Pudel air-dried beef liver for dogs on linen

Vitamin A for dogs: what liver gives, and why a little is plenty

Liver is the reason this article exists. Vitamin A is fat-soluble and dogs need it in small, steady amounts; it's involved in normal vision, growth, skin maintenance and immune function, and liver carries more of it than any other cut. That's the reason to feed liver, and the reason to feed it as a few small pieces rather than a bowlful.

Retinol or beta-carotene: which form do dogs use?

Plants carry beta-carotene, which the body has to convert. Animal tissue carries retinol, the ready-made form. You'll read that dogs can't use beta-carotene. That's wrong; it's cats that can't. What's true is that retinol arrives ready to use, and liver carries a great deal of it. Meat is the direct route, not the only one.

Can a dog have too much liver?

Yes, in principle. Raw beef liver carries around 5,000 µg RAE of vitamin A per 100 g (USDA FoodData Central); lean muscle carries far less. Water-soluble vitamins pass through when there's more than the body needs; fat-soluble ones are stored, and the store builds if intake keeps outrunning need. The NRC sets an upper limit for this reason: very large amounts over a long period are harmful.

Getting there takes a lot of liver over a long time. But it's why liver isn't the cut we feed by the handful, and why "involved in normal skin maintenance" is not "makes the coat glossy". A complete diet already carries vitamin A at the level the guidelines set; liver is added on top, not instead.

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 liver, how often?

Think in pieces, not grams. Smaller dogs less, larger dogs a little more, nobody gets it in a bowl. All treats stay under about 10% of the day's food, and liver, being dense, counts quickly. Our beef liver is one ingredient, naturally dried, nothing added; it sits in the beef range beside the jerky that makes the better everyday reward.

A dull coat or persistent scratching can have many causes, and "not enough vitamin A" is rarely one of them in a dog on a complete diet. Adding liver to test the theory delays the real answer.

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

Keep reading: Which nutrients are involved in a dog's coat? · 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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