always thought liver was too rich to be fed more than once or maybe twice a week. What do you think?

Dog Answer:

Dear Cindi,

Regarding the liver dog diet — organ meats (such as liver, kidneys, tripe, and  heart) are excellent for an “occasional use” according to vet homeopaths and holistic vets. Liver is known for its source of rich nutrients that cannot be found in muscle meats. Dogs that come from shelters with unknown backgrounds probably have not had the healthiest of diets — which is why she “steals” food. She could be craving something as her diet is insufficient to supply what she instinctively feels she is lacking — ‘hence, she supplies it with cat food.  Dogs are not capable of retaliation or purposely lurking to ‘get to the cats … that is a 100% human trait .. which is why we see it. You cannot see what you do not recognize.

However, unless the organ is organic and fresh,  a liver dog diet that is eaten over 2 to 3 times a week can overload the dog’s system with toxins. This is ironic as it is the job of the dog’s liver to remove toxins from entering their system. But if the dog is lacking in taurine (amino acid in their hearts) which is supplied through organ meat, they can begin to seizure. Maybe this is why the vet prescribed a temporary diet of liver every day. A fine balance should always be kept.

Also, dogs who are just beginning a liver dog diet or with organ meats should do so gradually. It should be ground up and added to their usual dog food until the dog’s system adjusts to it. According to holistic nutritionists for pets, it is also advised by organ meat experts to mix the ground organ with equal amounts of lamb, beef or chicken (which can be frozen in small amounts after mixing it together for convenience). If you can, have her add kelp to it to add more nutrients. Of course, any new diet should be approached this way with dogs.

Anyway…I hope this helps. Also, try to get another vet’s opinion if possible.

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