Can Dogs Eat Chicken Gizzard

Have you noticed that we dont see chicken gizzards as a dog treat option in stores? When I was shopping recently, I noticed that the three foods left behind in the meat department are chicken hearts, liver, and gizzards. I decided that this would be a great time to make dog treats and purchased all of the hearts and a few of the gizzards. Why not all? Because I began to wonder if dogs can eat chicken gizzards. I mean, I know they can, but are gizzards good for dogs? If I make a ton of dehydrated gizzard dog treats, will my dogs develop some random health issues?

So I returned to the grocery store and purchased all of the gizzards too. Some people stock up on toilet paper and water, I stock up on hearts and gizzards. I left the liver behind because dehydrating liver makes the house smell like liver – for days. Were already stuck inside and its going to be challenging – no point adding the smell of liver to the list of hardships.

This past weekend, I made dog treats. Ive spent a serious amount of money recently in preparation for being locked down during the coronavirus pandemic and so now Im doing my best to save money and DIY dog treats is a step in the right direction.

Note: Oregano isnt toxic to dogs, however, too much can lead to liver or kidney issues. You can go easy on the oregano as I do, you can choose a different spice (parsley is a good one), or you can forgo the spice all together because I doubt that my dogs care.

I dont know how long these last in the fridge. With five dogs, its easy to go through a bag of treats quickly. And while Im okay with making dog treats from gizzards, I wouldnt make these a steady part of my dogs diet (replacing meat with gizzards, for example).

During our local Shelter in Place order, Ive decided to get a lot done at home and one thing I need to do is clear all of the grass-fed beef a friend gave to me out of the freezers. So Im dehydrating beef and a few packages of chicken hearts and oysters too. Its less expensive than buying dog treats and its easy to do since we have a food dehydrator. If you dont have a dehydrator, you can also use your oven at low temperatures. The oysters are filled with water, so I prefer to bake them at 200 degrees F in the oven for 90 minutes.

Can Raw Chicken Gizzards Make My Dog Sick?

There’s a slight chance that your dog can get sick from raw organ meats. Organ meats, including gizzards, seem to have the same risk of carrying bacteria as other types of raw meat.

This makes it risky for humans to eat. You may have experienced a bout of salmonella, e. coli, or other food borne bacteria, at some point. Vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms of these illnesses.

Humans can become very sick from these diseases. However, dogs are at a much lower risk. Their stomach is much more acidic than ours, making it less likely that bacteria will survive and colonize in their digestive tract.

If your dog is at a higher risk of illness, you may want to avoid raw gizzards. This includes dogs who are puppies, elderly, or those who have a chronic health or immune condition. If you have a healthy adult dog, it’s up to you to decide if you want to feed them raw gizzards.

Raw chicken gizzards can be either raw or frozen. Both are great for your dog. If you choose to feed them frozen gizzards, there’s no need to thaw them. It is a good idea to slice them into smaller pieces, however. This will prevent them from choking on them.

If you want to feed your pooch raw meat of any sort, you’ll need to follow proper handling and storage procedures. Gizzards can be kept in the fridge for 1-2 days. They can be kept in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Once it’s taken out of the fridge or freezer, it should be consumed within 2 hours. Your pooch will likely gobble it up immediately. If they don’t, be sure to dispose any uneaten meat within 2 hours.

Be sure that you wash your hands and any surfaces that the raw meat has touched after serving.

How long to boil chicken gizzards for dogs?

Chicken gizzards should be fully cooked between 15 to 20 minutes.

How to cook gizzards for dogs

The steps below will guide you through the processes involved in cok7ng gizzards for dogs. Read carefully!

Pour a moderate amount of unsalted water into a shallow saucepan.

Pour your cut-up gizzards inside the saucepan and place them on a stovetop.

Let the gizzards simmer in the pan under medium heat for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Once the gizzards have been cooked through, remove them and wait until they cool before serving to your dogs.

FAQ

Is chicken gizzards good for dogs?

How do you cook chicken gizzards for dogs?

How much chicken gizzard can I give my dog?

Can I give my dog chicken giblets?