Is Venison Good For Dogs? All About Deer Meat for Dogs

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Venison has been gaining popularity among dog food brands. It comes from game animals such as deer, antelope, and elk. More importantly, it offers low-fat, low-cholesterol protein along with essential amino acids and important nutrients. 

Compared to beef, venison contains approximately 26 to 28 grams of protein per 3-ounce serving, while beef provides around 23 to 25 grams for the same portion size. This difference is primarily due to venison’s leaner composition, as it has less fat and a higher ratio of muscle tissue compared to beef, resulting in a greater protein concentration.

Due to venison’s rich nutrition profile, it has become useful to many dogs with health issues like allergies, obesity, or old age.

In this guide, we’ll cover the parts of the deer dogs can eat, what nutritional issues to be aware of, and the best venison dog food brands.

In this guide:

• Can dogs eat deer meat?
• Can dogs eat raw venison?
• What parts of a deer can a dog eat?

Can dogs eat deer meat?

Yes! Dogs can eat deer meat, also known as venison. In fact, it’s a great source of protein for dogs. It offers lean, nutrient-rich protein content without too much fat. 

Packed with essential omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B12, venison supports overall health and wellness.

Venison can be an ideal choice for senior or overweight dogs due to its lower fat content and higher protein levels compared to beef. These qualities help maintain muscle mass while supporting healthy weight management. While venison is not necessarily superior to beef for healthy adult dogs, it does stand out as a targeted option for specific dietary needs and life stages.

If venison is a primary protein source in your dog’s diet, you need to ensure the overall meal plan remains balanced. Daily feeding of venison is safe, but additional sources of healthy fats should be included to meet your dog’s nutritional requirements for long-term health and vitality. Most dog food brands that rely on venison as their main protein source will have already adjusted for these requirements in their recipes.

>> Read more: Best Venison Dog Treats & Chews

Can dogs eat venison sausage?

Yes, dogs can eat venison sausage. Venison is a healthy and nutritious protein source for dogs. However, you should only feed your dog sausages with minimal additives, and only give them sausage occasionally as a treat. 

Remember that even the healthiest sausages can contain high levels of fat and sodium, so moderation is key.

Is venison good for overweight dogs?

Yes, venison is a great option for overweight dogs. Its-high protein and low-fat content make it an ideal choice for managing weight and muscle mass. Although venison has a low-fat content (typically less than 3%) compared to beef and pork, it is higher in polyunsaturated fatty acids and lower in saturated fats, which can help reduce inflammation.

Research shows that obese dogs tend to lose more weight on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, even when their calorie intake remains the same as with a high-carbohydrate diet.

Additionally, venison is rich in essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B12, which support overall health. The lean nature of venison helps reduce calorie intake without sacrificing the quality of nutrition, making it a smart protein source for weight management.

Is venison good for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

Yes, venison can be an excellent option for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Its lean, easily digestible nature can also be gentle on a dog’s gut, reducing the risk of gastrointestinal upset. Additionally, venison provides essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and vitamin B12, supporting overall health while being kind to sensitive stomachs.

PetPlate has created a venison meal made with venison meat and liver, potatoes, apples, green beans, sweet potatoes, pasta, carrots, red bell peppers, and a few other ingredients. However, if grains are bothersome to your pup, you may want to try a grain-free option like Real Meat air-dried dog food.

Is venison good for dogs with allergies

Venison’s unique nutritional profile makes it especially beneficial for dogs with dietary sensitivities, providing a wholesome alternative for those with allergies to more common protein sources, like chicken or pork.

Venison is considered a novel protein, meaning it is less common in standard dog foods. Because dogs are less likely to have had venison in the past, it is less likely to trigger food sensitivities or allergies. Switching to a novel protein source like venison may help address allergy symptoms such as excessive itching, hair loss, hot spots, and skin crusting.

That said, there is some evidence that some dogs with beef allergies may also react poorly to venison. To determine if venison is suitable, it’s best to start with a small portion of venison-based food before fully transitioning to a venison diet.

Just Food for Dogs offers a hypoallergenic, grain-free meal option featuring New Zealand venison, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and cranberries.

Can dogs eat raw deer meat?

While raw meat diets have gained popularity, some experts advise against feeding your dog raw venison. We recommend fully cooking venison before serving it to your dog or consuming it yourself. Raw or undercooked venison has been linked to the presence of tapeworm cysts and has been associated with outbreaks of toxoplasmosis, E. coli, and brucellosis.

Other experts suggest that if the meat is sourced and handled responsibly and frozen for several days beforehand to eliminate any potential parasites, it could be served raw.

We Feed Raw Dog Food has an entire meal plan based on raw venison and organ meat, which we fed to our dog Hobbes.

How to cook venison for dogs

To ensure all harmful bacteria are eliminated, venison should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. Relying on the meat’s color to gauge doneness is not recommended; instead, use a meat thermometer to confirm the correct temperature.

What parts of a deer can a dog eat?

Can dogs eat deer liver?

Yes, venison liver can be beneficial for dogs when given in moderation. It is packed with nutrients like amino acids, fat, the essential B vitamins, and trace minerals like iron, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, and iodine.

However, due to an abundance of nutrients that store up in the body like Vitamin A and fat, organ meats need to be used sparingly as it can lead to toxicity. Always consult your veterinarian before adding new foods to your dog’s diet.

There are a few dog food brands that use venison organ meat in their meals such as Huntaway Wild Venison (raw frozen and freeze dried) and Ziwi Peak (air dried and wet). Another option to consider is We Feed Raw’s Venison recipe which incorporates venison meat with multiple beef organ meats.

Liver can be a nutritious and delicious treat on its own. Slowly cooking venison liver on low heat for about 20 minutes creates a dried liver snack that is healthier than many store-bought dog treats. However, certain breeds, such as Dalmatians, may be sensitive to excessive liver intake, so it’s essential to research your dog’s specific dietary needs and reach out to a veterinarian before incorporating liver into their regular diet.

Is deer heart good for dogs?

Much like liver, deer heart is a common component in raw diets due to its nutritional benefits. Cooking venison heart can also provide a wholesome and tasty treat for your dog.

What is venison meal?

Venison meal, like other meat meals, is a rendered meat concentrate that provides significantly more protein than fresh venison, making it a valuable ingredient in commercial pet foods. Aside from being a concentrated source of protein, it also provides essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus, and can be a cost-effective alternative to whole meat.

When choosing a dog food containing meat meal, it’s important to ensure it comes from reputable sources that follow strict safety standards. Many concerns exist about the quality of meat meal, the parts of the animal it uses, and the potential use of spoiled or diseased carcases. Additionally, it should not be the sole source of protein in a dog’s diet to maintain balanced nutrition.

For these reasons, high-quality dog foods avoid meat meals altogether and opt for muscle and organ meat due to their high levels of protein and other essential nutrients. We trust brands like We Feed Raw and Just Food For Dogs to provide human-grade fresh meat and organs for our dogs.

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