Raw hearts for dogs are muscular organs and a must for raw feeders like myself!
They are part of any premade raw dog food I know. For example, all 10 brands I mention in my blog post All about raw beef dog food feature raw heart in their complete recipes.
For a good reason!
They certainly make it into my raw dog food rotation too when I make my own homemade raw dog food meals.
That said, here’s what I’ll cover in this blog post:
- Benefits of raw hearts for dogs
- How much heart to feed dogs + recipe idea
- Looking at nutrient profiles from hearts of different animals
- Where to buy raw hearts for dogs besides the grocery store/farm
- Dehydrated or freeze-dried heart alternatives for dogs
Why Raw Hearts For Dogs Are A Powerful Raw Organ Meat
Benefits of Raw Heart for Dogs
For starters, let’s define what raw hearts are and what buckets they fall into in raw feeding.
If you’re not aware of the different components and meat categories in raw feeding, here’s a super quick run down of what raw dog food for adult dogs consists of:
- Muscle meat, 70%
- Raw meaty bones, 10%
- Secreting organs, 10% (5% liver, 5% other secreting organs)
- Plant matter (8% veggies & fruit, 2% seeds & nuts)
For much more detailed information about the different components in raw feeding, check out What does balanced raw dog food consist of?
Now, back to classifying raw hearts.
Heart is a muscular organ.
As such, it’s fed as muscle meat, not as a secreting organ although it falls into the offal category. Offal are the consumable organs of animals.
While hearts ARE a heart working organ, they don’t secrete a substance.
That’s a prerequisite in order to be considered a secreting organ in raw feeding.
That means hearts are not fed as secreting organs like liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, brains, thymus, eyeballs and reproductive organs.
However, while muscle meat makes up 70% of raw dog food for adult dogs, you can’t just feed 70% of hearts in that category.
That would be way too much because:
- Organs are very rich and can cause diarrhea if they’re overfed
- That raw meal would be nutrient deficient as different cuts of meat from different animals have different nutrient profiles
Instead, you’ll want to feed a mix of different cuts of muscle meats.
For example, some trim, some lung, some heart, some breast meat, some green tripe, etc. More on how much heart to feed your pup in a moment.
But first, let’s take a look at what you’ll find in hearts.
Raw hearts in general are rich in the following nutrients:
- Zinc. Supports a strong immune system & a healthy thyroid.
- Iron. Helps enzymes function normally, creates red blood cells, boosts oxygen supply & promotes a healthy liver.
- Taurine. Boosts normal heart function and acts as an antioxidant.
- Magnesium. Helps absorb other minerals and vitamins.
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Functions as an antioxidant that supports heart health, helps regulate blood pressure & boosts collagen for skin, coat and joint health.
- B Vitamins including Folate. They have a strong cardio protective effect and support tissue growth, cell division, normal blood & immune function.
They’re also used in glandular or organ therapy.
That’s the concept of “like supports like”.
So a dog with liver problems benefits from eating liver, puppies whose brains are still developing benefit greatly from eating raw brains, just like senior pups who are prone to dementia, etc.
Likewise, dogs with heart conditions such as DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) can benefit from eating hearts.
Good to know: The harder a muscle works, the richer it is in taurine.
Besides heart, ruminant tongues are very rich in taurine as well! That’s because they’re busy chewing their cud.
How Much Heart to Feed Dogs
Since organs like hearts are a lot richer in nutrients than cuts of muscle meat, dogs need to eat considerably less of them.
Makes sense, right?
I find that it helps to picture the internal anatomy of an animal. For example, that of a cow, of a chicken or of a pig.
This is a good guide when you’re figuring out how much of what you can feed.
Think about what all it consists of. Mostly skin and muscles, along with its internal organs like the heart, the lung, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, etc.
Keeping that in mind, you can feed about 5-10% of your dog’s daily raw dog food intake in heart.
