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Can dogs eat Poultry By-Product Meal?

can dogs eat poultry by-product mealYes

Overview

dog-food-safety-information

Yes. Poultry by-product meal is a rendered ingredient made from poultry parts like necks, feet, and organs. It’s protein-rich and used in many dog foods. When sourced and processed properly, it’s safe and nutritious. However, quality varies and low-grade versions may pose health risks.

Benefits

health-benefits
  • Rendered slaughtered poultry parts are used to produce poultry by-product meal as a concentrated protein source. The product contains various clean poultry components that include heads, necks, intestines, lungs, spleens, and stomachs, among others.
  • The protein-rich poultry by-product meal provides essential amino acids like methionine and cysteine which help maintain skin and coat health as well as organ function.
  • Poultry by-product meal contains a high concentration of protein relative to its volume making it suitable for dogs needing extra protein in their diet.
  • The mineral content of poultry by-product includes iron, phosphorus, and zinc which serve as essential components for metabolic support and immune functions.

Risks

health-risks
  • Poultry by-product quality is not consistent. The origin of the poultry parts determines the quality of the product, which may include inferior components with minimal nutritional value.
  • The processing of poultry by-product always carries the risk of contamination. Poultry parts from non-inspected facilities may contain pathogens, mycotoxins, and heavy metals which pose dangers to canine health.
  • Poultry by-product contains various undesirable parts that can cause food allergies in dogs already sensitive to poultry proteins.
  • Poultry by-product is often used as a filler in low-quality dog foods.
health-risks-dog

Servings

serving-suggestions
  • Poultry by-product meal is not intended to be consumed as-is, so it should not be fed to dogs in its form.
  • The safe amount of poultry by-product to use depends on the formulation—when included in a complete and balanced commercial diet approved by AAFCO, it does not require additional adjustment.
  • Homemade feeding with raw or self-sourced by-products should be avoided since raw organ meats and poultry parts can transmit salmonella or listeria.

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