Should your dog be eating organ meats?

Organ meat comes from an animal’s internal organs, like the liver, heart, and kidneys, rather than its muscle tissue. Not only are these cuts safe for dogs, but they’re also rich in essential nutrients that support whole-body health, are highly palatable, and good for the environment. From stronger hearts to shinier coats, when it comes to nutrition, sustainability, and taste, organ meats are a true superfood for your pup.

Why Does Ollie Use Organ Meats?

At Ollie, we carefully select fresh nutrient-rich organ meats—never rendered by-product meals—to provide your dog with highly digestible protein, along with essential vitamins and minerals to support overall health. Our recipes include heart, liver, and kidney, which each contribute to a well-balanced diet that helps your dog thrive.

Organ meats like liver, heart, and kidney are packed with essential nutrients that can help support your dog’s health from the inside out (Latoch and others, 2024). Liver is rich in vitamin A, B vitamins (especially B12 and folate), iron, and copper, which play important roles in immune function, energy metabolism, red blood cell production, and skin and vision health. Heart is an excellent source of taurine and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), both of which are vital for cardiovascular health and cellular energy. Kidneys provide high-quality protein along with B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A, supporting everything from muscle maintenance to healthy immune and metabolic function. Organ meats provide a concentrated source of essential nutrients, and when used in the right amounts, as Ollie does, they support a well-balanced, species-appropriate diet without risking excess.

You can have too much of a good thing, however. When incorporating organ meats into a dog’s diet, it’s important not to exceed safe levels of certain nutrients like vitamin A and copper. At Ollie, we carefully calculate the amount of organ meat in each recipe to ensure your dog gets the right balance for maximum benefits.

What Are Some Other Benefits Of Organ Meats?

Organ meats are not only packed with essential nutrients, but they also offer a flavorful and sustainable option for dog food. Their rich taste and strong aroma are highly appealing to dogs, enhancing palatability and making mealtime more enjoyable—even for picky eaters. From a sustainability perspective, incorporating organ meats supports a nose-to-tail philosophy by utilizing parts of the animal that are often underused in the human food system (Swanson and others, 2013). This approach helps reduce waste, lowers the environmental impact of meat production, and contributes to a more responsible, resource-efficient food system without compromising on nutrition or taste.

References

Latoch A, Stasiak DM, Siczek P. 2024. Edible Offal as a Valuable Source of Nutrients in the Diet—A Review. Nutrients. 16(11):1609. doi:10.3390/nu16111609.

Swanson KS, Carter RA, Yount TP, Aretz J, Buff PR.  2013.  Nutritional Sustainability of Pet Foods.  American Society for Nutrition, Adv. Nutr. 4(2): 141–150.