Can Dogs Eat Ground Turkey?

The Short Answer is:

As long as the turkey has been cooked properly and does not contain too many heavy seasonings, the ground turkey should be absolutely fine for them to eat.

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

The question of whether or not the ground turkey is good for dogs is one that many dog owners wonder about. 

Perhaps they have leftover Thanksgiving food they want to get rid of or have heard that ground turkey is healthier and cheaper than ground beef. 

Some dog owners might be looking for an alternative to regular dog food or a supplement. 

No matter what your reason is if you’re wondering whether or not ground turkey is safe for dogs to eat we have got you covered. 

We address any questions you might have about this topic in the information we have outlined in this article. 

If you have any questions about feeding ground turkey to dogs continue reading. 

How Nutritious is Ground Turkey? Is Ground Turkey Safe for Dogs?

To begin with you can feed ground turkey to your dog. 

Fantastic! 

How about its nutritional content? 

Is this a good choice to feed your dog? How healthy is it for a dog to eat ground turkey? 

First of all it is important to note that turkey is a key ingredient in many commercial dog foods. 

The nutritional value of this food which contains high levels of nutrients like riboflavin phosphorus and protein makes it a popular choice. 

If you want to introduce a homemade dog food diet to your dog your veterinarian can tell you how you should cook the ground turkey. 

Ground turkey also contains small amounts of the key nutrients mentioned above as well as vitamins A B and C calcium and iron. 

Additionally it contains a similar percentage of fats and sodium as ground beef. 

If you choose to go with fat-free ground turkey it will have fewer calories than the fatty variety and ground beef.

Ground Turkey vs Ground Beef vs Ground Chicken

It is very difficult to tell the difference between ground beef and ground turkey. 

In general ground turkey is lower in calories sodium and fat than other meats. 

When compared to beef it also provides less iron and protein. 

Its almost negligible how much they differ. 

In comparison with ground chicken the results are about the same. 

Ground turkey is generally leaner than ground chicken containing fewer calories and sodium while containing more iron and protein. 

There are very slight differences between the two so neither one is a major advantage over the other. 

If properly prepared ground turkey is a great option for feeding your dog as long as you do not add excessive amounts of fatty seasonings and flavoring like high amounts of salt and butter. 

It will fill them up without causing them any digestive problems if cooked plain. 

The amount of extra seasoning such as butter pepper salts or others could cause indigestion or bloat in some dogs.

How Easy is it to Buy Ground Turkey?

You might have a hard time finding ground turkey in your local store or online because it is consumed less often than ground beef or ground chicken. 

Checking a few large online retailers to see how difficult (or easy) it is to buy ground turkey right now we found mixed results. 

According to Walmart one of the largest grocery stores around they do not currently sell ground turkey (at the time of writing this article.) 

However it appears that you would have better luck with local stores. 

As well as Krogers Target and Cub Foods we checked Costco Hy-Vee and Krogers. Most of these stores had ground turkey in stock available to order online or pick up in-store. 

Most local and online grocery stores carry ground turkey under normal circumstances. 

Ground turkey was priced differently at different stores. 

Unless otherwise stated the following prices are current as of the date this article was written and may change at some point in the future. 

Ground turkey costs $4.29 per pound at Target. 

This product is listed at Walmart for $3.54 per pound. 

Accordingly you should expect to pay anywhere from $3.50 to $4.50 per pound at the other stores listed above for ground turkey. 

Compared to the price of ground beef it appears that ground turkey is around a dollar more expensive per pound at some stores like Hy-Vee. 

On the other hand ground turkey is actually cheaper at other stores like Walmart. 

Buying ground beef or ground turkey will vary in price depending on where you shop. 

Can Dogs Eat Ground Turkey? Can I Feed My Dog Ground Turkey Raw?

can dogs eat ground turkey raw? Is it okay to give your dog raw ground turkey or should it be cooked first?

We all know that dogs are capable of digesting all kinds of raw meat with no problems do not we? 

Raw poultry is generally high-risk meat when it is served raw and it comes with a few potential health risks.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association raw animal proteins should not be fed to pets including dogs.

Salmonella can be present in raw poultry including turkey.

AVMA recommends that such proteins undergo an elimination process in this case cooking the meat in order to remove pathogens. 

Furthermore even if your dog has been served partially cooked turkey it should not be given to him. 

It is not possible to kill all bacteria and pathogens present in partially cooked poultry so your dog might develop a nasty infection. 

Even if they are not affected by the bacteria they could harbor a subclinical illness from it. 

A virus like this can still harm others around it even though it does not affect the host. 

Salmonella would be something nobody wants to get from their dog would they? 

How Much Ground Turkey Should I Feed My Dog? Is Ground Turkey Healthy for Dogs?

For a dogs body to be healthy its diet should include all kinds of food that it needs to maintain the required level of nutrients. 

As a result you should feed your dog a certain amount of ground turkey. 

The amount of ground turkey you should give your dog as a treat will depend on their diet and how many calories they consume each day. 

Its a good idea to limit dog treats to no more than 10% of the dogs diet. 

Because treats are usually meant to reward good behavior the ratio of treats to normal food should be low. 

If your dog becomes too used to receiving treats it would not have the same behavioral impact as if treats are given sparingly. 

As a main course or food supplement the ground turkey will require a much greater amount if it is part of your dogs daily diet. 

Dogs should consume 25 to 30 calories per pound of their body weight as the general rule of thumb for caloric intake. 

For every 10 pounds of turkey that they weigh this would mean about .5 cups. 

However this is not all they should consume throughout the day. 

Additionally they’ll need other foods to balance their diet so include vegetables or grains to make up for the rest of their calorie requirements. 

In the event your dog is sick or has a sensitive stomach split their meals into four to six smaller portions throughout the day rather than two or three large ones. 

While eating this will ease the strain on their stomach thereby reducing the risk of vomiting diarrhea or other digestive problems. 

Conclusion

Managing a dogs diet on top of your own can be a challenge and it can be even more challenging to know which foods they should eat. 

As long as the turkey has been cooked properly and does not contain too many heavy seasonings the ground turkey should be absolutely fine for them to eat. 

You can give your dog a healthy balanced diet of homemade dog food by mixing this lean protein with vegetables and grains. 

We hope the information we have provided has answered all your questions about feeding ground turkey to your dog. To ensure your dog gets the healthy and balanced diet it deserves remember these tips! 

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.