Liver treats for dogs: tasty, but dosed correctly
Liver for dogs is one of the most popular treats of all: dried liver smells intense, tastes rich and motivates almost every dog. At the same time, liver is extremely nutrient-dense, especially in vitamin A, so it only belongs in the bowl in small amounts. In this article, you'll find out how much liver your dog can eat, why liver treats go down so well and how to portion them sensibly.
Content: Liver treats for dogs: tasty, but dosed correctly
- What are liver treats for dogs?
- Why do dogs love liver treats?
- How much liver can a dog eat?
- Vitamin A in dogs: can too much liver be harmful?
- Using liver treats correctly: training and everyday life
- Frequently asked questions about liver treats for dogs
- Conclusion: liver for dogs – tasty, but dosed sparingly
Liver treats for special rewards:
What are liver treats for dogs?
Liver treats for dogs are dried or freeze-dried pieces of animal liver that are fed as a reward or a small snack between meals. They belong to the offal group and are among the most nutrient-rich treats you can give your dog.
Which types of liver are there?
Liver is available from many animal species. The most common are:
- Beef liver: the classic, with a strong flavour, for example as Beef liver in handy pieces.
- Horse liver: popular with dogs that only tolerate a few protein sources. Horse is considered a type of meat that dogs react to comparatively rarely. You'll find a selection in the horse category.
- Game liver: from reindeer or buffalo, for example, as a change for gourmets. Reindeer liver is one of the rarer varieties.
- Poultry liver: mild and often used as an ingredient in treats and biscuits.
Dried, freeze-dried or processed?
Air-dried liver is firm and easy to break into small pieces. Freeze-dried liver is light and crumbly and almost falls apart by itself. There are also treats in which liver is just one ingredient, such as the Cheese stick with liver. In products like these, the liver content is lower, so you can usually be a little more generous than with pure liver.
Why do dogs love liver treats?
Dogs love liver treats because dried liver has a very intense, savoury smell that a dog's sensitive nose picks up from a distance. For many dogs, liver is therefore right at the top of the list of rewards.
Intense smell, high motivation
The strong smell makes liver a real "jackpot". Even picky dogs or dogs that are easily distracted outdoors often respond reliably to a piece of liver. That's exactly why it's often saved for difficult exercises in training.
Lots of nutrients in a small space
The liver is the animal's metabolic organ and stores numerous nutrients. It provides high-quality protein and contains vitamin A, various B vitamins, iron, copper and zinc, among others. This density is both an advantage and a disadvantage: even small amounts contribute a lot, but larger amounts can be too much of a good thing. You can read more about the role of organs in the diet in our guide Offal for dogs.
How much liver can a dog eat?
A healthy dog can have liver as a treat in small amounts: a few small pieces a day or several times a week, but not large portions every day. What matters is that liver makes up only a small part of the overall diet.
Guidance by dog size
| Dog size | Guidance for liver treats |
|---|---|
| Small dogs | a few fingernail-sized bits per day |
| Medium-sized dogs | a few small pieces per day |
| Large dogs | a little more, but still small pieces rather than whole slices |
These figures are only a rough guide. For all treats combined, the rule of thumb is that they should make up no more than about 10 percent of the daily energy requirement. The article How many treats per day? explains how to put this into practice. Within these 10 percent, liver should only make up a part – combine it with other, less nutrient-dense treats.
If your dog already gets liver in its food
Many commercial foods and raw (BARF) rations already contain liver. If your dog eats a balanced complete food or a properly calculated raw feeding plan, its vitamin A requirement is usually already covered. Liver treats then come on top and should be kept correspondingly sparing. If you feed raw, it's worth including liver treats in your planning.
Vitamin A in dogs: can too much liver be harmful?
Yes, too much liver can harm a dog in the long run, because liver contains a lot of vitamin A and the body stores any excess instead of simply excreting it. Occasional small amounts are not a problem for healthy dogs.
