The Best Organ Treats for Dogs (And Why They Are Nature’s Multivitamin)

If you want to give your dog one of the most nutritious things they can eat, skip the vitamin supplement. Feed them organs. Liver, heart, kidney, and gizzards are what nutritionists sometimes call “nature’s multivitamin” — an extraordinarily dense source of the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that dogs evolved eating as part of a whole prey diet.

The challenge is that not all organ treats are created equal. The quality of the animal, how it was raised, and how the organ was processed all matter enormously. Here is everything you need to know about choosing the best organ treats for your dog.

Why Organs Are So Nutritionally Powerful

Organs — also called offal — are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on earth. Here is a quick look at what each one brings to the bowl:

• Beef Liver is one of the richest sources of vitamin A, B vitamins (especially B12), iron, copper, and zinc. It also contains high-quality protein and is one of the few foods naturally rich in CoQ10, which supports heart and cellular health. A small amount goes a long way, which is why liver treats work especially well as training rewards.
• Beef Heart is technically a muscle, which means it is high in taurine — an amino acid critical for cardiac function in dogs. The heart is also rich in B vitamins, iron, and selenium. It has a slightly milder flavor than liver, making it a great option for dogs who are newer to organ treats.
• Gizzards (typically from chicken or duck) are a lean, high-protein organ with a tough, chewy texture that dogs love. They are an excellent source of iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.
• Kidney is rich in vitamin B12, riboflavin, and iron, with a strong flavor that most dogs find irresistible.

Raw, Dehydrated, or Freeze Dried: Which Is Best?

There are a few different ways organ treats are processed, and each has tradeoffs.

Dehydrated organ treats are made by slowly removing moisture at low temperatures. This preserves most of the nutritional content while creating a shelf-stable treat with a chewy, slightly leathery texture. This is how Farm Hounds processes our organ treats — nothing is added, nothing is removed except water.

Freeze-dried organ treats use a process that removes moisture by freezing rather than heat, which can preserve even more nutrients. The texture is crunchier and more brittle.

Raw organ treats are exactly what they sound like. They require refrigeration or freezing and carry a higher risk of bacterial contamination if not handled carefully.

For most dog owners, high-quality dehydrated organ treats strike the best balance between nutrition, safety, and convenience.

The Sourcing Question You Should Always Ask

Here is the thing that most organ-treat brands do not want you to think about too hard: the nutritional value of an organ is deeply tied to the health of the animal it came from.

A beef liver from a grass-fed cow raised on a regenerative farm in the United States is not the same product as a beef liver sourced from an industrial feedlot in another country. The farming practices, the animal’s diet, its stress levels, and the processing conditions all influence what ends up in your dog’s body.

At Farm Hounds, we source our organ treats from specific family farms we know and trust. We list the farm on the package. Our beef liver is just beef liver. Our duck gizzards are just duck gizzards: no fillers, no preservatives, no ambiguity.

How to Introduce Organ Treats to Your Dog

If your dog is new to organ treats, start slow. Organs are rich, and too much too fast can cause loose stools in some dogs as their digestive system adjusts. A few small pieces a day is a great starting point. From there, most dogs can work up to regular feeding without any digestive upset.

Organ treats work beautifully as high-value training rewards because of their intense flavor. They are also a great addition to a food topper routine for picky eaters who need a little extra encouragement at mealtime.

Ready to Try Organ Treats?

Browse our full selection of single-ingredient organ treats, including beef liver, beef heart, chicken gizzards, and more — all sourced from farms we know and trust.