Can dogs eat Beef liver?
Beef liver（牛レバー）
With care
A liver very high in copper. Use as one part of the meal.
119 kcal per 100 g
What kind of food is this?
The liver of cattle. Copper is very high at 5.3mg per 100g, with 1100µg of vitamin A and 3.8mg of zinc.
Liver is nutrient-dense even in small amounts. Copper and vitamin A in particular tend to accumulate in the body, so use it as a part of the meal rather than the main meat.
If bought from a supermarket or anywhere selling for the human table, cook it through to the center before serving. If sold as raw food for dogs, follow that product's instructions.
Liver and copper
Copper is a mineral the body needs, but it is hard for the body to excrete, and some breeds are known to have a predisposition to accumulate it in the liver.
For dogs who have been told they are accumulating copper, or dogs of breeds known for this predisposition, how to use liver is something to discuss with your veterinarian.
When you have these care goals
Skin and coat care — A cut containing vitamin A, copper, and iron. One of the ingredients that comes up when thinking about skin and coat care.
Nutrition
Beef liver (per 100 g, raw)
Japan's Standard Tables of Food Composition (8th ed.)
| Energy | 119 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19.6 g |
| Fat | 3.7 g |
| Carbohydrate | 3.7 g |
| Calcium | 5 mg |
| Phosphorus | 330 mg |
See more
| Fiber | 0 g |
|---|---|
| Moisture | 71.5 g |
| Sodium | 55 mg |
| Potassium | 300 mg |
| Magnesium | 17 mg |
| Iron | 4 mg |
| Zinc | 3.8 mg |
| Copper | 5.3 mg |
| Iodine | 4 µg |
| Selenium | 50 µg |
| Manganese | − |
| Vitamin A | 1100 µg |
| Vitamin D | 0 µg |
| Vitamin E | 0.3 mg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.22 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 53 µg |
| Vitamin C | 30 mg |
| EPA | 10 mg |
| DHA | 9 mg |
| Alpha-linolenic acid | 6 mg |
"−" means the item is not listed in the source table (it does not mean zero).
In food-energetics terms
In food-energetics terms it is classified as "neutral"—neither warming nor cooling the body.
(Food energetics is a long-standing idea of supporting the body through everyday meals. Treat it as one extra hint alongside the nutrition numbers.)
How much for your dog?
Get daily estimates from weight and activity level.