Can Dogs Eat Fat Trimmings?

The Short Answer is:

A dog's pancreas may be damaged by fat trimmed from meat, whether cooked or uncooked. Dogs can choke on bones, despite it seeming natural to give them one.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Fat Trimmings?“.

When you love your dog you indulge him with a treat from time to time.

When it comes to dog food chocolate walnuts onions avocados and grapes are some of the big no-nos.

What about the fat trimmings? Doesnot that sound like something your dog would enjoy?

We’ll cover some of your concerns in detail in this article as we take a deep dive into this all-important question.

Our goal is for you to leave the workshop better informed less worried about your pets diet and more confident about what you feed your dog.

1. How much fat does a dog need in its diet? 

Dogs should consume no more than 10% fat per day and no less than 5.5% fat. A dogs diet can contain up to 50% carbohydrates so this is a moderate amount. Protein should be 10% while fiber should be 2.5% to 4.5%.

It is important to remember that dogs are like humans in that no two dogs are exactly the same. This is true even when it comes to their diet. Just as you can not prescribe the same diet to all people you can not do the same for all dogs.

Consider whether your dog has any pre-existing health issues when determining how much fat your pet needs. As an example if your pet suffers from hyperlipidemia or diabetes consult with your veterinarian about how much fat he should be given in his diet.

It is also important to consider your dogs breed and the type of activities he engages in.

In contrast to lapdogs such as small chihuahuas that like to be carried in handbags sporting dogs hunting dogs and working dogs need more fat in their diets.

2. Why does a dog need fat in its diet?

There is nothing wrong with being fat. However before you make this your final judgment lets take a look at why it is. 

A meal that contains fat will leave your dog feeling satisfied and satisfied (just like you would). A meal that contains fat will also slow your dogs stomach emptying.

Fat is essential for the dissolution and breakdown of some things. Vitamins A D E and K are fat-soluble vitamins. Your dogs body can take up and utilize these vitamins when he eats a fat-containing diet.

You can protect your dog from extreme temperatures by storing fat under his skin. Your dog also stores it in the membranes around his intestines to use when he needs extra energy. As the third defense against physical shock fat is stored around his vital organs. The fat in your dogs body provides energy cushioning and insulation.

Show cats and dogs are typically fed high-fat diets to make their fur shinier. Despite their weight they still look amazing.

If you do not feed your dog fat trimmings you will notice that all pet food contains fat because to put it bluntly fat tastes good and contributes to the texture of the food.

3. What are the side effects of too much fat in your dog’s diet?

But theres a caveat. Even good things can be harmful in excess. Especially if your dog is eating too much fat.

We will assure you that a high-fat diet will not cause heart disease in your healthy dog but it may cause it in you.

The bad news is coming. Are you ready?

If your dog consumes a high-fat diet he may develop pancreatitis. Even a vet will tell you this is subject to interpretation.

Pancreatitis does not always occur in dogs whose diet is high in fat. Its important to note that many dogs do not have a history of eating high-fat diets.

A high-fat diet is strongly associated with pancreatitis in dogs especially those who are not used to eating fatty foods. Make sure your pet can use up as much of the fat as possible.

Nevertheless do not assume that all dogs enjoy eating fat because some dogs can not handle it as well as others. Dogs can suffer from diarrhea when they consume too much fat.

When your dog has a history of pancreatitis gastrointestinal problems diabetes and high levels of fat in their blood a low-fat diet would be more beneficial.

Occasionally you may want to feed your dog a high-fat diet for a special reason. For example if you have an extremely active dog such as military or police dogs or sled dogs he will be thin. A high-fat diet is also recommended for pregnant or nursing pets.

To that end here are some signs you need to look out for in your dog if he has pancreatitis.

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Having diarrhea
• Pain in the abdominal area
• Fever
• Appetite decreases

You may notice your dog taking up a praying position during a moderate-to-severe attack with his rear up and his legs lowered his head bowed. During severe attacks shock depression and death may result.

4. How easily can dogs digest fat?

You’ll be pleased to learn that dogs digest fats very well after all the doom and gloom from the previous section.

Fats are an excellent source of energy for canines as they metabolize 90% to 95% of the fat they do not store up. An animal that is in good health will be able to digest fat as efficiently as protein or carbohydrate.

5. How much fat trimmings should you feed a dog?

Confusion and disagreement can arise from this issue. It is not possible to determine from pet food labels whether it has a low moderate or high-fat content. The reason is that such numbers only represent the fat content by weight and not the calories.

If you want to calculate the calories on your food label you will need a calculator. For your convenience we have provided a table below that contains the calculations.

6. Bacon grease vs beef fat vs chicken fat Which is the healthiest?

* % = daily value

You can use the following formula to calculate how many calories your dog needs each day:

Calorie (kcal) needs = 1.6 [70 x (weight in pounds ÷ 2.2)0.75]

The daily calorie requirement for a healthy 10-pound dog is about 350 calories if it is moderately active. The amount of calories your dog should consume depends on his needs.

By sticking to the condition that dogs should not have more than 10% fat in their food per day and using the above chart it is clear that every 100g of bacon grease/beef tallow/chicken fat provides 128% fat.

There is a catch however. Further breaking this number down you get 2% of your dogs daily intake for every 0.4g of saturated fat in bacon grease 0.5g of beef tallow and 0.3g of chicken fat.

However despite having the same weight per serving beef tallow will have a higher fat content than pork fat bacon grease and chicken fat.

7. Raw vs cooked fat trimmings

There may be some health benefits to feeding your dog a raw food diet. Perhaps you believe that since its a “thing” for humans it would also be a good idea for pets. Its possible that you worry that cooked food is less nutritious since a lot of nutrients are destroyed by heat. You might also be curious about feeding your dog a raw-meat diet.

Let me tell you something. The debate around this topic is polarized. There is one proponent of raw-meat diets for pets and one against them. Lets start with the ones who are opposed.

In their view domestic pets cannot thrive on a raw meat diet like their wild counterparts. Raw meat diets can expose your dog to parasites and bacteria.

Pet foods that contain raw meat have sometimes been found to contain the following parasites:

• Tapeworms and toxoplasma
• Escherichia coli 
• A salmonella outbreak
• Listeria monocyte gene
• Brucella suis 

Pet food contaminated with these pathogens can also introduce them into a household and cause illness in people.

Raw meat diets for pets do not have any health benefits according to studies.

How can I add fat to my dogs diet in the healthiest manner?

Is it possible to freeze fat trimmings so that they can be saved for later?

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.