Yes, dogs can eat venison safely. Beyond being safe for dogs, venison is a very nutritious meat used in many dog foods and treats.
As with all human foods, you must ask your veterinarian before feeding your dog any new dietary additions. Here’s what you should know about feeding venison to your dog.
How is venison good for dogs?
Venison is a red meat that contains vitamins and minerals essential to your pup’s health. This meat is high in B vitamins, all of which are useful in helping your dog’s body reach its full potential. Venison also contains iron, zinc, and phosphorus.
One downside of venison is that it contains less protein than some other red meats, like beef. However, venison also contains less fat and cholesterol.
If you’ve been advised that your pup needs to lose a couple of pounds, venison or dog food made with venison may be a good option to keep your dog’s protein levels up. Additionally, this may be a good meat option for dogs with allergies to other meats like chicken.
How can I safely give venison to my dog?
Though there is a debate about whether you can give your dog raw venison, cooked venison is safe to feed your dog.
While raw venison does contain more nutrients, some dogs don’t handle raw foods well. Additionally, wild raw venison meat has been shown to contain tapeworm cysts and could cause outbreaks of illnesses like E. coli and brucellosis.
You can cook venison for your dog just as you would cook it for yourself, but forgo the butter and seasonings. A little oil is okay.
You can also dry venison to make jerky for your doggo, which they will thank you for. Venison jerky is a snack you and your dog can even share.
