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Can Dogs Eat Canned Beef?

Glass jars of canned beef on a white wooden table.

Canned beef is convenient and easy to find, but it’s not necessarily the best option for your dog. Canned beef is preserved with sodium nitrite, which may pose a risk to dogs that are predisposed to developing gastrointestinal issues. It’s also important to note that canned beef is often higher in calories and fat than fresh beef, so you should be careful about overfeeding your dog.

But, when you have a busy schedule, it is not always easy to prepare something for your pet. Or money is tight and all they can afford is canned beef for both them and their dog.

In these cases, many dog owners reach for a can of beef and simply open, pour and serve. Your dog is fed, and happy and you can relax for the rest of the night. However, is it really wise to feed your dog canned beef?

Most dog owners and breeders would say no it isn’t. Keep reading to find out why this is so.

Is it ok for your dog to eat meatloaf? Check out our post “Can Dogs Eat Meatloaf?” to learn more.

What Canned Meat Can Dogs Eat?

Dogs should be able to eat beef, turkey, chicken, and even some pork when it comes in a can. After all, those meats are included in many moist dog foods served in cans or little packets.

The biggest issue for this topic is the fat and salt that are included in all canned foods. Both of these ingredients are not healthy for your pet and can cause obesity and other health issues if not properly fed to your pet.

Is Beef Stew Safe for Dogs?

Bowl of beef stew with carrots and potatoes on a folded tea towel with a spoon next to it and surrounded by vegetables.

Yes and no. Beef stew has some great ingredients that are healthy for pets. There is beef, carrots, potatoes, and a few other vegetables that should not harm your dog.

But, there are also other ingredients that your pet should not eat. In the case of Dinty Moore Stew here are some of the ingredient levels of those foods your dog should not eat:

  1. Total Fat 8g 12% Daily Value *
  2. Saturated Fat 3.5g 18% Daily Value *
  3. Cholesterol 30mg 10% Daily Value *
  4. Sodium 920mg 38% Daily Value *
  5. Total Carbohydrate 18g 6% Daily Value *
  6. Dietary Fiber 2g 8% Daily Value *
  7. Sugars 3g

Sugars, fat, and sodium are all items that can cause problems for your dog. You need to be careful when using canned stew or even canned corned beef as a dietary supplement.

As you can see the sodium level reaches almost 40% of a human’s daily needs. Which is probably higher than what a dog may need on a daily basis. Canned chicken is not better as there are no vitamins or minerals found in that meat option. Yet, the sodium level reaches 30 mg, and the fat is 2.3 grams.

Can Dogs Have Campbell’s Beef Broth?

Close up of a bowl of beef broth on a tea towel surrounded by parsley and garlic with a spoon to one side.

This particular brand of beef broth, as with many other brands, may not be a wise idea to use to change up your dog’s diet. The same reason applies here as it will be the salt content that ruins it for your pet.

However, if you make your own beef broth, it is something you can feed your dog as it is high in nutrients and amino acids. The latter nutrient is essential to help your dog’s body repair tissue and transport oxygen and nutrients to key areas of its body.

The nutritional content in good beef broth is as follows:

Amino acids- arginine, glutamine, glycine, and proline, and more

Nutrients- chondroitin, glucosamine, and collagen (these protect the dog’s joints)

Vitamins- C, D, K, B12 & B6

Minerals- iron, thiamine, potassium, calcium, magnesium, riboflavin, copper, and zinc

Real beef broth is going to be an essential part of your dog’s diet. But watch out for the canned version as it may not have all of these nutrients. The amount to serve would be 1 ounce for dogs under 20 pounds; 2 ounces for dogs weighing 20 to 40 pounds.

50 to 80-pound dogs can have 4 ounces and those dogs weighing over 80 pounds should be able to handle 6 ounces of beef broth.

We all know dogs can eat beef and chicken, but what kind of ground meats can dogs eat? Check out our post “What Ground Meats Can Dogs Eat?” to learn more.

Some Final Words

open can of beef sitting on a counter

Feeding your dog canned foods is hit and miss. It should not be done daily unless given in smaller proportions. It is not the healthy ingredients you have to watch out for.

It is the salt, fat, and more contents that will influence your dog’s health and weight gain. Be wise in your selection of canned meats for your dog.

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Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives.