Beef

Beef (Bos taurus) is one of the most commonly found ingredients in dog food & treats and is used in a variety of forms. When reading the ingredients on your dog's food, you may see “Fresh”, “Deboned”, “Freshly Prepared”, “Dehydrated Beef”, or “Beef Meal”.

Dogs also get their jaws on beef via table scraps from their owners. Let's be honest, most of us have probably given our pups a piece of our steak or burger more times than we'd care to admit!

Although true allergies to foods are rare in dogs, beef is one of the more common proteins that dogs do react to. The severity of beef intolerances differs from one dog to another and can range from mild to severe.

The good news is, if your dog has an allergy or intolerance to beef, there are plenty of dietary options available to them. Your vet may suggest a Hydrolyzed Diet for your pup.

These diets include a common protein, such as beef, that has been broken down on a molecular level so that your dog's immune system no longer recognizes it as a threat. Simply put, hydrolyzed diets help “disguise” the beef protein, preventing a trigger by your pup's immune system.

Did you know...

The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) states that non-mammals, like chicken and fish, can't be listed as “meat”. They must be labelled specifically as “poultry” or “fish”, which can include skin, fat, and other tissue as well as muscle.

Tip:

If your dog has an intolerance to Beef, it's best to avoid foods that list generic meat ingredients such as “Meat Meal” or “Meat By-Products”.

Unless it specifically says “Beef” generic meat can contain any number of animals & animal parts that are usually lower quality.