You might be concerned about how safe turkey meal is and why pet food companies don’t just use more real turkey meat. Turkey meal and other meat meals are common ingredients found in dog food. Most dog food companies put meat meals in their recipes to add more protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Here’s what you need to know about this ingredient and how to avoid feeding your dog low-quality ingredients that may be incorporated into dog food. In short, though, turkey meal is safe for dogs. Read on to learn more.
What is Turkey Meal in Dog Food?
As a dog owner, you likely want to feed your furry friend the healthiest diet possible When reading dog food labels, you may come across an ingredient called “turkey meal”. But what exactly is turkey meal and should you be feeding it to your dog? In this article, I’ll explain everything you need to know about turkey meal and whether it has a place in your dog’s bowl
What is Turkey Meal?
Turkey meal is a dried and condensed form of turkey meat. To create turkey meal, whole turkeys are first cooked. This cooking process removes moisture and fat, concentrating the amount of protein in the final product. The cooked turkey is then dried and ground into a powder.
The result is a very protein-dense meal product that contains around 90% protein. Compared to fresh turkey meat, which is about 70% water and only 18% protein, you can see why turkey meal is so valued as a quality source of concentrated protein.
Benefits of Turkey Meal for Dogs
There are several benefits that make turkey meal an attractive ingredient for dog foods:
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High in protein. Turkey meal contains essential amino acids that support your dog’s muscle growth and maintenance. Dogs need a lot of protein in their diet, so turkey meal helps meet this requirement.
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Very digestible. The cooking and drying process makes the proteins in turkey meal easy for dogs to digest and absorb. This is especially helpful for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
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Flavor dogs love. Turkey is a tasty, savory protein source that enhances palatability. Most dogs find turkey meal very appetizing.
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Concentrated nutrition. Turkey meal provides a big nutritional bang for your buck. You get a dense protein source packed with amino acids in a small amount of food.
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Consistent quality. The controlled manufacturing of turkey meal ensures consistent nutrition and quality batch after batch.
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Grain-free option. Some dog foods use turkey meal as the key ingredient in grain-free recipes.
Why Use Turkey Meal Instead of Fresh Turkey?
You may be wondering why dog food companies use turkey meal instead of fresh turkey meat. There are a couple of reasons:
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Removing the water concentrates the protein. As mentioned above, turkey meat is about 70% water. Once the water is evaporated away, you’re left with a much higher protein concentration per ounce.
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Longer shelf life. The cooking process destroys bacteria and pathogens, giving turkey meal a longer shelf life. Fresh meats spoil rapidly.
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Avoids extra fat. Turkey skin and dark meat contain a lot of fat. Turkey meal allows only meat to be used, creating a lean protein source.
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Consistent nutrition. Companies have more control over the precise nutritional content of turkey meal batches. Fresh meat nutrition varies.
Things to Look for on Labels
When assessing a dog food containing turkey meal, there are a couple label details to evaluate:
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Turkey meal as first ingredient. Look for turkey meal as one of the first ingredients. This indicates it is a significant protein source.
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Single protein source. Some foods combine protein meals into one generic “poultry meal”. It’s ideal when only turkey meal is used.
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Whole turkey meal. This confirms meat and bone are used but not organ meats. Organ meats quickly become controversial.
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Guaranteed analysis. Verify the crude protein meets your dog’s needs (18% minimum for adult dogs).
As long as the label follows these guidelines, that turkey meal is likely a healthy and nutritious addition to your dog’s diet.
Potential Downsides of Turkey Meal
While turkey meal has many benefits, there are a couple things to be aware of:
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Possible allergies. Some dogs may have allergic reactions to turkey proteins. These are uncommon but can occur. Diarrhea and skin irritation are possible symptoms.
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Sustainability concerns. Dog food demand has led to unsustainable turkey farming practices. Look for manufacturers that use sustainable ingredients and supplies.
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Quality differences. Not all turkey meals are equal. Low-end brands may include by-products or poor quality ingredients. Stick with premium natural brands.
As long as you are aware of these concerns, high-quality turkey meal is generally a healthy component of commercial dog food. Talk to your vet if you have any questions about whether turkey meal is right for your individual dog.
What About Fresh Turkey?
You might be wondering if you should just feed your dog fresh, home-cooked turkey instead of turkey meal. In some cases, this can be an excellent option.
Benefits of fresh turkey meat include:
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Natural, less processed form. You know exactly what you are feeding your dog.
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May reduce allergies. Cooking processes can create new proteins/allergens.
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More sustainable. You can source turkey locally and sustainably yourself.
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Controllable ingredients. With home-cooking, you control precisely what gets included.
Potential downsides of preparing fresh turkey for your dog at home include:
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High water content. You’ll need to feed large amounts to meet protein needs.
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Short shelf life. Fresh turkey spoils rapidly unless you freeze meal-sized portions.
