Pudel air-dried kangaroo liver for dogs on linen

Iron for dogs: natural sources and why meat iron is different

Low iron is a diagnosis a vet makes with a blood test, not something to guess at from a dull coat, and a treat isn't the answer either way. With that said, it is worth knowing what iron is doing. It sits at the centre of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around a dog's body. Dogs get it from food, and animal tissue, red meat and liver above all, carries it in the form the body takes up most readily.

Haem iron vs non-haem iron: what's the difference?

Haem iron is the iron bound up inside haemoglobin and myoglobin — the iron in meat, blood and organs. Non-haem iron is the loose form in plants, grains and most supplements. The body takes up haem iron more readily; non-haem uptake is pushed around by other things in the same meal (NRC, 2006). That doesn't mean a dog needs more meat; a complete food already meets the requirement.

Which foods are natural sources of iron for dogs?

Red meat and organs, with liver in front. For raw beef, liver carries around 5 mg of iron per 100 g and lean muscle around 2.5 mg (USDA). Kangaroo meat is a natural source of iron, zinc and B12, and at roughly 1–2 g of fat per 100 g it's one of the leanest red meats (FSANZ).

In our range that means kangaroo liver and beef liver at the concentrated end, and jerky as the everyday reward; the kangaroo range covers both. Liver's iron arrives in the same piece as a great deal of vitamin A, and that's what sets the serve.

Liver is very rich in vitamin A, so a little goes a long way — a few small pieces a day for a medium dog, with all treats under about 10% of daily food.

How much, and how would I know?

The same as any treat: under about 10% of the day's food. There's no iron schedule; jerky through the week with liver as the occasional switch-up is a sensible pattern. More isn't better with minerals (NRC, 2006), and supplements are a decision for your vet.

As for knowing whether your dog is low: you don't, from looking. Low iron has many causes, none sorted out with liver. A vet runs a blood test, finds the reason, and makes a plan.

Every dog is different. For an ongoing issue, your vet is the first call — this is general information, not veterinary advice.

Keep reading: Organ meat vs muscle meat for dogs: what's the difference? · Beef liver dog treats: what's in them and how much to feed

Sources

Pudel · Reviewed September 2026 · Single-protein, naturally dried dog treats, made in Australia. General information, not veterinary advice.

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