Juicy, tasty and scrumptiously melting in your mouth, who doesn’t love the goodness of steak? Indeed tasting like heaven, you even close your eyes eating it to savor every burst of flavor! And when reality hits back, you then see your dog looking at you with those puppy eyes as if asking, “seems delicious human, can I have some?”
Before you chuck off a bit of meat to your furry best friend, what is at stake when your dog eats steak? Let us find out.
Can Dogs Safely Eat Steak?
Yes, steaks are safe for dogs to eat and that is great right? You can now finally share your scrapes to them or spoil them on their birthday! But don’t get too excited. Read along to ensure the steak you are ready to share is the best for them.
Benefits of Steak For Dogs
Lean meats such as steaks are a great source of protein that provides your dog the energy it needs to be the bouncing puff of balls you love! It is also a great source of Omega-6 that ensures their coats are shiny and fatty acids that help tone their muscles and give them healthy fur.
Just a bit of warning, though. Dogs only have low-calorie requirements and steaks can have an abundance of calories, fat and cholesterol. So if your dog is already on the heavy side, reconsider providing them this treat.
As some dogs may have dietary requirements, it is best to consult a vet prior.
What Steaks Are Safe and Not Safe For Dogs
Whatever the steak cut, it can be cooked in many ways enjoyable from rare, medium rare, medium, medium well to well done. While a rare fillet mignon or medium well tomahawk steak is perfect for us humans, such might not the case for our little friend. Sounds intriguing. But why?
● Raw Steak
Technically, no one serves raw steak in a restaurant or even at home. However, since BARF (Bones and Raw Food) have been a subject of debate, let us check out what dog experts have to say about this.
Feeding dogs raw food and bones came from the idea that in the olden days, they have thrived eating raw without any form of cooking and they are not exposed to processed foods unlike dogs nowadays.
FDA made it clear that eating raw meat is dangerous for humans and dogs alike. Consistent also with the findings of American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), raw and undercooked meat might be contaminated with harmful bacteria and microorganisms such as listeria or salmonella that can cause an uneasy stomach.
Just in case they accidentally ingest raw meat, here are the symptoms of salmonella poisoning and must be sent to the vet right away:
● Fatigue
● Fever
● Indigestion
● Loss of appetite
● Loose stool or diarrhea
● Vomiting
In addition, properly cooked meat and carbohydrates not only makes the food easily digestible but also allows for better absorption of nutrients important in producing energy and supporting their immune system.
That said, steaks must be cooked.
● Rare Steak
Strictly speaking, rare steak is somewhat “cooked.” To cook it even, you sear it a minute on each side. While humans can tolerate this cooking, undercooked meats are not safe as it can still be a source of salmonella.
The best cooked steak for dogs is medium well or well done.
● Steak Fat
For health conscious people, they have a habit of trimming the fats in meat including steak. Can you feed this to your dogs? Definitely, no. Raw or cooked, the answer is still no. Too much fat in a dog’s diet is not good for their heart.
● Steak Bones
This is the other dimension of the BARF diet. Since raw food is a no-no, how about bones?
Well, the debate is around whether the bone is cooked or raw. Some veterinarians warn against cooked bones since they become brittle and therefore, easier for dogs to break. Since they are more likely to break into sharp shards, it can cause broken teeth. Worse, as the splinter goes down (or goes up when the dog tries to vomit it), it will pierce through your dog’s throat and gastrointestinal tract.
On the other hand, raw bones are harder to break down and almost impossible to swallow by piece especially if the bone is large enough like the size of their head. That said, avoid also giving them bones that are cut into smaller pieces as this is also a choking hazard.
But the downside of raw bones is that it can carry bacteria such as e-coli or salmonella.
When giving bones to your dogs, always supervise. If the cooked bone is already breaking into hazardous pieces, ask the dog for the rest of the bone with the command “give”.
Preparing and Incorporating Steak in Dog’s Diet
Apart from cooked steak without fat and bones, those are still unsafe unless it is unseasoned. How do you best prepare a steak for dogs, then?
● Preparing Steak for Dogs
Employing the same food safety handling techniques in preparing steak also applies to dog’s meal. With clean and washed hands, follow the proper ways to freeze, refrigerate and thaw steaks.
Before cooking a steak, ensure that it is thawed for about 24 hours. Trim also fat and bones.
Humans usually put salt, pepper and seasonings in steak but skip this part entirely. Too much salt is bad for dogs and it can cause nausea and diarrhea, among others. Be sure there is no onion or garlic in the way it is prepared, too. That said, serve them with a bland steak and they will love it already!
Any cooking method is also fine: roast, grill, pan fry or sous vide. And remember, wait until the steak is medium well or well-done.
Before handing over to the dog, rest it for about 15 minutes. At the 1-minute mark, you may cut it into dog bite-sized pieces, too.
● Incorporating Steak in their Diet
Introduce steak slowly in your pet’s diet but most dogs will love this savory treat.
To incorporate it in their meals, start by shredding the steak and top it off their dry food. It can also be given as a treat once in a while. Bite-sized steaks can also be part of their regular meal.
● Serving How Much Steak for Dogs
Veterinarians recommend that protein sources should take up 25 to 50% of our dog’s diet. But did you know that their high-quality dog food can already provide this? In addition, dogs are not carnivores; they are omnivores so veggies and fruits should be part of a well-balanced diet.
Steaks should be treated as “treats” and must, therefore, be 10% only of their diet. Besides, you also need to eat steak in moderation.
Conclusion
To sum it up, enjoy steak with your favorite furry pal for as long as it is well-cooked, unseasoned and shared in moderation. Following these will ensure good health for your dogs. Besides, they are already part of the family that we want to spend the rest of their lives healthy and happy.
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