Unlike canine ancestors, dogs living in the era of the industrial revolution get used to staple meals of processed pet foods like kibble, dry pellets, or canned wet food.
Although human-manufactured dog food makes up a proportion of more than 90% of dogs’ daily diets, some owners choose to add raw food like steak and steak fat for the purpose of nutritional diversification.
So, can dogs eat raw steak fat? Do fats benefit dogs’ health, and what kinds of fat should dogs take in?
Let’s discuss all these questions in this article to find out whether steak fat, in particular, and fats, in general, are detrimental to your furry friends.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Steak Fat?
Yes. Dogs can eat raw steak fat. However, it does not equally mean they should.
Although fat is an integral part of the canine diet, raw steak fat includes harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, Yersinia, and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can cause foodborne diseases in dogs.
So can dogs eat cooked steak fat? Yes, it would be preferable to feed your dogs with cooked fat and meat as a bacteria-free, protein-packed and healthier snack.
However, steak fat is saturated fat, so it should only be consumed in moderation, whether cooked or raw.
If your pooch eats too much steak fat, it could upset his stomach because of reduced digestibility.
Moreover, steak fat has a high calorific value, meaning excessive consumption can result in weight gain, higher cholesterol levels, clogged arteries, and increasing risks of diabetes and heart diseases.
Steak fat is also difficult for dogs to chew, so it might pose a choking risk.
Ultimately, your pet won’t likely be harmed if it eats a piece of raw steak fat.
But I still recommend trimming a little beef fat from your dog’s steak before or after cooking to ensure his overall health.
Do Dogs Need Fats in Their Diet?
Yes. The role of fats in dogs’ diets is undeniable. It is a considerable source of energy. Some fatty acids are actually vital nutrients for dogs, which aid in maintaining their skin, hair, and joints.
Benefits of Fat
Fat, in fact, is an integral nutrient in dogs’ daily dietary needs. Let’s take a look at how fat is beneficial for a dog’s wellness.
Fat usually has a higher content of calories than carbohydrates and protein by two times per ounce, meaning it can deliver more energy for canines compared to the other two.
Regarding dog metabolism, the majority of energy during rest and most types of exercise comes from fat, especially in moving and sporting dogs.
Also, fat decreases the rate of stomach emptying, giving dogs a long-lasting fullness, not to mention more palatable meals.
Consequently, a dog with a fat-skimped diet tends to have lower endurance and overall fitness than another whose diet contains highly digestible fat.
Furthermore, a type of fat called triglycerides is essential for dogs to absorb and digest fat-soluble vitamins, for example, Vit A, D, E, and K.
Additionally, fatty acids support dogs’ immunity and control inflammation.
They also fuel their muscles and are crucial elements in the construction of cell membranes.
Fat around the organs plays a cushioning role in protecting dogs’ bodies against physical shock.
Fat under the epidermis, meanwhile, reduces heat loss and maintains the epidermal water barrier too.
Without an adequate amount of fat in the diet, your dog might have a dull, scruffy coat and dry skin.
Essential Fats For Dogs
For now, you have known how fat is necessary in your pet child’s diet. However, not all fats are healthy.
You had better provide your pooch with polyunsaturated fats rather than saturated fat like steak fat.
Here are the two most important fatty acids that are good for canines’ well-being:
- Omega-6 (linoleic acid – LA & arachidonic acid – AA): is beneficial for skin, hair, and hormonal control.
- Omega-3 (ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid): promotes heart, liver, eye, and brain function and lessens inflammation.
How Much Fat Should A Dog Eat?
Is steak fat good for dogs? It depends on how much it makes up in your furry friend’s diet.
As said above, eating too much animal fats like steak fat trimmings can be problematic for dogs’ health.
Dogs who are fed with out-of-quota portions of steak fat can be prone to mild digestive upset or other serious indigestion issues, including vomiting and diarrhea.
Uncontrolled provision of high-cholesterol fat for a long time can also cause more severe health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, heart attack or stroke, etc.
Redundant intake of fatty human foods can even result in a life-threatening disease called pancreatitis in dogs.
A balanced and healthy diet for a dog should generally contain 10-15% fat, but the ideal fat content of a dog’s diet can vary in some special circumstances.
Take pregnant dogs, for example; growing or highly active pups may require up to 25-30% of fat per meal.
In contrast, low-fat diets are more advisable for dogs who are overweight, sedentary, or with special dietary restrictions due to pancreatitis or hyperlipidemia.
You should be conscious that fat is just fat, so you need to pay attention to other crucial nutrients for your dog’s comprehensive development.
My routine of meal preparation for my pet is 10% fat and 20% protein, along with the 5-10% addition of complex carbohydrates and fruits like green beans and sun-dried tomatoes to provide her with vitamins and minerals.
It’s best to consult your veterinarian to determine the amount and types of fat and a balanced diet tailored to your pet’s health conditions.
Dogs Eating Steak: Health Benefits and Risks
Our above discussion has dealt with the question: Can dogs eat the fat from steak?
What about feeding steak to your pup? Well, I have to say that is way better than providing him with steak fat trimmings.
Keep reading to find out the reasons.
Pros
Steak, if consumed moderately, provides a great source of essential minerals and nutrients that a dog needs to keep healthy.
Many dog owners serve their pets with cooked steak as a treat or mix it in with dry dog food for a more appetizing and nutritious diet.
Here are nutritional values your dog can gain if fed with steak:
- Protein: Beef is well-known for its excellent protein source. By feeding protein-rich foods like steak, you will give your pet a considerable amount of energy and aid in the development of robust muscles.
- Vitamins and minerals: A wide range of minerals like Zinc, selenium, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin, choline, and iron are also found in steak, along with Vit B6 and B12.