For a 60lb adult dog who’s moderately active, that would be 1.2-2.4oz per day.
The next section explains how to do that math.
Raw Heart for Dogs Recipe
Let’s stick with the 60lb adult dog who’s fed at a maintenance percentage of 2.5% of his target body weight.
More on percentages in raw feeding here.
To figure out how much raw dog food he needs to eat on a daily basis, we divide his weight by 100, and then we multiply it by 2.5%:
60/100 = 0.6 x 2.5 = 1.5lbs or 24oz
Of those 24 oz, he needs roughly the following amounts per day.
I say roughly because it’s OK to achieve balance (for adult dogs, puppies are different) over the course of 7-10 days:
- 70% muscle meat = 16.8oz.
- 10% raw meaty bones = 2.4oz
- 5% liver & 5% other secreting organs = 1.2oz of each
- 10% plant matter = 2.4oz
As far as heart, you can feed 5-10% of the 24oz = 1.2-2.4oz.
Here’s a raw dog food recipe idea for dogs featuring chicken hearts:
- 10oz Ground beef
- 1oz Mackerel
- 2oz Chicken hearts
- 7oz Turkey neck (includes 2.8oz bone & 4.2oz muscle meat)
- 1.2oz Deer liver
- 1.2oz Deer spleen
- 2.4oz Puréed Spinach/red beets/soaked ground almond mix
- Kelp (following the feeding instructions on the packaging)
Feeding guidelines:
- for dogs weighing up to 30 lbs: 4 oz for every 10 lbs dog weight
- for dogs weighing between 30 to 100 lbs: 3.2 oz for every 10 lbs dog weight
- above 100 lbs: 2.8 oz for every 10 lbs dog weight
Looking At Nutrient Profiles of Hearts from Different Animals
Here’s the moment where I start preaching about the importance of rotating again!
Because here’s the deal.
Different cuts of meat within an animal have different nutrients.
So do different animals.
For example, pork liver has different nutrients from pork heart and pork ribs.
And each of those differ from turkey liver, turkey heart and turkey bones.
That’s why it’s important to rotate not only the different cuts you feed within an animal, but also the animals (=protein sources) themselves!
When you rotate on a regular basis, you ensure that your dog doesn’t have any nutritional imbalances.
Especially when you feed meat from happy animals that were grass-fed/allowed to roam and help themselves to insects etc.
Pair that with a yearly checkup at the vet’s that includes a blood panel, and you’ll be on your way to successfully feeding your pup raw dog food.
Next up, let’s look at the nutrient profiles of hearts from:
- Chicken
- Beef
- Turkey
- Pork
- Deer
- Lamb
You’ll see that chicken hearts, for example, are a lot richer in Folate and Vitamin A than beef heart, and turkey & lamb hearts don’t have any Folate at all.
So if, for example, you only fed turkey hearts, your pup would be missing out on Folate.
Just FYI, I was also looking for detailed nutrient profiles of hearts from rabbit, duck and goat as I’ve fed hearts from those animals as well.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find them anywhere. Once/if I do, I’ll add them to this blog post.
I’ll also mention which US raw dog food retailers carry the respective raw hearts for dogs.
One more thing up front: While I find it interesting to look at the different nutrient profiles of specific cuts of meat, you don’t have to do that to successfully feed raw dog food!
I do it every now and then because I enjoy nerding out about it, but again, YOU don’t have to.
It’s fine to use a common sense approach and just rotate your cuts of meat and your protein sources regularly.
If nothing else, remember this: Raw feeding can be as complicated as you allow it to get!
