Most dog owners are well aware that dog food contains a protein source. In fact, many commercially made kibble foods actually list the protein source as one of the main selling points of the food. "Chicken recipe" or "beef recipe" are words found on many bags and cans of dog food.

But what type of meat is healthy for your dog? How can you choose a quality dog food with the right nutritional balance and a healthy source of protein? This guide will look at the best meats to include in your dog’s diet so that you can select your dog’s food carefully. 

Commercial dog food often uses beef as its protein source, and pet owners who make their own dog food often choose it as well. Most dogs like how it tastes, and it has plenty of nutritional value. When preparing food for dogs, the cut doesn't matter much — cheap cuts of beef contain similar nutritional qualities as more expensive cuts, and dogs don’t care if the steak in their dog food is particularly tender or not. 

Ground beef can be a particularly tasty addition to commercial dog food to add taste and give your dog a boost of healthy fats and nutrients. Let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of including this popular protein source in your dog's diet.

• It's an excellent protein source that helps build muscle.
• It helps your dog's diet meet essential nutrient requirements, including vitamins, minerals, omega-3, omega-6, and amino acids.
• It's rich in B vitamins, including B12.
• It contains high amounts of iron and zinc.

• Some cuts are rich in saturated fat.
• It has the highest risk for food allergies among proteins for dogs.
• Some cuts of beef can be too high in calories for overweight dogs.

If you are looking for high-quality dog food that contains beef, check out these popular options from The Honest Kitchen:

• Dehydrated Whole Grain Beef Recipe
• Dehydrated Grain-Free Beef Recipe
• Grain-Free Beef Clusters Dry Dog Food

Chicken is an affordable, lean meat for pet owners to add to their dog’s diet. It’s readily available, easy to feed, and has many nutrients. This combination of affordability and nutrient density makes it a popular choice for pet owners, and dogs love the taste, so many dog food formulas include it.

• Chicken is a leaner option than red meat for overweight dogs.
• It's a great source of cysteine methionine, an important amino acid for a healthy coat.
• It's easy on the stomach, so it's a great food to offer your pet after a gastrointestinal illness.

• There is an extremely high risk of salmonella if fed raw, so never use raw chicken. The CDC estimates that one in every 25 packages of raw chicken contain salmonella, so it’s important to cook it to at least 165 degrees fahrenheit to kill all bacteria.
• It's the number three protein allergen for dogs.
• Cooked bones can splinter and cause a choking hazard, so never feed dogs chicken bones.

The Honest Kitchen has several chicken-based recipes made from human grade chicken combined with healthy grains, fruits, and veggies. Here are a couple of our top choices:

• Dehydrated Whole-Grain Chicken Recipe
• Whole Food Clusters Whole-Grain Chicken Dry Dog Food
• Dehydrated Grain-Free Chicken Recipe

Most people know the benefits of adding fish to human diets, but these health benefits translate to dogs, too! Fish oils are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that dogs need for healthy skin and fur, and feeding fish to your dog can help them maintain good coat quality and health without the need for additional vitamins. 

• Fish is great for pets with food allergies as it's generally hypoallergenic.
• It's ideal for dogs with gastrointestinal sensitivities as it's easy on the stomach.
• Fish contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

• Some fish, like swordfish, tuna, and salmon, contain high levels of mercury, so opt for white fish like cod or pollock instead. If you do choose to feed salmon or another high-mercury fish, it's best to limit it to fewer than three times a week to avoid mercury toxicity.
• Some fish contain tiny bones that can splinter and cause a choking hazard.

To take advantage of some of the benefits that fish can offer your pet, consider these top choices from The Honest Kitchen:

• Dehydrated Grain-Free Fish Recipe
• Dehydrated Limited Ingredient Fish Recipe

It may sound like an indulgent option for feeding your dog, but duck can offer a number of health benefits. Due to its high fat content, dogs find it delicious. However, despite the fat content, duck can be a nutritionally dense contribution to a balanced diet (as long as you keep the fat content in mind). Many pets who have allergies to common proteins choose duck as their primary protein.

• This novel protein is rich in iron.
• It's also a good source of B vitamins.
• In traditional Chinese medicine, duck is considered a “yin” or cooling protein, which can counter “yon” proteins to balance the diet.

• Duck can be hard to find in most U.S. grocery stores.
• It's expensive, making it difficult for some pet owners to afford.
• The high fat content can be hard on overweight dogs, and on dogs prone to pancreatitis.