These nutrients significantly stimulate your dog’s immune system and overall health.
- Omega-6 fatty acids: Steak is rich in Omega-6 with anti-inflammatory fatty acids that regulate hormones and promote dogs’ coat and skin health.
Threats
Can dogs have fat from steak? Although a cooked steak can be a great source of valuable nutrients, improper preparation or excessive consumption of steak can lead to some unwanted health issues.
There are certain risks you need to consider before serving this dish to your dog:
- Stomach upset: Besides high protein content, steak also contains a high-fat level, which can easily lead to digestive upset in dogs.
Some common seasonings and spices for steaks, like onions, garlic, and salt, are also not good for canines generally, which can trigger allergic reactions and other detrimental neurological effects.
- Foodborne illnesses: Some owners prefer feeding raw diets to their pets, despite its controversy.
However, it is undeniable that raw meat, especially grain-fed beef, contains harmful bacteria and pathogens like E. coli, salmonella, etc.
Hence, your dog can suffer from food poisoning or other foodborne illnesses.
- Choking: A large piece of steak or steak with bones can pose another threat to your pooch. Chewed bone splinters can cause intestinal obstruction or gastrointestinal trauma.
- Weight gain: As stated above, fat redundancy is extremely dangerous for these furry friends.
Uncontrolled intake of high-fat food like steak in the long term can contribute to obesity, which can trigger more chronic illnesses like diabetes, arthritis, or even fatal cardiovascular conditions.
How to Safely Prepare Steak for Dogs
Steak is a nutrient-dense and tasty treat that is hardly irresistible for your four-legged friend.
Nevertheless, there are some notes about preparing steak before adding it to a dog’s bowl.
First, try to choose as fresh and lean beef as possible and avoid fatty cuts of meat. Make sure to trim excess fats off the cut.
You should not also opt for cuts with bones like T-bone steak to prevent choking risk.
Never feed pets spoiled meat to avoid contamination.
Remember to wash your hands before preparing any kind of food, regardless of human or dog food.
Next, it is highly recommended to cook steak before feeding it to your pet.
Grilled or pan-fried, medium-rare or well-done are both acceptable, as long as it is not seasoned with salt and spices.
It is also recommended to use a little amount of butter to avoid excess grease or alternate it with olive oils.
Then, do not feed your dog a cooked steak right from the oven if you do not intend to burn its mouth.
Instead, wait for the steak to cool down for a while. This technique also gives a more tender and juicier steak.
Once less hot, you can shred or cut the meat into bite-sized pieces for your dog to easily chew and swallow.
The last note is to start with a small portion to see your dog’s response. In case of detecting any weird signs, you need to stop feeding and bring it to the vet right away.
Other Sources of Fats For Dogs
Because of the high cholesterol level, most animal fats like pork and steak fat should only be consumed at times.
So, what are other sources instead of steak fat for dogs?
Here are my suggestions on alternative high-fat food you can add to your dog’s food bowl.
Fatty Fish
Fish oils are a common substitute for saturated fats in meat for humans. Dogs are alike.
In fact, fatty fishes like salmon, herring, tuna, mackerel, green-lipped mussels, etc., are super rich in omega-3 fatty acids, mostly EPA and DHA.
Like us, dogs cannot synthesize these important fatty acids through daily intake of normal foods.
Besides, fish oil is one of the helpful supplements for ichthyosis in dogs.
Hence, dogs are recommended to consume at least 2 meals of fatty fish weekly as their average diets are often deficient in omega-3.
Avocado
Despite the common myth that avocado can harm dogs, it is actually a safe and great source of good fat if fed in moderation.
Not only rich in healthy fat and fiber, avocados contain an array of top vitamins and minerals which are important for canine health development.
Vit B3, E, K, B5, B6, Copper, Potassium, and Folate are a few to name.
With anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help lower the chance of heart disease, avocado is not only ideal food for dogs but also humans like us.
Nuts & Seeds
Nuts and seeds are also a reliable source of fats for canine diets, especially as an occasional treat.
According to scientific research, regular consumption of nuts helps to reduce inflammation as well as the risk of diabetes and heart diseases.
Unsaturated fats, including both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, are believed to transform bad cholesterol more efficiently, leading to higher overall metabolism.
Not only do they have high-fat content, but they also offer a substantial amount of protein in dogs’ daily dietary requirements.
I usually combine apples and peanut butter as a special treat for my lovely dog, and she is really into it.
However, you should completely avoid feeding macadamia to your dog as it is toxic for canines.
Plant Oils
If your dog tends to live on a plant-based diet, the use of natural plant oils to supplement fatty acids can also be considered.
However, not all plant-based oils are equally good.
You had better opt for extra virgin cold-pressed oils, for example, olive, flaxseed, ahiflower, and hemp seed oils.
They are more healthy than hydrogenated vegetable oils like canola, coconut, and soybean oils which are high in bad trans fat.
Eggs
Hen, duck, or quail eggs are worthy options for healthy fats to replace animal fats.
This is one of the most nutritious foods for both humans and pups, which is a great source of protein and omega-3.
Hence, do not skip this golden food. The ideal eggs to feed your canine companion are pasture-raised ones because of the higher content of omega-3 fat compared to conventional eggs.
Final Thoughts
I hope you will get yourself a proper answer to the question: Can dogs eat raw steak fat? after learning its possible effects on doggy health.
Although fat is an indispensable component in a dog’s diet, it should be strictly controlled in terms of type and quantity to maintain normal digestion and overall wellness.
The amount of fat needed in a diet is determined based on your dog’s age, activity level, and other health conditions.
Therefore, you are advised to ask for the opinions of a professional veterinarian.
