Is Ground Turkey Good For Dogs? Our Expert Reveals 8 Truths
Your Guide To: Is Ground Turkey Good For Dogs?
Fact checked and reviewed by:
Dr. Joseph Menicucci, DVM, MBA
Is Ground Turkey Good For Dogs? Yes, it is!
But this depends – if you want your dog bubbly, playful, and with no tummy issues, you must cook it a particular way. It should have no spices, seasoning, or flavorings – plain turkey is perfect for your furry friend.
As much as we all want our turkey with the sweetest aroma, some of these additives might harm your dog and can lead to several visits to your vet. To keep your dog safe and with no stomach irritations, cook it plain.
Apart from the cooking, ground turkey is a remarkable main dish for your dog. It’s naturally nutrient-packed, keeping your dog in good physical and mental health. Not only that, but it’s a lean protein, meaning it’s low in fat.
And typically, the minimum fat is highly beneficial to your dog’s well-being. It safeguards your dog from unnecessary weight gain, encourages bowel movement, and keeps away digestive complications.
Besides these integral factors, there are other things you should know about this tasty meat.
Let’s dive into it!
Is Cooked Ground Turkey Good For Dogs?
When adding a new food to your dog’s meal plan, you first must consider the nutritional value. If you’re starting with ground turkey, you’ve made a great choice.
The tender protein has many integral nutrients to keep your dog happy and well-functioning. So, what are these nutritional benefits? Let’s look at a few.
Protein:
Ground turkey is a superb source of this vital macro-nutrient. And not only protein, but it provides high-quality protein – rich in all the essential amino acids. This major nutrient will meet your dog’s energy needs by fueling the muscles. It also ensures that your dog’s metabolism is balanced.
Magnesium:
Serving your dog ground turkey will allow them to get magnesium in adequate amounts. It sustains the soundness of your dog by promoting muscle recovery, stabilizing blood glucose, and preventing heart complications.
Riboflavin:
Every dog needs this B vitamin in sufficient quantity. However, your puppy or pregnant dog needs a higher amount since they are at a greater health risk. A riboflavin deficiency can cause irreversible health problems for your puppy, including impaired immunity and irregular metabolism. Turkey has a high concentration of this vital vitamin.
Is Ground Turkey Bad For Dogs?
Introducing this delicacy to your dog comes with a few regulations – that you must follow to avoid any potential health consequences. They’re not as tough as you think. Consider it a to-do list that should always be at the back of your mind when preparing this lean protein.
Turkey Skin:
Let’s agree; many of us find poultry skin quite yummy – whether fried chicken or juicy turkey.
And this might also be the case for most dogs. However, the skin of all poultry, including turkey, has a very high fat content. That’s okay for us humans. But for dogs, the high fat is harmful.
When you include turkey skin in your dog’s plate, it causes complications in the digestive system. And worse of all, your dog might end up in surgery because of pancreatitis.
The excess fat can cause inflammation in your dog’s pancreas. To avoid these health risks, stay away from the skin.
Seasoning:
We did mention this when we started. When preparing turkey for your dog, cook it plain. So plain means no spices, herbs, salt, fat, onions, or garlic. As tasteless as this sounds for all of us, your dog will enjoy it.
Some of these flavorings are dangerous for your dog, especially garlic and onion. Never include these two in your dog’s meals because they are poisonous.
As for salt, there is a high chance of sodium poisoning when you use too much. To be on the safe side, avoid salt. Also, if you’re buying the turkey from the grocery store, pick the unseasoned one.
Bones:
Every dog adores their bone mealtime. Bones are valuable for your dog because they are rich in minerals. But, not all bones are suitable, especially poultry bones. Even though they are mouthwatering, never serve your dog poultry bone. They are not safe.
First, they are smaller than the bones of red meat and can easily splinter. When your dog chews turkey bones, it creates sharp ends that can choke them. Similarly, the pointy ends can damage your dog’s digestive system. So, when preparing, remove the bones.
You Must Choose Quality Produce
If you’re still wondering “Is Ground Turkey Good For Dogs?” You must make sure your dog is getting the best turkey. And by best, we mean high quality that is healthy and secure for your dog. Start with checking the turkey’s label before buying.
You can do this by reading the nutrition label or ingredients. The goal is to avoid buying processed turkey. The processed kind contains many preservatives, artificial flavors, colors, or fillers that are dangerous to dogs.
The chemicals in these products can damage your dog’s gastrointestinal tract or cause severe stomach irritations. So always scan through every brand before buying. And stick to fresh ground turkey, which has natural ingredients.
Is Ground Turkey Good For Dogs Raw?
Cooked vs Raw Ground Turkey
Do you know why humans should never take raw meat? If you do, that’s the same reason you should never feed your dog raw meat. Even though dogs have powerful teeth and can easily chew uncooked meat, never serve it unprepared.
Undercooked or uncooked meat houses bacteria that are a great danger to you or your dog’s welfare. In particular, poultry hosts salmonella and listeria, which can cause gastrointestinal infections to you or your dog.
Digestive discomfort might cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. To protect your dog from food-borne illness or pathogenic infection, allow the raw turkey to be well-cooked before consumption.
Is Ground Turkey Good For Dogs? Always Take Into Account Your Canines Allergies and Sensitivities
Like humans, dogs are also prone to allergic reactions to certain foods. Some are allergic to chicken, wheat gluten, eggs, or red meat. It’s fundamental to uncover the foods that affect your dog, to prevent health implications.
Yet, turkey is among the top hypoallergenic foods appropriate for dogs with allergies. This means that it’s rare to find a dog with an allergy to turkey. Most dogs are allergic to red meat or chicken – if your dog has either, ground turkey is a perfect alternative.
Still, since we’ve said it’s hard to find a dog with a turkey allergy, some are affected. So be on the lookout. If your dog eats turkey and you notice vomiting, decreased appetite, fatigue, or an upset tummy, they might have an allergy to turkey. Discontinue feeding immediately.
Moderation and Balance Is Key When Considering – Is Ground Turkey Good For Dogs?
Your primary obligation when giving food to your dog is to ensure a proper balance of all the essential nutrients.
Ground turkey is rich in many nutrients, but it doesn’t contain some vitamins, minerals, fats, or carbohydrates. A balanced diet keeps your dog lively and supports long-term health.
Don’t serve this low-fat meat as the only dish. Increase your dog’s nutritional status by including other food groups on their plate. Keeping track of the balance can be cumbersome for you.
Reach out to your animal nutritionist or vet to assist with the nutrient profile.
Looking For Some Healthy, Homemade Dog Food Recipe Inspiration?
So, What’s The Verdict!? Is Ground Turkey Good For Dogs?
As you’ve witnessed, ground turkey is a fantastic dish for your dog. Its high nutrient value and low-fat content are just what every dog needs. And as a high-quality protein, it can support the energy needs of the most athletic dogs.
Yet, for it to effectively nourish your dog, you must follow all the guidelines we’ve discussed.
Cook it plain, with no bones or skin, and always avoid the processed type when shopping.
Don’t forget to cook it thoroughly before your dog consumes it. And always maintain nutritional balance with other food groups. If you’re looking for more nutritional advice for your pet, The American Canine Club is a great starting point for all things in canine health.
