As dog owners, we want to share the delicious foods we love with our furry friends. And there’s nothing more crave-worthy than a juicy burger made with flavorful 80/20 ground beef. But is this fatty blend actually safe and healthy for dogs?
The answer is yes you can feed your dog 80/20 ground beef in moderation. However choosing a leaner blend is usually the better option. This article provides a complete vet-approved guide to picking the healthiest ground beef ratio for your pup.
We’ll cover
- What 80/20 ground beef means
- Potential benefits of 80/20 beef
- Downsides to feeding fatty blends
- How much is safe for dogs
- Vet tips for the leanest blends
- Other precautions for raw beef
- Better low-fat protein alternatives
Understanding the pluses and minuses of ground beef fat percentages allows you to make the most balanced decision for your dog’s unique needs. Let’s dive in!
What Does 80/20 Ground Beef Mean?
Ground beef packaging features a ratio that tells you the percentage of lean meat compared to fat. For example:
- 80/20 means the beef is 80% lean meat and 20% fat
- 90/10 means it’s 90% lean and 10% fat
The 80/20 blend contains more fat since 20% of the volume comes from saturated animal fat mixed throughout the ground beef. The higher the second number, the more fat the beef contains.
Potential Benefits of 80/20 Ground Beef for Dogs
Here are some of the reasons you may want to feed an 80/20 beef ratio:
- It’s usually more affordable than leaner blends
- The fat provides a flavor dogs love
- The fat adds moisture and texture
- Fat delivers some calories for energy
So an 80/20 blend can be tasty and budget-friendly. But there are also some drawbacks to watch out for.
Potential Downsides of 80/20 Ground Beef for Dogs
While delicious, feeding dogs fatty ground beef does come with health concerns:
-
Weight gain: The higher fat causes more calories, which can lead to obesity if overfed.
-
Pancreatitis: Too much fat may trigger this painful inflammatory condition.
-
Digestive issues: Greasy foods can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting.
-
Skin problems: Fatty diets exacerbate skin allergies and skin/coat issues.
For these reasons, leaner meat is often the healthier choice, especially for dogs with sensitivities.
How Much 80/20 Ground Beef Can Dogs Eat?
Since fatty ground beef is high in calories, dogs only need small servings to get the taste and nutrition without overdoing the fat. The general rule is:
- 80/20 beef should only make up 10% or less of your dog’s total daily calories
For a 50 pound dog eating 1000 calories per day:
- They should eat 2 ounces or less of 80/20 ground beef
- This equates to around 1/4 cup cooked crumbles
Following the 10% rule prevents weight gain and any digestive issues. Now let’s look at how to choose leaner beef.
Vet Tips for the Leanest Ground Beef Ratios
While the occasional 80/20 beef is fine, vets generally recommend choosing leaner ratios of 90/10 or ideally 95/5 when possible.
Benefits of leaner beef for dogs include:
- Fewer calories to prevent obesity
- Less risk of pancreatitis
- Better digestion
- Healthier skin and coat
Look for labels like “Extra Lean” or aim for grass-fed organic beef for the healthiest nutrition profile. The small bump in cost is worth it for the benefits!
Other Precautions When Feeding Dogs Ground Beef
Besides choosing lean ratios, here are two other key precautions:
-
Always cook thoroughly to kill bacteria from raw meat that can make dogs sick. Never feed raw.
-
Avoid seasonings like onion, garlic, or salt that are unhealthy for dogs.
Following basic food safety guidelines keeps ground beef safe when included in your dog’s diet.
Healthy Low-Fat Alternatives to Ground Beef
While the occasional patty of lean ground beef is fine for dogs, making it a everyday staple can quickly lead to weight gain or other issues. Some healthier low-fat protein alternatives include:
- Chicken or turkey breast
- Fish like salmon or tuna
- Eggs
- Low-sodium deli meats
- Beans, lentils, tofu
- Peanut butter
Rotating a variety of lean proteins keeps your dog’s diet balanced while avoiding too much of any single food. The bottom line? While the right amount of 80/20 ground beef is safe for most dogs, going leaner is usually healthier. Talk to your vet if you have any concerns about your pup’s nutrition.
Can Dogs Eat Ground Beef? Is It Good for Them?
Ground beef is not only tasty for you, but it’s also good for your dog and full of protein. No matter how you feed Fido ground beef, he will love it because it is healthy.
You probably already have ground beef in your fridge or freezer. It’s easy to add to your dog’s food and will make it taste great and be good for them. Today, we’re going to talk about the best kinds of ground beef to give your dogs and why it’s so good for them to eat it.
How Much Ground Beef Should I Add To My Dog’s Diet?
For every 20 pounds of your dog’s body weight, feed them about a third of a pound of ground beef every day.
Let’s say your dog is 40 pounds. If you wanted to feed them only ground beef, you would feed them 2/3 of a pound. If they’re 60 pounds, you’d feed them a full pound of ground beef.
Although dogs primarily get their nutrients from meat, our favorite pets need a well-rounded diet to stay happy and healthy. Just like we can’t persist on meat alone (as much as we’d like to), we wouldn’t recommend feeding your dogs only ground beef. Use these meat measurements as a jumping off point, and adjust as needed when you add their other food into the mix.
If you feed your 60-pound dog three cups of dry kibble every day, it’s easy to add some fresh ground beef to their food. You could cut each amount in half and mix them together, or you could mix 1/3 cup of ground beef with two cups of kibble. Your dog could gain weight if you give them more meat without cutting back on the kibble you normally give them. Be sure to give them the same number of calories as usual, but some of the kibble should be replaced with tasty ground beef.
Maybe you want to go all in and cut pet food out all together. Of course, you can feed your dog a healthy amount of ground beef as part of the process. But giving your dog other foods along with the beef will make them feel better.
Some other important additions to your dogs meal could include:
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Apples
- Carrots
- Eggs
Is Ground Beef Good for Dogs?
FAQ
Is 80% lean ground beef ok for dogs?
Is 80/20 good for dogs?
What fat percentage ground beef for dogs?
Is 80 20 ground beef okay to eat?
Is ground beef good for dogs?
This nutrient also boosts immune health and provides energy to fuel your dog’s daily activities. One 4-oz serving of lean ground beef (5% fat) contains 24 grams of protein and only 5 grams of fat. Ground beef also contains multiple vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that benefit your dog.
Can dogs eat raw beef?
Dr. Crnec says you can practice some safety precautions if you want to feed your dog raw beef, like pre-freezing raw meat to deactivate the parasitic spores (this won’t work for bacteria, however). Regular deworming can also reduce the risk of worm infestations from raw meat. That said, it’s safest to simply cook the beef before your dog eats it.
How much ground beef can a dog eat?
When cooked correctly, your dog can eat ⅓ of a pound of ground beef for every 20 pounds it weighs. You should cook the ground beef without seasoning and pour off any fat that rises to the surface, especially if your dog is overweight. You can feed ground beef as an occasional treat or as part of a nutritionally balanced diet.
Can a dog eat ground beef if he is overweight?
Pour into a colander to drain off the fat if your dog is overweight, otherwise use the meat and its juices. For extra flavor, sauté ground beef with vegetables such as finely grated carrot or zucchini and chopped, fresh parsley using the ratio of two tablespoons of veggies to one cup of beef.