Over the last few centuries, our pet dogs have been pulled further and further away from their natural way of eating. At ardam, formerly CDK9 Raw, we think offal for dogs deserves a proper place back on the menu. Organ meat is one of the most nutrient-dense parts of a raw diet, and it is often the piece owners feel least confident about. This guide walks through what offal actually is, how much to feed, and how to serve it safely to Australian dogs.
What is offal, exactly?
Offal is generally defined as the clean, non-rendered internal organs of animals like cattle and lambs. It's a nutrient-dense addition to a raw bowl, containing vitamins, minerals and fats that are far less concentrated in muscle meat alone. Our range at ardam includes duck giblets, lamb liver, and beef kidney, sourced with the same traceability standards as our Beef, Chicken and Duck mixes.
For most of canine history, dogs (and their wild ancestors) ate entire prey animals, organs included, rather than muscle meat alone. Modern raw feeding tries to replicate that fuller nutritional picture, and offal is the piece most commercial kibble leaves out almost entirely. That's part of why it stands out as such a nutrient-dense addition once it's reintroduced properly.
Is offal actually good for dogs?
Yes. Offal brings essential fatty acids and micronutrients that support normal immune function and overall wellbeing, in a way muscle meat cannot fully replicate on its own. Raw tripe is a good example, offering a rich source of protein, calcium and phosphorus alongside natural digestive enzymes.
Liver in particular stands out. It is comparatively low in fat while carrying a strong dose of protein, iron, copper, zinc, vitamin A and B12, making it one of the most efficient nutritional additions in a raw diet when fed in the right amount.
How much offal should I feed my dog?
A widely used reference point is the Prey Model Raw guideline, which suggests roughly 80% muscle meat, 10% bone and 10% organ. Offal itself is usually split further, with liver making up no more than around half of that organ portion, since liver is very rich and easy to overdo.
These ratios are a starting point rather than a strict rule for every dog. Puppies, seniors and dogs recovering from illness may need slightly different proportions, which is another reason to check in with your vet if you're feeding a dog outside the typical healthy-adult range.
Feeding too much organ meat at once can throw off the overall balance of a meal, so it is worth easing into it gradually rather than adding a large serving straight away. If you are unsure how offal fits into your dog's current diet, our feeding plan quiz can help you work out the right ratio for their size and activity level.
What types of offal can dogs eat?
Dogs can safely eat and digest a good range of offal cuts. At ardam, our current range includes:
- Raw beef, lamb and duck liver
- Duck giblets
- Raw tripe
- Salmon heads
Each of these brings a slightly different nutritional profile, which is part of why rotating offal types, rather than relying on one, tends to give the most balanced result. Browse the full raw food range to see current offal and mince options.
How do I safely serve raw offal to my dog?
Ardam's raw food arrives vacuum sealed and chilled to preserve freshness. We recommend storing it in the freezer until needed, then thawing a portion in the fridge the day before it's due to be served. Once thawed, offal should be fed within the same short window you'd use for any raw meat.
Mixing offal with other textures, like our lamb marrow bones or chicken and duck frames, gives your dog variety while helping distribute nutrients across a meal rather than concentrating them all in one bowl. Some owners also add small amounts of dog-safe vegetables alongside offal for extra fibre.
Do vets support feeding offal to dogs?
Veterinary nutrition guidance generally recognises organ meat as a valuable source of concentrated nutrients when fed as part of a balanced diet, rather than as the main component. The MSD Veterinary Manual notes that organ meats contribute vitamins and minerals not found in the same density in muscle tissue, which lines up with how we recommend using offal at ardam, as a supporting piece of a varied Sydney-based raw diet rather than the whole meal.
The RSPCA also emphasises that dogs benefit from a varied, balanced diet rather than a narrow, single-ingredient approach, which is consistent with treating offal as one part of a broader rotation rather than an occasional afterthought.
How does offal fit into feeding in Sydney's warm months?
Warmer months change how owners handle any raw food, and offal is no exception. Liver, kidney and tripe are softer and spoil faster once thawed than dense muscle cuts, so during Sydney's hotter stretches it's worth thawing smaller portions rather than a full week's supply at once. A portion left out on the back deck on a 30 degree day will not stay food-safe as long as it would on a cool winter evening.
A simple routine that works well over summer is thawing one or two meals at a time in the fridge rather than the counter, and feeding offal earlier in the day before the heat peaks. If you're heading out for the day, popping the bowl in a shaded, cool spot or feeding first thing in the morning avoids leaving richer cuts like liver sitting in the heat for hours.
What nutrients does offal actually provide, cut by cut?
It helps to see roughly how the main organ cuts compare, since owners often ask why liver gets singled out so often. Per 100g raw, beef liver typically provides around 135 calories, 20g of protein, 4-5g of fat, a very high dose of vitamin A, plus meaningful iron, copper, zinc and B12. Kidney is leaner again, with slightly less vitamin A but a strong showing of B vitamins and selenium. Tripe sits apart from both, lower in most vitamins but valued instead for its natural digestive enzymes and calcium-to-phosphorus balance.
This is part of why we suggest rotating rather than settling on one organ type long term. Liver alone won't replicate what tripe or kidney bring to the bowl, and vice versa, so a mixed offal approach across a month tends to cover more nutritional ground than any single cut repeated on its own.
Getting started with offal
If you are new to raw feeding altogether, offal is not usually where you start. Get your dog settled onto a base protein first, then introduce organ meat gradually once their digestion has adjusted. A sample pack is a low-risk way to see how your dog responds to a full raw meal, offal included, before committing to a larger subscription.
Talk to a vet about your dog
Every dog's tolerance for organ meat is a little different, and dogs with existing health conditions may need a more cautious approach to offal ratios. Reviewed by the ardam team. For veterinary advice on your individual dog, contact Dr. Anna Huynh at Greystanes Veterinary Clinic (26 Carnation St, Greystanes NSW 2145, (02) 9609 1500).
What is the best offal to start with for dogs?
Liver is usually the easiest starting point, fed in small portions since it's nutrient-rich and easy to digest.
How often should I feed my dog offal?
Aim for around 10% of the overall diet as organ meat, following a PMR-style guideline, with liver capped at roughly half of that portion.
Can offal replace muscle meat in a raw diet?
No. Offal should complement muscle meat as a smaller portion of the meal, not replace it entirely.
Is it safe to feed raw offal to puppies?
Yes, in appropriate amounts following PMR-style ratios, though it's worth checking with your vet about portion sizes for a growing puppy.
Can offal be cooked instead of served raw?
It can, though cooking reduces nutrient density. Raw is generally preferred unless your vet advises otherwise for a specific health reason.
Which offal is richest in nutrients?
Liver tends to top the list for nutrient density, followed by kidney and tripe, each offering a slightly different mix of vitamins and minerals.
Where can I buy offal for my dog in Australia?
ardam delivers raw offal alongside our Beef, Chicken and Duck ranges across Sydney and the rest of Australia. Browse the full collection to see what's currently available.
How should I store offal safely during a Sydney summer?
Thaw only what you need for a day or two at a time in the fridge rather than a full week's supply, and feed earlier in the day where possible so richer cuts like liver spend less time sitting out in the heat.
Does kidney offer different nutrients to liver?
Yes. Kidney is leaner than liver with slightly less vitamin A, but it brings a strong dose of B vitamins and selenium, which is part of why rotating between organ types tends to give a more complete nutrient spread.
You do not have to source liver and kidney separately: the complete raw mixes already include the correct offal ratio.