Why vitamin A needs a limit
Vitamin A is fat-soluble and important for vision, skin, the immune system and growth. Because the body stores it in the liver, a long-term oversupply can build up. Such an oversupply of vitamin A doesn't come from a few treats, but mainly when large amounts of liver are fed over a long period or supplements are given in addition.
Possible signs of an oversupply
- Mobility problems: stiffness, lameness or pain in the joints and spine.
- General condition: loss of appetite, weight loss or lethargy.
- Skin and coat: changes to the skin and coat can also occur.
These signs can have many causes. If you notice them in your dog, please have it examined by a vet and talk openly about its diet.
Liver and digestion
In larger amounts, liver can cause soft stools in some dogs. That's another reason to give it in small pieces. If your dog has liver disease, problems with copper metabolism or is on a special diet, check with your vet before giving liver treats.
Variety with other offal
Instead of giving liver every day, you can alternate with other offal. Lung is light, fairly low in fat and much less nutrient-dense, while heart is meaty and also a good training treat. You'll find many of these treats among our low-fat chews, such as Horse lungs. The article Dried lung, tripe & co gives you an overview.
Light alternatives to liver:
Using liver treats correctly: training and everyday life
Liver treats work best when you use them deliberately as a particularly high-value reward, for example for recall, new exercises or in exciting situations. That way, liver stays something special and the amount automatically stays small.
How to portion liver in training
- Cut or break it small: pea-sized pieces are perfectly sufficient, the smell works even in mini portions.
- Use it as a jackpot: give liver for particularly good performance and reward easy exercises with milder treats.
- Mix: fill your treat pouch with a mix of a little liver and more lung or heart. The pieces of liver pass on their smell to the other treats.
- Adjust the daily ration: if there are lots of rewards on one day, reduce the main meal a little.
- Provide water: dried treats make dogs thirsty.
You'll find more suitable rewards in the training snacks category. Freeze-dried varieties from the freeze-dried treats category are especially easy to crumble.
Liver for puppies and seniors
Puppies can try small bits of liver as soon as they tolerate solid food well. During growth, however, a balanced supply of nutrients is especially important, so the rule here is: very sparingly and only as a reward. For older dogs, liver is often easy to chew thanks to its crumbly texture. If your dog has existing health conditions, discuss its diet with your vet.
Storing liver correctly
Store dried liver in a cool, dry and airtight place. Because of its intense smell, a tightly closing tin is ideal. This also helps against odours in your home with other strong-smelling offal such as dried tripe. You'll find more liver and other beef treats in the beef category.
Heart as an alternative training treat:
Frequently asked questions about liver treats for dogs
How much liver can a dog eat?
As a treat, a healthy dog can have liver in small amounts, such as a few small pieces a day or several times a week. All treats combined should make up no more than about 10 percent of the daily energy requirement, and liver only part of that.
Why are liver treats so popular?
Dried liver smells very intense and tastes rich. That's why it motivates even picky or distracted dogs and is ideal as a special reward in training.
Can too much liver be harmful?
Yes, in the long run it can. Liver contains a lot of vitamin A, which the body stores. If large amounts are fed over a long period, this can lead to an oversupply that puts strain on joints and bones, among other things. Occasional small amounts are not a problem for healthy dogs.
Is horse liver better than beef liver?
Not fundamentally. Horse liver is mainly of interest for dogs that react sensitively to other types of meat. When it comes to portioning, the same applies to all types of liver: small pieces, fed sparingly.
Can puppies have liver treats?
Yes, in very small amounts. Since a balanced supply of nutrients is particularly important during growth, you should only use liver as an occasional reward for puppies.
Conclusion: liver for dogs – tasty, but dosed sparingly
Liver treats are a real highlight for dogs: intense in smell, rich in flavour and full of nutrients. But precisely because of their high vitamin A content, they only belong on the menu in small amounts. Use liver as a jackpot in training, cut it into small pieces, alternate with lung or heart and count all treats towards the daily ration. If your dog has existing health conditions or you're unsure, your vet can help. You'll find more organ treats in the offal for dogs category.
Further reading on this topic:
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