Can Dogs Eat Lamb? Is Lamb Good or Bad For Dogs?
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Can dogs eat lamb? Yes. Dogs can safely enjoy eating lamb meat or lamb meat-based products. Lamb is high in protein and other essential nutrients that can help keep your dog’s coat healthy and promote strong muscles and bones. Lamb is a leaner meat than other meats, making it a good choice for dogs who are trying to maintain a healthy weight. But, did you know lamb is often used as a protein source for dogs who suffer from food allergies?
However, you should remember a few things when feeding your dog lamb. Learn more about the risks, research, benefits and when and how to share this delicious protein with your pup. Let’s dive right in!
Note: It’s worth noting that sheep and lamb are the same animals. The difference is that lamb is the meat of a young domestic sheep, typically between 4-12 months old. Lamb meat is more tender. Meat from a sheep over 12 months old has more flavor and is called mutton.
Is Lamb Good For Dogs?
Lamb is a red meat and is perfectly safe for dogs to eat. Being rich in high-quality protein and many vitamins and minerals, lamb can be an excellent component of a healthy diet.
Lamb is as beneficial as other meats, such as beef and chicken. In some areas, lamb is more nutritious than most traditional meats dogs eat. Compared to beef, lamb provides more energy, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium and Iron. If compared to chicken lamb contains higher amounts of vitamin B12 and vitamin B-9 (folate).[1],[2]
Dr. Katy Nelson from petMD states that lamb meat is rich in essential amino acids and dietary fats that help sustain energy levels. Furthermore, red meat provides a lot of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for the development of muscle in your dog, as well as for the health of its coat and skin.[3]
Additionally, a study showed that grain-lamb meat dog foods are more digestible than grain-chicken meat and grain-free dog foods. The results of digestibility trials indicated that the grain-lamb meat foods showed the highest digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude fiber, which is good for their gut health.[4] Lamb also has one of the highest digestibility scores among meats, coming in with a score of 71.5, beating meats like beef.[5] Another study published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal showed that dogs prefer lamb over chicken, liver and horsemeat.[6]
Most dog food manufacturers offer lamb recipes and treats as novel protein for dogs.
Is Lamb Safe For Dogs? Ingredient Breakdown
Here is a breakdown of the ingredient composition per 100g of lamb to help you understand whether this food is safe for dogs.
| Nutrients | Lamb |
| Moisture (g) | 72.9 |
| Protein (g) | 21.9 |
| Fat (g) | 4.7 |
| Energy (kJ) | 546 |
| Phosphorus (mg) | 194 |
| Calcium (mg) | 7.2 |
| Zinc (mg) | 4.5 |
| Iron (mg) | 2.0 |
| Potassium (mg) | 344 |
| Vitamin B6 (mg) | 0.10 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 0.96 |
Can Dogs Eat Lamb?
Yes, dogs can safely eat lamb. According to our ingredient analysis and dog lamb consumption studies, lamb meat is a well-round source of protein, amino acids, and other vital vitamins and minerals dogs need to thrive.
When you are cooking lamb for your dog, be sure not to add seasonings or spices as those can create gut problems in dogs. If your dog is trying lamb meat for the first time, gradually introduce it to his diet over a few days and monitor your dog’s reaction. It’s also advised to buy lamb meat from grass-fed or free-roaming livestock or use dog food formulas that use lamb meat of this quality.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Lamb Meat?
Is raw lamb for dogs safe? Dogs can eat raw lamb meat and enjoy the benefits of a BARF dog diet. As opposed to cooked lamb meat, the texture of raw lamb meat is a little bit dense so you will want to cut it into little chunks so your dog can easily chew and digest it. You should also consider removing all the skin fat and fat content and only serve lean lamb meat, as lamb contains more saturated fat than other red meats.
There are also other risks associated with feeding raw food to dogs. Raw lamb may not be safe for all dogs. For instance, raw meat is harder to digest compared to cooked meat and may not be a good idea for dogs with digestive issues or sensitive stomachs. Additionally, raw food is more prone to be contaminated with bacteria, so you must be sure to buy lamb from reputable sources to minimize this risk.
