Dehydrated Meat for Dogs: Benefits and Preparation Tips

Dehydrated meat for dogs is a popular alternative to traditional kibble, offering numerous benefits for our furry friends. Dehydrated meat is rich in protein, which can help support a dog's overall health and well-being.

Dogs thrive on a diet high in protein, and dehydrated meat is an excellent source. In fact, dehydrated meat can contain up to 70% protein, making it an ideal choice for dogs with high energy needs.

Dehydrating meat also helps preserve the nutrients found in raw meat, resulting in a more nutrient-dense food for dogs. This process involves removing the moisture from the meat, which prevents the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms.

By choosing dehydrated meat for your dog, you can provide them with a healthy and delicious meal that's free from preservatives and additives.

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Good food starts with good ingredients, and for dehydrated treats, that means choosing safe and quality lean meat. Lean meats are best for jerky, so look for cuts like those found in a roast.

You can get lean cuts at a lower cost by shopping for sales or buying from a neighbourhood butcher. Fatty marbled meats are harder to dehydrate, less healthful, and may go rancid if not stored properly.

Making the most of your meat choices can be a game-changer for your cooking and meal prep. You know exactly what's in your food because you're in control of the ingredients.

Having control over the ingredients is especially important for those with food sensitivities. Dehydrating meat can be a great way to preserve it without adding any extra ingredients.

Using dehydrated meat as a food topper or training treat is a fantastic way to add some variety to your pup's meals.

Here are some ideas for dehydrated treats:

Homemade dehydrated treats are also a thoughtful gift for furry friends.

Dehydrated dog food is a minimally processed option that's suitable for dogs of all ages. It has rich flavors and high nutrient content.

The dehydration process removes water from raw materials while maintaining the nutrients and positive qualities of these raw materials. This results in a light, nutritious, and healthy food.

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Dehydrated food combines the convenience of dry food with the nutritional values and benefits of raw food, without the worry and confusion of bacteria. It's also very lightweight, which dogs seem to enjoy.

The dehydration process is gentle and effective, ideal for maintaining the main nutritional value of the ingredients. This process can ensure that your puppy is happy, healthy, and strong.

Dehydrated dog food is one of the safest choices among all kinds of dog food. The dehydration process removes water from the raw material, helping it to guarantee quality longer.

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Choosing the right meat for your homemade jerky dog treats is crucial for their quality and safety. Lean meats are best for jerky.

You want to look for lean cuts to save cost, waste, and effort of trimming. Fatty marbled meats that can't be trimmed are harder to dehydrate, less healthful, and have a higher risk of going rancid.

Tougher cuts are fine for jerky treats and can even provide a better chew factor. Our blog dogs give zero complaints about tougher cuts.

You can shop for sales or get friendly with your neighbourhood butcher to get safe quality lean meat. This is particularly true in New Zealand where many meats are pasture raised and grass fed.

Cutting a roast can be a great way to make jerky, and it's often the most affordable option for buying quality beef by cost/weight.

The roast can be trimmed to remove any visible fat, making it easier to work with.

You'll need to slice the trimmed roast into small, evenly sized strips, which will give you total control over the shape, size, and thickness of the jerky.

This process requires a bit of cutting, but it's not too difficult, especially with a little practice.

If you're making jerky for your dogs, be prepared for close supervision throughout the process.

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You can make liver dog treats using a dehydrator, which is a super easy and healthy way to reward your furry friends. Simply slice the liver into 1/8″ to 3/8″ pieces.

You can use any protein you like, such as lamb or game meats, if your dogs prefer something different from the usual chicken and beef. The thicker the slices, the longer they will take to dry.

Just layout the liver slices on your dehydrator trays and dry for 3 – 12 hours. To ensure they're safe to eat, preheat the oven to 275F and bake for 10 minutes after drying.

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To make delicious beef jerky for your furry friends, you'll first need to prepare the beef. Choose a volume of meat that suits your personal preferences and dehydration capacity. Note that it's recommended to pre-heat meats to ~75C, then dehydrate at ~60C.

Pre-heating the meat is a crucial step, as it helps to ensure food safety. If you don't have a food dehydrator, you can place your meat on a wire rack over a lined baking tray and use the oven to replicate the function of a dehydrator.

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You can experiment with different types of jerky dog treats, like lamb or fish, but be aware that some may require special handling for food safety.

Lean cuts of meat, such as lamb, can be used with similar temperatures and handling as beef.

Marinades and rubs can add flavor to your jerky dog treats, but they're optional.

Trimming visible fat from your muscle meat is a good idea, especially when making nugget-style jerky treats.

Chop your trimmed meat into small, evenly sized nuggets for a convenient and tasty treat.

You can also buy pre-cut super thin sizzle steak style meat, which is quick and convenient, but may be pricey.

Stir-fry strips and diced beef can be no-cut alternatives, but they're rarely available in local shops.

Making jerky is easy and energy-efficient with a food dehydrator, but it's not essential - you can use your oven to replicate the function of a dehydrator.

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Pre-heating your meats to around 75C before dehydrating at 60C is recommended for food safety.

It's essential to choose a volume of meat that suits your personal preferences and dehydration capacity.

Remember to always check with your vet if you have any doubts or questions about what's suitable for your pet.

Our dehydrated meat for dogs is made with simple, wholesome ingredients. Just high-quality meat is all you need to make a doggone delicious treat.

We don't add any salt, preservatives, or mystery ingredients to our jerky, so you can feel good about what you're giving your furry friend.

Dehydrated meat is a great option because it's just straight up meaty goodness, with no unnecessary additives.

Tuna or Whitefish Chunk is a convenient and easy-to-make dog treat option.

Buy bone-free canned fish, which is a great choice when you don't feel like slicing meat.

Dry the fish chunks in a dehydrator for 6-10 hours until they're completely dry.

To ensure the treats are safe to eat, bake them in the oven at 275F for 10 minutes.

You can also add a personal touch by tossing the treats with dog-friendly herbs before drying.

Our simple dog-friendly jerky has no added salt, preservatives, or mystery ingredients.

Just straight up dehydrated meaty goodness is all you need to make jerky dog treats.

All you need to make jerky dog treats is a suitable high-quality meat.

You can experiment with lots of yummy variations, including rubs and marinades.

Our other jerky dog treats offer ideas for rubs and marinades to try.

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Dehydrated dog treats can last about 4 days in the fridge, similar to raw meat.

Proper cooling and storage are key to extending their shelf life. Let them cool off properly and then store them in an airtight storage container, and they'll be good for 2-3 weeks at room temperature.

For larger batches, it's best to store them in the freezer until you're ready to feed them.

To make dehydrated meat for dogs safely, start with a quality lean meat and practice safe food handling. This is crucial to prevent bacterial contamination.

For added safety, pre-heat the meat before dehydrating it, just like you would for human jerky. This helps ensure a suitable temperature early in the process, even for dogs who are more resilient to bacteria.

Freezing your homemade jerky is a good idea, especially since it doesn't contain any added preservatives or salt. This makes it more vulnerable to spoilage than human jerky snacks.

To store your dehydrated dog treats, consider freezing them and defrosting in small quantities as needed. This keeps them fresh and safe to eat.

You can make jerky with plain meat, marinate it, or add gentle rubs of dog-friendly herbs or seasonings. Some popular combinations include turmeric and pepper, rosemary, and lemon and parsley.

Some simple and delicious options include using plain meat or adding a bit of turmeric and pepper.