Powdered beef or buffalo lung

This might be the simplest, quickest hack you can imagine, but it’s still sooooo useful. Dried beef lung is a popular, single-ingredient treat made entirely from dehydrated cattle or buffalo lung. It is naturally low in calories and fat, but packed with lean protein and essential nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, selenium and zinc. That’s why we love it. Our dogs love it for its meaty aroma – that’s all they need to know…

Lung is a very different kind of tissue from ordinary muscle meat. Pulmonary tissue is light and porous in structure, but nutritionally dense. It is built from millions of tiny air sacs surrounded by a fine web of capillaries, all designed for the constant exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. That light, open structure is also what makes lung so useful. Once the water is removed, it becomes a crisp chew. And for variation, the dried lung is easy to crush into a fine powder, while keeping the strong meaty smell that dogs find so irresistible.

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This is all you do:

Break the dried lung into pieces to fit in the food processor. Better yet, buy the smaller pieces that are all ready to go!

   

 

The resulting powder is fine enough to be used as a sprinkle on food, mix into toppings – or even as a taste booster in a treat recipe (see above). Remove some of the flour content and substitute with lung powder. Keep the amounts reasonably small, otherwise the treats will be too crumbly, at least for use in training. I know this to my cost: 65g in one of my typical recipes was far too much! I’ll try 10g next time.

Another idea: mix into yoghurt for a smoothie snack or ices!

   

Proof of the pudding

   

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!