Can Dogs Eat Raw Giblets?

The Short Answer is:

The meat of any type may contain harmful bacteria, but poultry, including chicken and turkey, are particularly dangerous. Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Clostridium perfringens are now the most common threats from poultry. Although these germs are dangerous to humans and kill vulnerable people, they are also highly harmful to dogs.

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

Christmas and Thanksgiving are fast approaching and many of us are thinking not only about who to invite but also about what to cook.

Our turkey was just ordered this morning by my wife.

We often wonder what to do with the giblets when we order a whole turkey or chicken. 

It is traditionally used to make gravy but what if nobody in your household likes gravy or they have read about how unhealthy it is?

It would be a shame if they were wasted in that case.

You know they will only stink the trash out do not you?

The dog is the only one left. 

Will he be able to safely eat giblets and can he eat them raw to save a bit of time?

What are giblets?

Thats an old-fashioned word giblets isnot it?

Since it is thought to have been used as early as the fourteenth century this is not surprising. 

It might be the name of a backing band for a singer in the 1970s but it describes the insides of birds such as a turkey or chicken. 

But it describes a strange mix of things so it fits perfectly.

Pigeons have livers hearts gizzards and necks.

It stands to reason then that one should ask what a gizzard is.

Chickens and turkeys have it in their stomachs.

Basically the gizzard grinds food up so it can be digested better and so it is muscle meat. 

The whole thing sounds delightful and delicious.

Do we need to briefly review what giblets are used for after finding out what they are?

When we want everything to be neat clean and perfect looking it seems strange to me that a whole chicken or turkey still contains parts of its insides.

People would generally be too squeamish to deal with things that seem so strange. 

It is usually used to make gravy by mixing meat juices and flour with giblets to make a stock out of them. 

I will get back to your dog in the next section and talk about whether it can eat raw giblets.

Can dogs eat raw giblets?

The meat of any type may contain harmful bacteria but poultry including chicken and turkey are particularly dangerous. 

Campylobacter Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens are now the most common threats from poultry.

Although these germs are dangerous to humans and kill vulnerable people they are also highly harmful to dogs.

Campylobacter is the first thing I want to discuss.

Campylobacter can be transmitted to dogs by eating infected feces drinking contaminated water or eating infected foods such as raw chicken.

Campylobacter bacteria live quite happily in the guts of dogs for some strange reason. 

Campylobacter is most commonly associated with diarrhea.

Salmonella follows.

There are roughly 19000 salmonella cases reported each year in the U.S. as a result of food-related illnesses. 

Nevertheless it still poses a threat to dogs.

In dogs infected feces or contaminated food are the most common sources of infection most often raw or undercooked poultry. 

 Salmonella bacteria also live in the gut of a healthy dog like Campylobacter.

When the bacteria multiply suddenly they become infected. 

Clostridium perfringens is a similar case. 

Clearly raw giblets carry a little too much risk for feeding your dog.

Is there an easy clean and safe way to cook it?

How to cook giblets for a dog

Simple is what you’re looking for with this method.

It can be helpful to rinse the giblets in cold water for a few seconds- but make sure the water pressure isnot so high that it splashes all of the surrounding surfaces!

After that simply put them into a pan of cold water.

Let them simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes after bringing the water to a boil.

After they have cooled they are ready to use!

What nutrition do giblets provide?

Instead of taking the time to explain the nutrition of each part of the giblets I will look at what turkey giblets bring to the table as a whole.

The benefits of turkey giblets for dogs are obvious.

The calories fats and protein content of giblets are low compared to other types of meat.

I do not quite understand why they are so high in cholesterol for meat.

However I think that the real benefit of giblets is that they provide your dog with plenty of minerals and vitamins. 

Vitamin-wise vitamins A and B should be avoided.

Vitamin A and B are found primarily in the liver which contains much more than a dog needs in a day or even in a week.

Dogs should only consume giblets every month or so for this reason.  

What are the benefits of these vitamins for your dog?

For healthy eyes vitamin A is essential.

Our parents told us as children that eating carrots was good for our eyes.

Carrots are a good source of vitamin A.

A dogs body also uses vitamin A to maintain a strong immune system.

Giblets contain a number of vitamins B. 

The body depends on these vitamins as a foundation.

The B vitamins in a dogs body are essential to keeping its cells healthy.

In addition they help convert food into energy. 

How would you feel if you liked the idea of giblets but your turkey or chicken did not come with any giblets?

Instead of food what can you give your dog?

Alternative to giblets

Alternatives to giblets are hard to come by although you can rotate between turkey chicken goose and duck.

Unfortunately I cannot find any information about the exact nutrition duck or goose giblets provide or the availability of these giblets (and I am assuming they are not widely available).

The nutritional value of chicken giblets is similar to that of turkey giblets. 

Other than that you will have to buy each part of the giblets separately.

You can find chicken livers at stores like Kroger and Walmart. 

If you’re interested in knowing more about how they are beneficial to dogs you can read this article.

A few products are available for sale but make sure you do not buy pet food products!

Another thing that I did not know is that you can buy chicken giblets separately in shops like Walmart. 

Chicken or turkey gobbles are some of the least appealing parts of the animal.

Its not just them.

It turns out there is another part of the chicken that we never would think about eating but it makes a great treat for our dogs. 

Can dogs eat chicken feet?

The nutritional value of chicken feet differs greatly from that of chicken giblets but the end result should be the same- an extremely content pet. 

It should be no surprise that chicken feet have a high calcium content because they are essentially skin and bone.

As a result of a dog eating raw bones its own bones benefit because of minerals such as glucosamine.

A dog is also believed to clean its teeth by chewing on bones. 

Your dogs coat will be kept glossy by the fat and oil in chicken feet.  

In light of what I have said up to this point about the potential dangers of eating raw chicken or turkey I would rather opt for dried goods.

Chicken feet can pose a choking hazard to some dogs due to their size shape and texture.

What do you do about those dogs who chew improperly and end up with a foot stuck in their throat?

Other unsavory body parts

It isnot just chickens and turkeys that have body parts that are too savory for most humans but which are nutritious and loved by dogs.

Cows sheep and pigs have a stomach lining called the triceps.

The vast majority of tripe that isnot destined for the trash is used in dog food but up until about 50 years ago it was regularly consumed by people because it was such cheap meat.

In the UK at least and I imagine the same applies in the US.

There are many different meat combinations that contain tripe in raw dog foods. Just go online and you’ll see just how common it is.

Some dishes I have seen include chicken with tripe beef with tripe and fish with tripe.

People do not like it because it stinks when its raw which is a big reason why it has fallen out of favor. 

It is impossible to imagine how disgusting your kitchen would smell.

Unfortunately it offers very little nutrition which is a shame. 

This food is low in fat and calories and it is loaded with B vitamins and minerals such as selenium and zinc that your dogs body will utilize to boost its metabolism and immune system.  

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.