Chicken liver pâté

Preformed vitamin A (retinol) is not easily sourced in whole foods, which is why liver, one of the most concentrated natural sources, is such a valuable ingredient. Very small amounts can make a meaningful contribution of vitamin A in a rotation diet. And even better news: liver is also naturally rich in vitamin B12, iron and folate.

And yes, dogs can convert the beta-carotene found in vegetables such as pumpkin and carrots into vitamin A, but only a proportion is absorbed and converted into retinol. Preformed vitamin A from animal tissues such as liver, egg yolks and fish liver oils provides substantially more usable vitamin A. For practical purposes, the converted vitamin A can be regarded more in terms of a supplementary contribution.

This pâté is easy to prepare, then freeze in small containers and have on standby for regular use.

Method

I soak the livers for around 30 minutes in milk because it’s something I’ve always done. Some people say it tenderises the meat, but I can’t find evidence to support that. However, casein proteins in dairy milk or diluted kefir can bind some flavour compounds, mellowing the flavour of organs such as liver and kidneys. But this step isn’t essential and can quite easily be skipped.

Rinse the livers thoroughly and place in pan with milk or water for cooking. Cover and cook very gently until the livers start to cook. They cook through quickly. Turn off the heat and leave livers to cool in the liquid. Place cooked and cooled livers in a food processor and blitz. This single-ingredient mixture can be used and frozen as is, without any further additions.

Even though liver is widely used as a palatability enhancer for commercial foods, it has a very strong, metallic aroma (mainly from its haem iron content) that some dogs dislike. One of my dogs is picky about liver, the other remains an enthusiastic waste disposal unit.

Masking the metal for the pickier eater requires a slightly different delivery system. Here are a few ideas that work for me:

  • Cooking in milk seems to soften smell and flavour
  • Blend with fattier, milder meat (chicken thigh or a bit of skin)
  • Blending with a nice fatty broth in the bowl with other ingredients
  • Adding a small amount of salmon and/or oily fish like sardine or mackerel.

Here, the livers were cooked with a piece of root ginger and a sprinkle of thyme, then mixed with kefir and salmon oil.

A little goes a long way

In a rotation diet, a good teaspoon of liver pâté in the bowl (for my 22kg dogs) three or four times a week provides a useful base level of vitamin A which, combined with other vitamin A sources (such as cod liver oil) fed in different meals or on different days, would remain well within suggested safety ceilings.

By keeping the proportion of liver modest, you’re not fighting the flavour too hard. In any case, moderation isn’t just about palatability – it’s also practical from a nutrient point of view. Small, regular amounts work far better and avoid excesses.

Other liver types

This method also works with other livers, but nutrient concentrations vary considerably. Goose liver, for example, is substantially (around three times, depending on the bird) richer in vitamin A and copper than chicken liver, so should be used in smaller amounts.

For meals in a rotation diet:

Works well with:

  • Eggshell or raw meaty bones (balances calcium:phosphorus)
  • Muscle meat (dilutes the richness of liver)
  • Pumpkin or broccoli (fibre complements a rich organ meal)

Avoid stacking with:

  • Cod liver oil (too much preformed vitamin A)
  • Shiitake mushrooms (both contribute copper)
  • Another liver meal too close in the same rotation (vitamin A + copper stacking)

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And last but not least, licking the bowl as proof of concept:

For more nutritional information about liver, see here.

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Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • If you are feeding commercial food, check the label for ingredients before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.
  • I am not a professional canine nutritionist but supporting research is cited.
  • The recipes shared were created by me and tested in my kitchen – and tasted and approved by our doggy friends!