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Labor intensive. Preparing balanced homemade meals for your dog takes a lot of work.
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Incomplete nutrition. Ensuring all essential nutrients are included can be challenging.
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Food safety. Raw turkey carries risks of Salmonella, E. coli, and other pathogens.
As long as you educate yourself on proper pet nutrition and food prep safety, feeding your dog fresh turkey can be very healthy. For most owners though, a quality commercial dog food using turkey meal is a convenient way to provide balanced nutrition.
The Bottom Line on Turkey Meal
Turkey meal is a protein-rich ingredient that offers dogs exceptional nutrition. When sourced from quality ingredients, turkey meal provides essential amino acids, highly digestible protein, and natural flavor in a concentrated, shelf-stable form.
Look for turkey meal in the first few ingredients of premium natural dog foods to take advantage of the benefits it offers. Avoid generic “poultry meal” and low-quality brands. With so many positives, turkey meal can play an important role in providing complete, balanced nutrition for your beloved dog.
Animal By-Product Meals
While turkey meal is safe for dogs to eat, you do want to be wary of unspecified meat meals and by-product meals. Some dog food ingredient lists will contain “meat meal,” and it’s unclear as to what sources of meat are inside it. For example, it could be a mixture of beef and chicken. So, if your dog has any food allergies, it’s best to avoid food containing unspecified meat meals.
You may also encounter dog food that contains animal by-product meals. Their contents can contain animal meat, along with organs, fatty tissue, and bone. Poultry by-product meals can also contain necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines.
Animal by-product meal is a cheap alternative with low-quality ingredients that certain dog food companies use to raise the food’s protein content. Since more parts are included in animal by-product meals, it’s unclear as to what exactly is inside of them. It’s best to avoid this ingredient, especially if your dog has food allergies or sensitivities.
Is Turkey Meal Safe for Dogs to Eat?
Turkey meal is completely safe for dogs. According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), “Meat Meal is the rendered product from mammal tissues, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach, and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices.”1
In other words, you don’t have to worry about any unsanitary or unwholesome turkey parts being incorporated into your dog’s food. Turkey meal only consists of meat tissue. To meet the AAFCO’s standards of meat meal, turkey meal must also be processed in a way that destroys harmful bacteria and has an end product with a high protein content.
Dog food recipes containing a specified meat meal, like turkey meal, beef meal, or salmon meal, all contain just the parts of the specified meat. So, turkey meal is free of other sources of meat.
Supreme Source Turkey Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food Review
FAQ
Is turkey meal ok in dog food?
Turkey isn’t inherently toxic to dogs. It’s used as an ingredient in many dog foods, and is rich in protein, riboflavin, and phosphorous.Oct 24, 2024
What’s the difference between turkey and turkey meal?
Turkey is 70% water and 18% protein when it is added to the formula. Turkey Meal is 10% water and 65% protein when it is added to the formula.
What is turkey meal made from?
… a combination of clean flesh and skin with and without accompanying bone, derived from whole carcasses of chicken/turkey thereof, exclusive of feathers, …
What should top 3 ingredients be in dog food?
What are the top 3 ingredients to look for in dog food? The top ingredients to look for in dog food are high-quality proteins (named meat sources – chicken, beef, fish, and lamb), natural carbohydrates (whole fruits and vegetables), and healthy fats (animal fats or plant-based oils).
Does dog food contain turkey?
Turkey is a common ingredient in most dog foods. Turkey meal in dog food is a dried rendered product that could be a blend of skin, flesh, and bones. It can come with or without bones. This turkey meal is beneficial for your canine’s health and growth.
Is turkey good for dogs?
A high-quality turkey meal is a good source of protein for dogs, which helps support their muscle development and is a vital nutrient in dog food. The rendering process of making meat meals like turkey meal also helps prevent dog food from spoiling and causing sickness by killing off pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
Is Turkey meal the same as chicken meal in dog food?
Turkey meal and chicken meal are similar in composition, providing a good source of protein. Turkey meal in dog food can be a suitable alternative for protein if your dog is sensitive to other protein sources.
Why does my dog keep getting sick if he eats Turkey meal?
If you’re feeding your dog a food that contains turkey meal and they keep getting sick, there may be several reasons that they can’t digest the food properly. Your dog may have food allergies or health issues with their digestive tract.
Can dogs eat turkey meal?
Turkey meal is completely safe for dogs. According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), “Meat Meal is the rendered product from mammal tissues, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach, and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices.” 1
Do dog food companies use real turkey?
Many dog food companies will use real turkey in their foods. While whole turkey is an ideal ingredient, it consists mostly of water. So, once manufacturers dehydrate it, they’re left with a low volume of meat. In contrast, turkey meal is made through a rendering process that evaporates the water in the whole turkey meat.