Pork Liver (and other insides)

[hopesclan]

I just bought a pork liver at the farmer's market.  They had heart, liver, intestines, feet and probably something I am not thinking about on sale for $1 each.  I have no idea if that is a good deal or not but the market lady says she feeds them to her dogs, so I figured I will give it a try.

Sooo... now what?  Should I feed her the liver?  Should I get more next time?  How should I cook it (sorry, can't do it raw).  It's in my freezer right now, but I was also thinking there is a butcher across the street from me so I might be able to get this type of stuff from him too if I do decide to home cook Hope's meals.  I am waiting for the book to arrive so I can read it and decide where to go from now.

[k1maplewd]

Ok pork you absolutely need to cook due to triganosis, so good thing you didn't feed it to her raw!  With pork I usually cook it on my George Foreman Grill or bake it in the oven.  I suppose you could cook it in a microwave if you could figure out the correct setting and timing.  The heart and liver, possibly the intestines you could try boiling as well if you could stand the smell.

[Sheenar]

Trichinosis isn't nearly as common in the US now as it used to be (due to the change in what pigs are being fed --they are no longer eating tissues of other pigs), but it is still a good idea to cook pork to at least 150*F (175*F is what the CDC suggests--it substantially exceeds the thermal death point of the parasites.)
Source: http://www.askthemeatman.com/pork_Trichinosis.htm

We have talked about this some in my classes --about it being less common, but still a good idea to cook it thoroughly to be on the safe side.

[hopesclan]

Ok pork you absolutely need to cook due to triganosis, so good thing you didn't feed it to her raw!

Yeah, I was wondering about this, but then I wouldn't eat anything raw so I get confused when people talk about dogs being fed raw.  I plan to wait to give it to her until I am sure all her stomach issues are cleared up.

[PupFashionista]

This sounds absolutely gross (esp coming from a vegetarian), but Esme's trainer told us to saute the liver in butter if using for level 10 treats. She also said we could boil it for less fat. As I get sick with even the mention of frying animal carcass, I always had to bribe a neighbor to do it for me.

Another woman at dog school who used to train dogs herself and was a GSD breeder hated the feel of liver and swore by deer heart. She fixed it the same way you would fix liver.  **shudder** The heart would crumble like the liver but had similar texture when fixed. 

[Ilghaus]

I have heard from various sources that freezing meat also destroys the harmful critters that may be in pork. When I feed liver I never make a full meal of it as it is pretty rich. I add it to kibble or maybe some chicken. Think of it more of a side dish and not the main course.

[Spectrum]

Freezing pork (or any meat) for 24 hours kills any parasites, except for some types of fish...I can't remember off hand, but I think some types of salmon have to be frozen for a month if fed raw.


You can always make liver brownies with it!  I think it's Kirsten that has a good recipe for that...

[hopesclan]

Ok, she turned down the oatmeal today.  I guess I have been overdoing it with the oats.  Instead she is sitting staring at the salmon I am boiling up for her.  I have been feeding her food in courses because it is easier for me.  She will eat the oats if mixed with kibble though.  I only have one tiny sample bag (seriously, its not enough to determine if she will tolerate it, but I can't go get new food for her until tomorrow)so I am trying to stretch it out and feed her foods she already tolerates.

[k1maplewd]

have you tried millet or kinwa (sp?)  I know dogs with allergies who tend to do really well on those 2 grains.

[fledchen]

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is super-easy to cook--I make mine in a rice cooker. It has the added benefit of being a complete protein.

[hopesclan]

I've tried quiona and plan to add that to her meals if I do continue to home cook.  I just am out right now and have a limited supply of food on my hands until tomorrow.  She gobbled the salmon up and left the oatmeal chunk in the bowl except for the parts that had salmon juice on it, so I really think I must have over-did it.  I have not tried millet so I will put that on my list as well.

She seems to be doing great right now off her kibble, but she really does want kibble.  I am just wanting to go slow introducing anything back into her diet because I don't really want to deal with any other stomach issues.