I have written several articles and a chapter in my book about cooked meals for dogs. I realize I need to explain exactly how to cook these meats, and what are the best choices of animal protein for dogs. Let’s look at cooking meat and the best type of proteins to use for dogs. An important factor to consider in meat has to do with Taurine. There has been much talk about this amino acid lately. It is only found in animal food sources. It is paramount for heart health. When meat is cooked, the taurine is leeched out with the juices. It is important to put this liquid back into the meat mixture you will feed your dog. Because of taurine loss, I do not recommend over cooking the meat at high heats. I tend to cook meat for home cooked meals in a frying pan. I cook it so it is medium (not rare or over cooked). If you boil, use a crock pot, bake or use a frying pan, please cook the meal lightly and keep the juices. Good protein choices include beef, chicken, lamb, pork, turkey, fish, venison, elk, and rabbit, just to mention a few. And yes, pork is a good source of protein for dogs. In the United States, pork is fine. But if you live in Europe or Asia, please check if the pork in your country is trichinosis free. In the US, the meat is frozen at very cold temps for two weeks, and that kills the parasite. |