Raw Chicken Hearts for Dogs
100grams/3.5oz of raw chicken hearts have the following key nutrients (FYI: micrograms is smaller than milligrams):
- Zinc: 6.59mg
- Iron: 5.96mg
- Vitamin A: 9.0mcg
- B1 (Thiamin): 0.152mg
- B3 (Niacin): 4.883mg
- B9 (Folate): 72.0mcg
- B12 (Cobalamin): 7.29mcg
- Magnesium: 15.0 mg
- Vitamin D: 0mcg
US raw dog food retailers who carry chicken hearts:
- Raw Paws Pet Food – Save 15% with my affiliate discount code K9Savings
- Raw Feeding Miami
- BJs Raw Pet Food
- My Pet Carnivore
- Hare Today
Raw Beef Heart for Dogs
100grams/3.5oz of raw beef heart have the following key nutrients (FYI: micrograms is smaller than milligrams):
- Zinc: 1.70mg
- Iron: 4.31mg
- Vitamin A: 0mcg
- B1 (Thiamin): 0.238mg
- B3 (Niacin): 7.530mg
- B9 (Folate): 3.0mcg
- B12 (Cobalamin): 8.55mcg
- Magnesium: 21.0 mg
- Vitamin D: 0mcg
US raw dog food retailers who carry beef hearts:
- Raw Paws Pet Food – Save 15% with my affiliate discount code K9Savings
- Raw Feeding Miami
- BJs Raw Pet Food
- My Pet Carnivore
- Hare Today
Raw Turkey Hearts for Dogs
100grams/3.5oz of raw turkey heart have the following key nutrients (FYI: micrograms is smaller than milligrams):
- Zinc: 3.21mg
- Iron: 3.70mg
- Vitamin A: 82mcg
- B1 (Thiamin): 0.165mg
- B3 (Niacin): 6.440mg
- B9 (Folate): 0.0mcg
- B12 (Cobalamin): 13.3mcg
- Magnesium: 21.0 mg
- Vitamin D: 0.40mcg
Where to buy raw turkey hearts for dogs from US raw dog food retailers:
- Raw Paws Pet Food – Save 15% with my affiliate code K9Savings
- Raw Feeding Miami
- Hare Today
Raw Pork Hearts for Dogs
100grams/3.5oz of raw pork heart have the following key nutrients (FYI: micrograms is smaller than milligrams):
- Zinc: 2.8mg
- Iron: 4.68mg
- Vitamin A: 8mcg
- B1 (Thiamin): 0.613mg
- B3 (Niacin): 6.765mg
- B9 (Folate): 4.0mcg
- B12 (Cobalamin): 3.79mcg
- Magnesium: 19.0 mg
- Vitamin D: 0mcg
Where to buy raw pork hearts for dogs from US raw dog food retailers:
Raw Deer Hearts for Dogs
100grams/3.5oz of deer hearts have the following general key nutrients (FYI: micrograms is smaller than milligrams):
- Zinc: 1.57mg
- Iron: 5.19mg
- Vitamin A: 15mcg
- B1 (Thiamin): 0.46mg
- B3 (Niacin): 4.42mg
- B9 (Folate): 2.81mcg
- B12 (Cobalamin): 7.0mcg
- Magnesium: 20mg
- Vitamin D: 0.2mcg
Venison hearts are rarely available for sale from raw dog food retailers, at least from the ones I’m aware of.
That’s why your best bet is to locate a wildlife processor and ask them if they have any and are willing to part with them.
Alternatively, you can hunt your own. That’s what my boyfriend does and we also made friends with a wildlife processor in NC.
Check out my blog post on more information about feeding your dog wild raw venison here.
Raw Lamb Hearts for Dogs
100grams/3.5oz of raw lamb heart have the following key nutrients (FYI: micrograms is smaller than milligrams):
- Zinc: 1.65mg
- Iron: 3.29mg
- Vitamin A: 5.0mcg
- B1 (Thiamin): 0.520mg
- B3 (Niacin): 5.757mg
- B9 (Folate): 0mcg
- B12 (Cobalamin): 8.40mcg
- Magnesium: 20.0 mg
- Vitamin D: 0mcg
Where to buy raw lamb hearts for dogs from US raw dog food retailers:
Raw Rabbit Hearts for Dogs
I haven’t found a detailed nutrient profile for raw rabbit hearts yet.
