What Are the Benefits of Tripe for Dogs? What is Tripe?

Pet owners are always looking for ways to improve their pet's diet, encourage better eating habits, and maximize health. Tripe for dogs is a simple and effective way to help accomplish all three.

Though not all humans find tripe to be an appetizing addition to their own diets, tripe for dogs is a highly nutritious and flavourful ingredient that is becoming more and more common in raw pet diets, dog kibble, and can dog foods.

The smelly substance (often called edible offal) is ideal for picky eaters and is favoured by raw feeders because it is nutrient-dense and great for digestion. Many different products for pets are starting to incorporate tripe to help boost the nutrition and flavour in pet food and treats.

In this blog, we'll break down the most commonly asked questions about tripe for dogs and help you choose the best way to add tripe to your dog's diet. Keep reading to learn:

• • What is tripe and why is it good for dogs?
  • What is the best kind of tripe for dogs?
  • How to feed tripe to dogs?

What is Tripe for Dogs?

A lot of things that dogs eat can sound unappetizing to us, and tripe is not an exception. Tripe is the lining of the stomach of ruminant animals, like cows, sheep, lamb, and goats. It's part of the digestive tract, and when fresh, smells exactly as you think it would.

The reason this part of the organ is so valuable is because it contains a variety of minerals and healthy digestive bacteria in its raw form. This makes it a popular meal topper for raw dog food diets. Cooked tripe does suffer some nutrient loss during provessing, but is still a nutritious addition to kibble and canned diets.

Tripe is technically an organ, but nutritionally it is closer to muscle meat. It contains all of the essential amino acids that dogs require in their diet, and is high in protein to help your dog stay active maintain healthy muscle mass.

By itself, tripe is much too lean to be the only meat source in your dog's diet, but tripe is a great way to complement a fresh, raw, or cooked diet for dogs.

Tripe for Dogs VS Humans

When it comes to tripe for humans vs dogs, the main difference is in how they are processed. Tripe you see at the grocery store for human consumption are often cleaned, bleached, and cooked. If the tripe looks white, then it's for people. 

Green tripe on the other hand is best for dogs (and cats). This kind of tripe is unbleached and raw, and though it's not actually green, it has not been striped of it's nutrients through either the chemical bleaching or cooking processes.

Unlike cooked and processed tripe, green tripe is not safe for human consumption. The bacteria in raw green tripe will make people sick. Dogs, on the other hand, can handle the bacteria in tripe and actually benefit from many of the digestive bacteria and enzymes present in the tripe.

Tripe from the first two chambers of the stomach, called blanket or honeycomb tripe, are more common in human cuisine, but dogs can benefit from tripe from any of the four chambers of the stomach. 

Beef tripe is the most common type of tripe used in pet food and treats, but you can often find a variety of tripe options at your local pet store. 

Is Green Tripe Good for Dogs?

What's in tripe that makes it so nutritious anyway? Like most animal proteins, tripe can be a useful ingredient to boost your dog's overall nutrition. Tripe is great for your furry friend's digestive system.

If your pup is picky, then you can use the tripe to help your dog try new things. The linolenic fatty acids found in the prey's stomach are passed to your dog upon consumption for a rapid energy boost.

Take a look at what your dog will get from including tripe in their diet:

Protein

Green tripe is lower in protein than most common meat sources, but the quality of tripe makes it a highly sought-after addition to dog and cat food.  

Healthy Fats

Green tripe is high in heart-healthy unsaturated fats, nearly 50% of the total fat in tripe is unsaturated. These fats provide quality, long-term energy and increase healthy HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.

Tripe promotes healthy digestion by ensuring there are sufficient digestive enzymes in your pet's digestive system with a balance of good bacteria and essential fatty acids. It can even help your dog's digestion and improve leaky gut syndrome.

Natural Vitamins and Minerals

Green tripe also contains partially digested greens, unlocking nutrients that may have been unavailable if your dog or cat ate the grass that the cow (or other grazing animals) did.  The pre-digested green matter is brimming with nutrients. Adding green tripe to your furry friend's diet can improve the dog's gut health.

Calcium and Phosphorus

Green Tripe has a nearly perfect calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and an optimal ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids, making it nutritionally balanced. Tripe is also acidic in pH, making it easy for your pet to digest – perfect for sensitive stomachs (though the dogs love the smell might turn yours).

Manganese

All dogs require manganese, but if you feed a raw diet then it is even more crucial because manganese is typically found in fur and feathers and as an additive of commercial dog foods. Commercially prepared green raw tripes blends are well known for their manganese levels. 

Probiotics for Dogs

Green tripe contains high amounts of lactobacillus acidophilus, a healthy probiotic. The beneficial bacteria in your pet's body, probiotics compete with harmful bacteria – like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella – for the same resources.

Digestive Enzymes for Dogs

Raw green tripe contains digestive enzymes. Why does this matter? Natural enzymes aid the digestive process by facilitating the breakdown of food into nutrients. The more digestive enzymes available, the more vitamins, minerals, and usable energy your pet will be able to receive from food.

Digestive enzymes are produced by your dog's pancreas, so including foods containing digestive enzymes helps reduce the load on the pancreas and support overall digestion. Tripe also helps with amino acids and removing harmful bacteria during digestion.

 

Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Green Tripe

Tripe can do a lot of good for your dog's health. There are many different types, from book tripe to honeycomb tripe, but raw green tripe is the most beneficial.

Many pet owners even say feeding tripe can help your dog stop eating poop from a cat litter box. Find out how your dog can benefit from raw green tripe in their diet:

Best Tripe Food for Dogs

There are a variety of tripe products for dogs. From kibble and canned food to freeze-dried meal toppers, it's easy to find ways to add a little tripe to your pet's regular diet.

When looking for the best green tripe for dogs, make sure you choose the style that best suits your pet's dietary needs and preferences. Let's take a look at the best dog foods that feature tripe:

Frozen Green Tripe

Using frozen green beef tripe as a regular part of your dog's raw diet, or just as a meal topper or treat is a great way to reap the benefits of raw tripe. One of our favourite Canadian brands is Bold By Nature Raw Green Beef Tripe

Other great Canadian brands:

• • Big Country Raw
  • K-9 Choice
  • Carnivora

Learn more about the benefits of feeding raw dog food in Raw Dog Food for Beginners

Freeze-Dried Tripe for Dogs

Frozen tripe might seem like a stinky and messy option for all our non-raw feeders. Don't worry, you can still get many of the benefits of green tripe in a convenient and easier-to-feed option.

Freeze-dried green tripe, like the K9 Naturals Lamb Green Tripe Booster, is still raw, but the freeze-drying process leaves a soft, crumbly pellet of tripe that can be sprinkled over your pet's meals. You can also rehydrate the pellets for a wet food texture that will boost the moisture content of your pet's meal. 

Another easy way to offer your dog tripe is to feed a dehydrated dog food that contains fresh tripe, like ZiwiPeak Air-Dried Tripe & Lamb Dog Food. This diet is air-dried, giving it a chewy jerky texture that can be fed as is.  

Canned Tripe

A popular option for pet parents who like to use tripe as a meal topper and flavour additive is canned tripe. This style is ideal for adding additional nutrients, but more commonly, to entice picky dogs to eat their regular meals. It helps promote your pet's health and even assists with weight gain due to concentrated calories.

The downside, of course, is that the tripe is cooked. Therefore, it does not offer the same digestion-boosting properties as fresh or frozen tripe. The strong smell and flavour still make it a popular feeding option for dogs and cats, though.

• • Tripett Green Beef Tripe Canned Dog Food
  • Petkind Lamb Tripe Canned Dog Food