Can Dogs Eat Steak? Does Steak Put Your Dog at Stake?

Raise your hand if you’re a meat-lover like me! Who could resist having a juicy steak partnered with fine red wine on a nice afternoon? I wouldn’t! Dogs, like most humans, have a particular liking when it comes to meat, so it wouldn’t be unusual for dog owners to wonder if they’re allowed to feed steak to their dogs.

Can dogs eat steak? Of course! As long as it’s cooked properly and fed in moderation to your pooch. Steak can actually be a good addition to your dog’s diet and it also satisfies their natural diet. A dog’s digestive system is designed for a balanced natural diet that consists of mostly protein and fat, so feeding them cooked steak actually makes a lot of sense.

Benefits of Cooked Steak for Dogs

Letting your dog eat cooked steak once in a while provides them with certain nutritional benefits, which are good for promoting your dog’s overall health.

The benefits of feeding steak to your dog include:

∘ Protein 

This is the number one basic nutrient that should be part of every dog’s diet. Steak is a protein-rich food that can help maintain your dog’s lean muscles, repair tissue and muscle cells, support the immune system, and fuel their energy needs.

Related: Best Low Protein Dog Food

∘ Fatty Acids 

Steak is also a good source of healthy fats, specifically Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. Omega 3s and 6s help improve skin health, giving your dog healthy skin and a shiny coat. Other than that, it also helps improve your dog’s brain and joint function.

∘ Vitamins and Minerals 

A balanced diet is not balanced without these. Your dog can also benefit from the vitamins and minerals found in the steak. The notable ones are zinc, iron, phosphorous, niacin, selenium, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin B3.

What Makes Steak Bad for Dogs?

Before you throw your pooch a steak dinner party, you might want to hold the brakes for a little bit. Even though steak contains all these wonderful nutrients that can widely benefit your dog, remember there are cons to every pro.

Steak is high in cholesterol, fats, and calories–as you know, high levels of these can put your dog’s health at risk. Consuming a lot of steaks can put anyone at higher risk for obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney diseases, and heart diseases. This does not only apply to dogs but also to humans. That’s why it’s highly advised to eat steak only occasionally.

Type of Steaks Your Dog Should Not Eat

Can dogs eat cooked steak? Yes, dogs can eat cooked steak! The keyword being ‘cooked.’ Now that you know what type of steak is good for dogs, it’s time to find out what kind of steaks you shouldn’t feed your beloved furry pal.

Can dogs eat raw steak?

I’m glad you asked because the straight answer is, no! Anything raw really can be bad for your dog. So if you’re thinking of switching your canine’s diet to a raw food diet, it might be worth getting the opinion of your veterinarian first.

Raw steak or raw meat, in general, can contain harmful bacteria such as salmonella, listeria, and E.Coli. This increases the risk for food-borne diseases, bacterial infections, or salmonella poisoning. Other pet owners feed their dogs raw meat, but can dogs really eat raw meat?

Watch out for the symptoms of salmonella poisoning and immediately consult the vet if you observe these symptoms from your dog:

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Indigestion
• Loose stool
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue

Can dogs eat rare steak?

No, dogs can’t eat rare steak either. Whether it’s raw or rare steak, it’s still not recommended for dogs. Even though rare steak is cooked on the outside, the inside is still raw. Like raw meat, rare meat can still be a source of foodborne pathogens that can make dogs sick and even pass on to their humans.

Can dogs eat steak bones?

Feeding your dog steak bones is also not a good idea, especially with cooked bones. Cooked steak bones can easily break when chewed on and increase the risk for splinters or sharp bone fragments to be ingested by your dog. These splinter or sharp bones can severely damage your dog’s gastrointestinal tract.

Raw steak bones or raw bones, on the other hand, are harder to break down, so there’s less risk for splinters or tiny bone fragments that can harm your dog’s stomach. But then again, anything raw contains harmful bacteria and puts your dog at risk for foodborne diseases. You might as well not feed your dog raw or cooked steak bones to stay on the safer side.

Can dogs eat steak fat?

Sorry but no, you can let your dogs eat steak fat too. Cooked or uncooked, steak fat is a big fat no for dogs! Never let your dog eat steak fat because it’s high in calories and cholesterol, leading to several health issues like pancreatitis, obesity, heart disease, and more.

Conclusion

How do you like your steak? If you like your steak medium to well-done, you might want to save some for your pooch so they can get a tasty treat. But, if you like your steak rare, it will be a pass for your dog. If you want to reward your dog for being a good boy and decide to cook steak, make sure to cook your dog’s steak nicely because the way to a dog’s heart is through a well-cooked steak.