Pudel air-dried beef liver for dogs on linen

Vitamin B12 for dogs: what it does and where it comes from

There's a reason liver keeps turning up in these articles, and B12 is a large part of it. Vitamin B12 is one a dog can't make for itself. It has to come from the diet, and in practice that means animal tissue: meat, and organ meat above all. B12 is involved in the normal formation of red blood cells and in normal nerve function, and liver is the natural source that carries the most of it.

What does vitamin B12 do, and where does it come from?

B12, also called cobalamin, is a helper for enzymes involved in the normal production of red blood cells, normal nerve function and everyday cell metabolism (NRC, 2006). Small amounts, big jobs. Extra just gets stored, or passed.

B12 is made by microorganisms, and animals accumulate it in their tissues (NRC, 2006). On the USDA figures for raw beef, lean muscle carries around 2 µg of B12 per 100 g; beef liver carries around 60 µg (USDA FoodData Central). Kangaroo meat is a natural source of B12 as well (FSANZ).

Does a dog need B12 every day?

No. The body stores B12, mostly in the liver, and that store lasts months rather than days (NRC, 2006). A complete dog food covers it by design; a meat treat adds a little, and liver adds a lot more per piece.

A dog can be low in B12, but that's often about how well the gut absorbs it rather than how much is in the bowl (NRC, 2006). A vet checks it with a blood test; more liver doesn't answer the question. If your dog seems flat or just isn't right, that's a vet conversation.

Which cuts are a natural source of B12, and how much?

Any cut of meat, with liver well out in front. Our beef liver is one ingredient, naturally dried, nothing added. The muscle cuts in the kangaroo range are a natural source too, at everyday-reward levels. Muscle jerky is the everyday reward; liver is the occasional one, because its vitamin A sets the serve. A few pieces a couple of times a week does the same job as a piece every day, inside the rule that treats stay under about 10% of the day's food.

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.

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