Where to buy raw rabbit hearts for dogs from US raw dog food retailers:
- Raw Feeding Miami
- Hare Today (ground mix of 50% liver, 25% heart, 25% kidney)
Raw Goat Hearts for Dogs
I haven’t found a detailed nutrient profile for raw goat hearts yet.
Where to buy raw goat hearts for dogs from US raw dog food retailers:
Raw Duck Hearts for Dogs
I haven’t found a detailed nutrient profile for raw duck hearts yet.
Update: One of my readers, SonJa, shared the nutrient profile for raw duck hearts with me via the animaldietformulator app– thank you!!
- Zinc: 3.44mg
- Iron: 5.00mg
- Vitamin A: 32.45mcg
- B1 (Thiamin): 0.28mg
- B3 (Niacin): 3.26mg
- B9 (Folate): 90.36mcg
- B12 (Cobalamin): 23.74mcg
- Magnesium: 13.2 mg
- Vitamin D: 10mcg
Where to buy raw duck hearts for dogs from US raw dog food retailers:
Dehydrated Heart Alternatives for Dogs
Besides feeding your dog raw hearts, you can also make your own dehydrated hearts. They’re great to use as food toppers for picky eaters or to use in treat-dispensing dog toys!
All you need is fresh raw hearts and a dehydrator, for example the Cosori dehydrator.
Slice the hearts up, place them onto the dehydrator trays and let the low heat tool work its magic!
Recommended Food Dehydrator
Temperature control ✓Digital timer ✓ 6 Dishwasher-safe stainless steel trays ✓Mesh screens ✓ Includes 50 recipe cookbook (for human treats)
This makes a great homemade Valentine’s Day dog treat for your pup, too.
For more DIY cute dog treats, check out my blog post 20 Easy No Bake Valentine’s Day Dog Treats. Obviously, you can offer them whenever, not just on V Day!
Why Raw Hearts For Dogs Are A Powerful Raw Organ Meat: Bottom Line
So there’s my take on raw hearts for dogs!
Heart is a nutrient-dense power house that’s frequently added to premade raw dog food recipes.
I also include it in my own raw dog food rotation where I feed it alongside a plethora of other cuts of meat.
Unlike secreting organs like liver, kidney, pancreas and others, remember that raw heart is a muscular organ that’s fed as muscle meat in raw feeding.
That said, you can add 5-10% of raw heart to your adult dog’s daily raw meals.
Remember to rotate between the animals you feed heart from as their nutrient profiles differ.
Hearts also make great snack rewards for dogs as well as training treats.
If you’re up for it, you can make your own heart treats using a dehydrator. Or you can offer store-bought ones.
Both options have their pros & cons, so go for the one that works best for you.
For more raw feeding resources, visit my full homemade raw dog food library.
Related Reading:
- Raw lung for dogs
- Raw trachea for dogs
- Rabbit for raw dog food
- Organ meat for dogs recipe
- Secreting organs for raw dog food
- Difference between mackerel and herring
- What does balanced raw dog food consist of?
- Raw liver for dogs: All your questions answered
- Gizzards for dogs: How (much) to feed & more
Barbara Rivers is the founder of K9sOverCoffee and a raw feeding educator with over a decade of hands-on experience.
She has fed raw in the US and Europe since 2015, after her Boxer mix Missy’s cancer diagnosis led her to move away from processed kibble and commit to species-appropriate nutrition.
As a former professional dog walker, she developed deep insight into canine behavior, conditioning, and the essential link between proper exercise and long-term health.
Barbara completed online training with veterinarian Dr. Marion Smart and Labrador breeder Dana Scott and works for one of Germany’s leading raw dog food brands, BARFER’S.
In 2026–2027, she is completing a year-long raw nutrition certification for dogs and cats at THP School, founded by raw feeding pioneer Swanie Simon.