The Honest Kitchen offers several duck recipes, including pate, treats, and dog food. Check out our entire line of human grade dog foods featuring duck as a high-quality protein source, or give one of these delicious recipes a try:

• Parmesan Pecks: Duck & Cherry
• Dehydrated Limited Ingredient Duck
• Meal Booster - 99% Turkey & Duck 

Turkey is another poultry option to consider adding to your dog’s diet. Like chicken, it's affordable, and you can stock up and freeze turkey around the holiday season for a very low price. It has several benefits and nutrients that are valuable to a dog’s diet.

• Much like duck, turkey is a “yin,” or cooling protein, according to Chinese medicine.
• Turkey contains high levels of taurine, which promotes healthy skin and fur.
• It's an affordable and accessible poultry option.

• Turkey is harder to prepare than chicken.
• Turkey can carry salmonella, which puts your dog and you at risk for foodborne illness. Be sure to never feed raw turkey.
• It's usually slightly more expensive than chicken.

When considering turkey as a part of your dog’s diet, check out The Honest Kitchen’s turkey recipes, including dog food and treats:

• Grain-Free Turkey Clusters
• Tender Turkey One Pot Stew
• Turkey & Autumn Veggies Butcher Block Pâté

If you want to give your dog something a little more exotic, then consider lamb — especially if they’re prone to other protein allergies. This nutrient-rich protein may be pricier than other options, but it packs a significant nutritional punch. Because of the cost, consider it to supplement your dog's diet or as a treat rather than your dog’s primary protein source.

• Lamb is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
• It contains high levels of iron and amino acids.
• Lamb is a fairly hypoallergenic protein source, though some dogs will still have allergies to it. Always monitor your pet for allergic reactions after offering them a new type of food, and be sure to contact your vet right away if you notice any symptoms.

• Lamb is pretty expensive by most people's standards — much costlier than alternative protein sources.
• Lamb is high in fat, which can be problematic for overweight dogs.
• Chinese medicine considers this a “hot” protein, or “yon” protein.

As you consider ways to supplement your dog’s diet with lamb, consider these tasty options available from The Honest Kitchen:

• Superfood Pour Overs - Lamb & Beef 
• Beef, Lamb & Spring Veggies Butcher Block Pâté
• Braised Beef & Lamb One Pot Stew

Many pet owners mistakenly think that dogs are obligate carnivores, but dogs are omnivores and need meat and produce in their diets. The digestive system of the modern dog requires a complex combination of vitamins and nutrients from protein, fruits, and vegetables. That said, dogs are still considered to need high protein diets, so vegetarian diets should be out of the question for dogs. But how much meat is necessary?

Ideally, a dog’s diet should be between 22% to 25% protein, according to the AAFCO recommendations, with no less than 18% and no more than 30% of the daily food coming from meat. Vets often recommend that dogs with kidney disease should actually consume less than this. If you increase protein intake above 30%, your dog might suffer from serious health issues.

Even within these recommendations, consider a rotational plan for your dog's diet. Rotating and varying the different proteins will allow your pet to get all of the benefits of each type. 

Raw food diets can feel like a trendy and healthy option for pet owners, but in reality, raw meat is not a good choice for your dog. Yes, in the wild, dogs will kill and eat raw prey, but raw meat purchased from the grocery store is dangerous for domesticated pets. 

There are two reasons for this. First, dogs today are genetically different from their ancestors and wolves, who consume live prey. Second, the raw meat you buy in the store is not fresh, and thus is at higher risk for carrying deadly diseases.

Specifically, the CDC warns that raw pet foods can carry dangerous bacteria like salmonella and listeria. These can create potentially deadly infections. Not only do they put your dog at risk, but they can live in the dog's mouth and on their fur, too. This means you would be at risk if you play with your dog after they consume raw meat contaminated with these pathogens. For this reason, you should cook any type of meat you feed your dog.

Protein is an important part of a balanced diet for dogs, and the quality of protein is important, too. Too many commercial dog foods use low-quality food from diseased or dead animals, which can put your dog’s health at risk.

With The Honest Kitchen, you get human grade food for your dog that you can trust to deliver quality nutrients with every bite, and our many varieties please even the pickiest eaters. Each recipe is carefully balanced for the needs of puppies or adult dogs, ensuring the right balance of protein and vegetables. As your dog ages, it’s especially important to keep good nutrition in mind, and The Honest Kitchen offers delicious recipes to satisfy any senior pup!

 Shop our collection of senior dog food recipes today to start incorporating these meats into your dog’s well-rounded meal rotation.