Is Venison Good For Dogs?

More and more dog owners are asking is venison good for dogs as a high-quality diet and alternative to other, more common meat based dog foods. Our guide explains the pros and cons of feeding your dog venison as part of a balanced diet.

The main advantages to including venison in your dog's diet are that it is a good source of protein and omega fatty acids. Venison is also naturally low in fat, meaning that it is a healthy choice for your dog's diet.

Is venison low in fat?

What are the main drawbacks of venison for dogs?

Feeding large amounts of venison to your dog can result in diarrhoea and may cause an upset stomach as it is a particularly rich type of meat, so you should introduce venison into your dog's diet gradually by mixing it with other foods.

[Photo for illustrative purposes only. Don't give dogs food with added spices or seasoning]

Another of the main drawbacks of venison is that it can be difficult to find a good quality, fresh supply.

Venison, like all meats, must be stored and handled carefully to ensure it does not become contaminated with harmful pathogens such as E. coli.

For this reason, many dog owners choose to feed their dogs processed venison or venison treats instead of meat from whole animals.

Venison is not a cheap meat. In fact, it's pretty expensive. So for most owners, feeding venison as the main source of protein in their dog's diet is not an affordable option and is often used as a supplementary or occasional element of a dog's diet.

The main nutritional benefits of venison vs a meat such as chicken are that venison contains more omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids than chicken. It also contains an amino acid called taurine that is essential for normal heart function in dogs.

If you feed your dog a lot of venison, you should monitor their weight closely to make sure that they do not gain too much. You should also introduce venison into their diet slowly as it is particularly rich in protein and fats.

See our guide: How and when to switch your dog's food

Is it OK to feed dogs venison occasionally?

Adding venison as an occasional element of their overall diet is popular with owners who wish to give their dog variety and, as it is a meat with a slightly different nutritional profile to some other meats, it can provide benefits in the form of more fat, omega 3 and crude protein.

We should also remember that dogs are omnivores. Dogs, like us, often enjoy variety. So the question as to whether your dog actually likes venison is one thing, but as to whether it is a safe and healthy meat to form a part of an overall, mixed, variety filled diet is what we're focussing on. The answer is yes. Venison is safe and it's a healthy meat for dogs to eat. But due to its profile, cost and availability it may be more prudent to use it as component part of a mixed diet, rather than the main source of protein.

If you intend to feed your dog venison as part of their diet, you should know that venison is a high protein meat. This is good for dogs, as they need protein in their diet. As a rule of thumb, we should aim to feed our dog about 25% of their ideal body weight in protein per day.

The benefits of adding venison to your dog's diet outweigh the risks for most dogs because venison tends to be leaner than beef and pork. However, if you intend to feed your dog large amounts of venison over an extended period it would be wise to monitor their health closely, as with any major changes to their diet.

Do dogs actually like venison?

If you're not sure whether or not your dog will like venison, it is best not to introduce it into their diet straight away. Mix some with their regular food and see how they react before giving them a full serving on its own. If your dog has no reaction then it should be safe for you to continue feeding them this meat with regularity over time.

There are various different types of venison such as deer, elk and moose. All three of these meats are very similar in terms of nutrition, so you can feed your dog any type as long as it is pure meat.

If you want to give your dog venison on a regular basis then you should buy some from a local butcher or specialist pet store. If you do not have access to these places then check out online retailers who stock venison meat or venison dog treats and who have excellent customer reviews.

Many dogs seem to prefer the taste of venison to other meats because of the particularly strong, unique taste of deer meat. If you've ever eaten venison yourself, you'll know that it has a distinct taste and flavour that separates it from other common meats such as chicken, turkey, pork or beef.

Again, just like us, some dogs will go crazy for the unique taste of venison and others will not. We like what we like and vice versa. The same is true of dogs.

Venison as a dog training aid

If you want to use venison as a training aid then you should give your dog small amounts at a time so they can get used to it. You should also mix this with their normal food and add some treats or other flavours if necessary.

Using venison meat as a dog training aid is not only a great way to introduce this type of food in to your dog's diet, it's also a lot cheaper than feeding venison as a main constituent of their meals.

There is lots of anecodotal evidence from dog trainers who say that many dogs place a higher value on venison vs some other meat-based dog treats. This, again, is probably due to its unique taste and flavour.

