Pork Meat: A novel protein for dogs.

Is pork meat good for dogs to eat? Pork meat itself is not bad for dogs. Dog’s became sick when eating ham, bacon, or other fatty parts of the pig, and people began to believe that dogs should never eat pork. That led to the wrong idea that pork meat is hard to digest for dogs. When the rumors of pork being bad for dogs began, it was when unhealthy treats were causing dogs to get sick because of their dangerous makeup and high levels of fat.

Raw uncooked meats:

What people don’t realize is that any raw or under-cooked meat that isn’t either cooked fully or harvested properly can lead to parasites affecting your dog’s health. Any time you choose to serve your dog a truly raw meat, you have to be sure you know what you’re doing when freezing and preparing their food. In the case of pork meat, it’s recommended that it be frozen for at least three weeks to kill off any possible parasites before cooking or feeding it.

Feeding the right cut of pork meat for dogs:

The key is to choose a lean cut. Pork tenderloin is a great choice.It’s a thin strip of meat that has barely any fat on it. Don’t skimp and buy loin instead. Loin is fattier than tenderloin and can cause digestive problems that might lead to dangerous disorders like pancreatitis. Tenderloin is your best low-fat pork option. So when I do use pork as the main meat source, it has to be a lean cut.

Is Pork a novel protein?

Yes, pork is a novel protein. Like any animal protein source, it is possible for a dog to be allergic. If you find that your dog seems to be allergic to pork, avoid pork products and choose suitable alternatives. Pork isn’t the most nutrient-dense meat around, but when you combine it with pork organ meats, you can put together a pretty good diet. Pairing it with quinoa works, because the combination works to provide good nutrient values, and the diet needs fewer supplements – always a good thing when you have a dog that can react to anything and everything.

Nutritional value of Pork meat:

Pork has a very high nutritional value. It is a good source of the following minerals: magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, selenium, and zinc. Concerning vitamins, pork meat is particularly high in thiamine (vitamin B1) and riboflavin (vitamin B2); a good source of vitamin B6, niacin (vit B3), vitamin B12, and vitamin B6. The fat of pork is an excellent source of the important fat-soluble vitamin D, a vitamin that is hard to get from food sources. The amount of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in pork meat and fat varies according to the diet of the pigs. If their diet is full of green plants, which are foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, then their fat will reflect this. This is why fats from forage grazed/pasture-raised pigs is higher in omega 3 fatty acids, than fat from pigs fed a more conventional diet consisting mostly of grains.

Can I Give My Dog Pork If It’s Raw, Fresh Pork?

Should dogs eat pork if it’s raw? It’s okay to do so. You just want to make sure that you kill any risk of parasites by freezing it for a few weeks before feeding it. This can be a risk, however, so I suggest buying raw food from a reputable raw dog food producer instead. They test products for parasites and keep out additives. This keeps the food raw but safe for your dog!

Recommendations on feeding Pork Meat:

I LOVE pork for my dogs and this protein has been one of my mainstays for years. My South African Boerboels and senior dogs have all done really well on it. They LOVE pork. Fresh pork meat is frozen for three weeks before feeding, OR, we flash freeze the meat to -48 degree Celsius, the meat can also be safe to feed raw after just a few days under those conditions.

Pancreatitis Risk?

For dogs that are sensitive to fattier meats: I will recommend balancing the pork meals with meals prepared with lean meat meals (turkey, fish, quail). Because the possibly inflammatory effect on a fat sensitive pancreas will be cumulative: I recommend feeding pork meals that are preceded and proceeded by low fat/lean meat meals. So, this means feeding a lean meal day one, pork day two, lean meal day three…etc. Alternatively, just feed pork once a week for variety. Or you can feed pork in combination or alternating with turkey or mackerel fish which are both lean, “cooling” options.

Breeding, growing and selective sourcing of pigs and pig meat:

At BARF India, we only source exclusively truly pasture-raised/forage grazed heritage breed pork. Overall, pasture-raised farming produces a safer and far more nutritious pork. The York-shire breeds are selected by us for their robustness, and are a healthier animal – genetically, and hence better for the raw feeders in India. The meat from pastured pigs that are raised outdoors have more Vitamin D stored in the fat. The fat is health-promoting and less a risk for carrying a toxic load than fat from the animals raised in confinement or fed commercial chemical laden, grain loaded, feed-stuffs.

Conclusion:

Finally, when you put myth versus reality, the verdict goes in favor of raw pork being a safe, lean and healthy meat to feed your dog on a raw food diet. Raw pork is a great, healthy option that is a source of all the nutrients your dog needs. We think pork is a wonderful choice! Just be sure you adequately pre-freeze (or cook) this meat prior to feeding. Properly freezing is easy to do, and worth the great benefits of this cooling, novel, nutritious, and tasty protein that we source from excellent pastured, heritage local sources. Pork is a great addition to dog food when handled properly.