How to Cook Lamb For Dogs (Complete Guide)

Lamb is an excellent nutritious treat that dogs love. Packed full of protein, lamb offers your dog essential nutrients that help build and maintain muscle.

So long as the lamb is cooked thoroughly you can serve it to your dog any way that you like. We recommend cooking the lamb through and do not leave any part raw. 

But be careful not to overcook the lamb, it can become dry and very tough which may be difficult for dogs with smaller teeth to eat.

How Long Do I Cook Lamb For My Dog?

It is recommended that you cook lamb for at least 30 minutes (grounded) or 20 min per 450g plus 20 minutes (roasted).

Lamb should be cooked at a minimum of 110 degrees F for the best and safest results. This temperature neutralizes the lamb and kills any bacteria that can make your dog sick (this goes for humans too!).

Ideal temperatures for cooking lamb:

Rare: 110 degrees F

Medium:  120 Degrees F

Well Done: 145 degrees F

What is The Best Lamb Recipe For Dogs?

There’s no such thing as a ‘best’ recipe, but one of the most popular recipes is a Doggie Lamb Hotpot:

You Will Need:

•  1lb of ground lamb
• A handful of frozen or fresh green beans
• Fresh or frozen broccoli 
• Fresh or frozen carrots
• 1 cup of white rice
• ½ cup of plain full-fat yogurt (optional)

The Recipe:

Step 1: Crumble all of the lamb into a large pot.

Step 2: Add the vegetables and cover the mixture with water until all the ingredients are submerged.

Step 3: Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes or until the meat is cooked. Drain off the water and let it cool completely.

Step 4: Boil your rice or buy ready-made.

Step 5: Allow to cool and add to the meat and vegetable mixture.

Step 6: Serve dry or add the yogurt to create a nutritious gravy.

Can I cook Lamb Chops for My Dog?

Cooking lamb chops for your dog is not recommended. The bones found in lamb chops can easily get stuck in your dog’s throat.

However, you can cook the lamb chops and remove bones before serving. 

If you cook lamb chops for your dog, do not add any seasoning or salt. Cook the chops plain and remove and discard the bones before giving the meat to your dog.

How Much Lamb Can I Give My Dog?

While the lamb is an excellent treat that dogs go barking mad for, too much can lamb can have a negative impact on their health.

Lamb meat is very high in fat. Although most of these are healthy fats that your dog needs, if they have too much the fat can accumulate and lead to obesity.

Similarly, too much lamb protein can have a negative effect on your dog’s digestive system. Protein is hard to digest and some dogs have more delicate constitutions than others.

So if you want to add lamb to your dog’s regular diet, make sure to only serve it little and often instead of large lamb meals in one sitting.

Why Doesn’t My Dog Like Lamb?

It is very unusual for a dog not to like lamb. Dogs love meat of every kind and do not really have a preference for one kind of meat over another – all meat is good to dogs!

But like humans, dogs are individuals and from time to time they can show a dislike to certain foods.

This usually happens when a dog has built up a negative association with the food and thinks that is dangerous in some way. 

Did your dog eat lamb once and get sick? Were they hurt in some way either before or after eating lamb? Did you discipline your dog once after serving a lamb meal? 

It is most likely that somewhere along the line your dog has learned that eating lamb has some kind of negative consequence, otherwise they may just not like the taste or texture, or you have overcooked the lamb and it is difficult for them to swallow.

Why Is Lamb Good For Dogs?

When it comes to nutrition for dogs, lamb certainly packs and punch.

Lamb is full of protein, healthy fats, and amino acids that are essential for your dogs’ health. Protein helps to build and maintain muscle mass, it also helps your dog regulate their immune system and keep their coat and skin hydrated and healthy.

The amino acids help your dog to cultivate strength by supporting the connective tissue in your dogs’ muscles and even help to improve the quality of your dogs’ sleep. 

Can Lamb Upset a Dogs Stomach?

Generally, lamb is not known to cause dogs stomach problems so long as the lamb is cooked and prepared correctly.

When cooking and serving lamb to your dog, make sure to cook it at the right temperature all the way through and remove any skin. Lambskin is heavy in fats and oils that can be difficult for your dog to digest.

Additionally, be careful to remove any bones. Bones are a choking hazard and can get lodged in your dogs’ digestive tract. 

Do not add any seasoning, especially salt. Some seasonings can irritate your dogs’ digestive system or cause skin problems.

Is Lamb Better Than Chicken for Dogs?

Lamb and chicken are both good sources of food for dogs, who mostly have a carnivorous diet.

However, lamb is a better source of iron than chicken. Lamb is a red meat, and red meats tend to be more iron abundant than white meats. 

Chicken is still good for your dog, it contains amino acids like lamb does, but also includes omega 6 fatty acids that are great for bone health.

Lamb, on the other hand, is full of iron, fat, protein, amino acids, and B vitamins that support muscle function and the nervous system.

An optimized diet for your dog includes both chicken and lamb, as well as other meats. Be sure to include other non-meat-based foods like vegetables and offer some fruit-based treats on occasion.