Lately, a lot of people have been asking us which food contains buffalo. The answer varies depending on the country and even on the region, but it is a fact that buffalo meat has become one of the most popular ingredients in dog food for quite some time now. This article aims to help you understand why this substitution is so widespread and if it can be beneficial to your pet’s health or not.
What we know about buffalo meat for humans?
Even though we’re used to seeing buffalo as an exotic animal, related to water buffaloes and bison, this type of cow is really common in many parts of the world and has even been domesticated for many years.
Buffalo meat is known as leaner red meat, meaning that it has fewer calories and fats than other types of beef. It is also richer in vitamins B6, B12, and selenium as well as minerals such as zinc, iron, or copper. Buffalo meat contains 40% less fat than other cattle breeds.
This healthy reputation makes buffalo meat a very popular ingredient in commercial dog food brands designed for losing weight or maintaining a steady blood sugar level. Many vets recommend this type of food because it could help control the symptoms related to diabetes or obesity in dogs.
What do we know about buffalo meat for dogs?
In general, any kind of red meat can be included in the diet of dogs in moderation. Red meats are associated with high levels of cholesterol, but they also contain essential nutrients for your dog’s health such as amino acids and zinc.
If you want to substitute one type of beef for another in your dog’s meal, it is generally better to choose healthier ingredients like buffalo rather than fatty foods like pork, lamb, or duck. Nevertheless, this choice should never become an obsession. A healthy diet doesn’t mean that you have to include game meats or exotic meats into your dog food all the time!
Dogs are carnivores by birth and their digestive system has evolved to help them break down proteins efficiently. This means that buffalo meat won’t upset their stomach like other red meats might.
Buffalo meat, like pork or beef, can be included in commercial dog food brands. However, you should know that this meat is usually the least expensive ingredient in all types of dog foods, which means that it isn’t present in high quantities and its benefits for your pet’s health are very limited at best.
How to choose good buffalo meat for dogs?
Buffalo has not been part of the human diet long enough to contain all the nutrients required by today’s standards. Furthermore, the ratio between fatty acids Omega 6 and Omega 3 is not optimal for our pets’ health because these acids are found at much higher levels than what could be considered healthy.
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use buffalo meat in your dog’s diet, but you should make sure to add fish oil and some kind of plant extract like kelp (seaweed) or blueberry to compensate for these shortfalls.
Buffalo meat is sold by most butchers and even supermarkets nowadays. It comes from farm-raised buffalo and you can choose between different types of cuts: steak, ground beef, ribs, roasts… Keep in mind that buffalo has a very strong taste (it tastes like liver!) so it is usually used as an ingredient in dry food rather than wet food recipes.
Conclusion: Should your dog eat buffalo?
It depends on how much importance you attribute to the nutritional value of food and how your dog is when it comes to eating new meats. If you’re concerned about your dog’s health and would like to give him some variety along with more high-quality proteins, buffalo meat could be a great choice.
If on the other hand, you choose food based more on its design (i.e. weight loss, diabetic management…) rather than its true impact on your pet’s health, it is better to stick with more mainstream ingredients like chicken or beef!
Buffalo meat might not be as healthy as advertised but that doesn’t mean that it is detrimental to your dog’s health either. You can give it a try if you want! When choosing between different types of red meats, think about how often you include game meats in your meals because this will tell you how likely your dog is to accept new types of meat in his food.