Through her blog and weekly newsletter, she provides clear, experience-based guidance to help dog owners feed raw safely and confidently.
I liked this article. My area has relatively inexpensive grass fed, pasture raised beef and pigs, so beef hearts, or beef organs are relatively easy to source at good prices. For example beef hearts are $4.50 a pound, liver is $7,00 a pound (including home delivery), so I have a freezer full of beef hearts. Pork, rabbit, lamb, and chicken hearts are available locally as well, although not in bulk. I am glad you published the ins and outs of beef hearts, how much to feed and the nutrient value of them. The only red flag for me was zinc, as many of the recipes I use call for oysters or zinc capsules. (Human supplements OK). This information will allow me to substitute out beef muscle meat, which is usually more expensive, for beef hearts, and manipulating the recipe to take into account the amount of zinc in the modified recipe. I am interested in hearts, because my dog MAY have a weak heart. I will have more information next summer.
I use Chinese Medicine to figure out patterns to avoid high cost vet visits for problems that aren’t acute. This coming cold season will tell me how much his kidney is playing a role in what I see.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment , Eileen. I also appreciate you sharing your Chinese Medicine approach and how you’re watching seasonal patterns.
You’re lucky to have such good access to grass-fed beef and organs, and at those prices, beef heart is a very practical ingredient to work with. One small clarification that’s worth mentioning: heart can replace some muscle meat, but not all of it. In a balanced raw diet, heart generally makes up about 5–10% of your dog’s total food intake.
On the zinc point, your instinct is spot on. Beef heart itself is actually fairly low in zinc (around 1.7 mg per 100 g), especially compared to oysters, which are extremely zinc-dense.
There are some lines of food that use heart as the ONLY muscular meat in the recipe (Primal and Green Juju.
I questioned Primal about the “richness” as I have always been told “rich” food can trigger a “squirt fest”. After reading about the benefits of the striated, hard working muscle, I began upping my muscle content. I am well above 10%, but certainly do not rely on heart only for the meat portion, though once my secreting organ and bone content gave been supplied, I often supply the remaining percent half and half with heart + other muscle meat.
And I LOVE TONGUE !
While it is quite fatty, it is inexpensive and readily available (to me). I feed a rather high fat diet for the most part so tongue is great. While I love it as a nutritious cut of meat, it is also the only part of an animal that totally freaks me out! Eyeballs? No problem. Brains, meh. Esophagus…no big deal…but handling tongue? Blah, gah, ick. I think this is because the feel is so (within my crazy head) likened to a cat tongue.
I agree Rotation is so very important! And for the exact reason you stated-the nutrients in many of the same body parts vs. the species that body part originated from are highly variable.
I do not encourage anyone to overly feed heart of any kind, but like you, Barbara, I do my homework to ensure I have an understanding of the nutrients that certain body parts bring to the table.
YOU, Barbara, are a fantastic collective of information. While I do not normally try to speak for others, I believe most all of your followers would agree, you supply some incredible content through your blog that is every-day-useful. You do not focus on every single meal being 100% at fulfilling nutrient needs, but rather the more important concept of ensuring raw feeders has a grasp of nutritional needs and what foods can fulfill or contribute to those needs.
Ya rock it B.
Thank you, Jacob, I really appreciate your very kind words! My goal has always been to help raw feeders understand the bigger picture and feel confident making informed choices over time, not go for perfection in every single meal.
I agree with you on heart: while it does fall into the muscle meat bucket, you want to use it alongside other muscle meats.
And yes… tongue 😄 Nutritionally great, texturally a bit much. You’re definitely not alone there. Where are you getting yours cheaply? I bought tongue occasionally at Walmart, but remember it being a bit more on the pricey side.
I also appreciate you emphasizing rotation. That’s one of those fundamentals that quietly does a lot of heavy lifting in raw feeding, especially when people start looking closely at nutrient profiles across species.