Plain Cooked Beef

Beef is a solid protein for dogs. It is a complete protein carrying all the essential amino acids, and it supplies iron, zinc and B vitamins that support muscle, skin and coat. The conditions are straightforward: pick a lean cut, trim the visible fat, cook it all the way through, and put nothing on it — no salt, no oil, no butter, no garlic or onion powder. Fat is the first hazard. Steak trimmings, brisket fat cap, and the grease left in the pan are exactly the sort of sudden fatty load that raises pancreatitis risk, which typically shows up 24 to 72 hours later as anorexia, repeated vomiting and a hunched, painful abdomen. Seasoning is the second. Taco seasoning, steak rubs, marinades, burger blends and jerky all lean on garlic powder, onion powder and salt; garlic and onion are directly toxic to dogs and the concentrated powders are worse than the fresh bulb. Bones are the third — rib bones and cooked beef bones can fracture into pieces that obstruct or perforate the gut. Raw beef is the fourth, carrying Salmonella and E. coli risk for the dog and for anyone handling the bowl, the counter or the dog afterward. On quantity, keep beef and every other treat inside 10 percent of daily calories. Meat alone is not a balanced diet: fed as a staple it runs short on calcium and several micronutrients, so it belongs on top of a complete, balanced food rather than instead of it. If your dog ate a large amount of marinated or seasoned beef, especially anything garlic- or onion-heavy, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 even before symptoms start. If bones were swallowed, or your dog is vomiting repeatedly or painful when you touch the belly, go in. Do not induce vomiting at home — that is a veterinary decision.