Can venison trigger allergies in dogs?

Before switching your dog's diet, you should do at least one of these two things (but ideally, both).

1. Speak with your vet
2. Make the transition very slowly and cautiously

Signs that your dog’s food is causing an allergic reaction include:

• Skin rashes
• Itchy ears
• Itchy paws and feet
• Itchy belly and groin area.

If you think your dog is showing the symptoms of an allergic reaction to something in their diet, particularly something new, then you should discontinue the new food element and consult your vet.

Read our guide: Allergies and dogs

Venison does not have the same nutritional profile of other meats, so you need to be very cautious about weight gain. Venison in the wrong volume will cause dogs to gain weight because it is so rich in protein.

In the right amount, however, venison can be an excellent source of muscle-building protein for your dog. Some dogs respond well to the high protein content and will get a lot of energy from it, which can be good for very active dogs. For other dogs, it may lead to obesity if you don't watch the portions.

Venison is a lean, low fat meat which can be ideal for some dogs

Venison has a lower fat content than other meats such as beef. However, since it is rich in proteins (and generally contains less carbohydrates), it will provide more calories per gram than leaner meats like chicken or turkey. So keep an eye on your dog's weight when feeding him or her venison.

Can my dog have venison dog treats or bones?

Venison dog treats are extremely popular. Dogs often love the flavour.

Do dogs eat venison in the wild?

Wild dogs will eat pretty much anything. Dogs in the wild will eat the meat of animals they kill themselves or carcasses of dead animals they find. They will also eat the meat of other predators that they find. This can include rabbits, squirrels, and even other wild dogs.

So it's likely that your dog would eat venison if given the opportunity. However, since your dog is most likely not going to be hunting or scavenging for his own food, you need to make sure he gets the right amount of venison in his diet.

Just because a dog eats something in the wild doesn't mean we should be trying to replicate that in our homes. One of the benefits dogs have received from domestication is that we really can tailor the best diet to our individual dogs.

We can certainly make meal times more fun for dogs by allowing them to engage their natural tendencies to 'hunt' and scavenge. There are products available for just this type of thing (such as Snuffle mats and dog food puzzle toys). We can also, in clean spaces, scatter food and encourage our dogs to perform physical work to feed themselves. This makes meal times more engaging and lots of dogs love to feed themselves this way.

How much venison should I feed my dog?

As with any new food, start out feeding a small amount and see how your dog does on it.

Venison is a richer meat than many dogs are used to, so don't go overboard on the portions. You risk giving him diarrhoea by feeding too much too often or making him overweight by feeding too much all at once. And remember that if you're adding new foods to your dog's diet, do it slowly over time, you can give him an even smaller amount at first when introducing venison into your dog's diet.

If you're using ground venison instead of chunks of meat, use a standard measuring cup (like 1/3 cup) and portion out the right amount for your dog based on his weight. If you're using chunks or strips cut from a deer roast or steak, use your judgement based on what looks like a good size piece for your dog rather than trying to portion them out exactly with weights and measures – after all this isn't human food!

The most simple and important rule when establishing how much venison to feed your dog - speak with your vet. They are the experts.

Should venison be fed to dogs raw or cooked?

This is a debate in its own right.

Many dog owners feed their dog entirely on raw (uncooked) meats and other uncooked foods such as vegetables.

Some dog owners prefer their dog to only eat cooked meats.

Read our guide: A beginner's guide to raw dog food.

Read this guide: The risks of feeding raw foods.

In summary - is venison good for dogs?

The main benefits of feeding your dog venison are:

• It is a good source of lean protein.
• It is rich in iron and other minerals.
• It contains more calories than some other types of meat, so it can be good for active dogs who need the extra energy.
• Many dogs seem to absolutely love the taste of venison and place a high value on it as a food
• It can perform the role of a treat or occasional component of a balanced, healthy canine diet

The main drawbacks to feeding your dog venison are:

• It can be high in fat.
• It can cause dogs to gain weight if you overfeed it.
• It is not as readily available as other meats like chicken or turkey, so you may have to find a speciality butcher or order it online.
• It is expensive relative to other meats that are traditionally used as the main protein source in modern dog diets.
• It is a rich food and some dogs do not do well on it for that reason