Lamb Meat Benefits For Dogs
Here are some of the benefits of feeding lamb to your dogs and the top reasons to feed it.
Lamb may be a better option for dogs who suffer from food sensitivities or food allergies caused by common protein sources such as beef or chicken.
Is Lamb Bad For Dogs?
Dogs shouldn’t get sick from eating lamb meat. As long as dogs eat lamb meat plain and in moderation, your dog should be fine.
However, there are some cases where lamb could be bad for dogs. For instance, some cuts of lamb contain fatty meat and can irritate your dog’s stomach leading to diarrhea, vomiting, weight gain and, in extreme cases, pancreatitis. For this reason, you should remember to drain as much fat as possible when cooking it at home.
It’s also important to know that some dog food manufacturers will also use “lamb meal” (meat and other animal by-products not used for human consumption). While there is nothing inherently wrong with rendered meat (“meat meals”) for dog food, it’s not a preferred choice to feed our dogs. If you are looking for the best lamb for your dog, look for human-grade lamb recipes or cook it at home.
Can Dogs Eat Lamb Bones?
Should you feed lamb bones to your dog? The answer is probably not.
While there are some instances where you could feed lamb bones to your dog, bones often pose more risks than benefits for your pup, so we always advise against giving your dog bones. Purina, a famous dog manufacturer, also agree that lamb bones can be dangerous for dogs due to their size. If your dog chews lamb bones, pieces can be broken off, which can easily cause obstruction and damage to the gastrointestinal tract.[11]
While a dog’s stomach can typically break down bones, and you technically give bones to your dog, it can still cause irritation to its digestive tract. If you choose to feed lamb bones to dogs, make sure you follow these general guidelines for feeding them safely:
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Lamb Bones?
No. You should not feed cooked lamb bones to your dog. Cooked bones can splinter and cause serious internal damage to your dog.
Possible Side Effects & Risks of Feeding Lamb to Dogs
The following symptoms may indicate a bad reaction to lamb. Keep an eye out for them and contact your vet if necessary.
Are Dogs Allergic To Lamb?
There’s also a chance your dog could be allergic or sensitive to lamb. We suggest you do an at-home dog allergy test before giving your dog lamb to help determine if your pup is sensitive or intolerant to this food or other foods. If not, you should be fine to give dogs lamb in moderation.
Ways To Feed Your Dog Lamb
Dogs can consume lamb in the form various forms:
If you want to feed your dog lamb, we recommend feeding fresh lamb dog food made from human-grade ingredients. Ollie offers the best lamb dog food recipe. Ollie’s Lamb Beef recipe is personalized to your dog’s dietary needs and goals, made by registered veterinarians, uses human-grade ingredients, and meets the dog nutritional standards set by AFFCO.
Can Puppies Eat Lamb?
Puppies generally have more sensitive digestive systems than adult dogs and may be more prone to an upset stomach after eating rich or high-fat foods. Some puppies may tolerate small pieces of lamb, especially when used as high-reward training treats.
It’s worth remembering that puppies need fewer calories than larger dogs and higher protein content to aid growth and development. They must have a well-balanced diet, so treats such as hot dogs should only be fed in small quantities.
If your dog is a puppy or has a compromised immune system, you should refrain from feeding them raw lamb, as it may upset their stomach or cause food poisoning.
Lamb & Dogs Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to other frequently asked questions about dogs and lamb.
Can Dogs Eat Lamb? — Conclusion
While dogs can enjoy lamb meat or lamb-meat-based product safely, as with all foods, you should ask your veterinarian before feeding your dog lamb.
Lamb is used in many dog foods and treats, and some consider it a novel protein meaning relatively new for dogs and they are least likely to develop an allergy to lamb meat. Most dogs can eat lamb as part of a balanced diet without concerns.
Dogs tend to love all meats, whether chicken, turkey, beef, or pork. If your dog doesn’t have meat allergies or sensitivities, adding or rotating different meats into your dog’s diet is considered good practice to keep your dog from developing allergies to a single meat ingredient.
