Why dogs can have it
Beef is a nourishing meat with plenty of protein, iron and zinc. It is used in many dog foods, so lean cooked beef suits a dog as a treat.
Fatty cuts, gravies and seasoned steaks can upset digestion. Raw meat, especially mince, can carry bacteria, and cooked bones break into sharp splinters. Some dogs are allergic to beef, so introduce any new food a little at a time and watch how your dog reacts.
How to give it
- Choose lean meat and trim off the fat.
- Boil or bake it without salt, oil or seasoning.
- Take out the bones and cut it into small pieces.
- All treats together should make up only a small part of what a dog eats in a day.
What to watch out for
- Fatty meat can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or inflammation of the pancreas.
- Raw meat, especially mince, can carry salmonella and other bacteria.
- Cooked bones break into sharp splinters that can injure the digestive tract.
- Gravies, stocks and seasonings can contain onion, garlic and a lot of salt.
- Some dogs are allergic to beef, which can show as itching or diarrhoea.
Different parts
Not every part of this food is equally safe.
-
Bones
Not safeCooked bones break into sharp splinters, so they must not be given to a dog.
-
Fat
Not safeFat trimmings are very fatty and can cause vomiting or diarrhoea.
-
Raw beef
Not safeRaw meat can carry bacteria, so give only thoroughly cooked beef.
What to give instead
- Chicken Yes, plain cooked chicken without bones, skin or seasoning makes a good treat for a dog, but do not give bones or raw meat. Safe
- Turkey Yes, plain cooked turkey without skin, bones or seasoning is fine for a dog, but do not give festive turkey with stuffing and gravy. Safe
- Fish Yes, well-cooked fish without bones or seasoning is fine for a dog, but do not give raw, smoked or salted fish. Safe
Looking for a treat?
The "Dog treats" category compares prices for 10,376 products across shops. It is a product category, not a recommendation of what to give.