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Pork: The Most Underrated Protein For Your Dogs

You don’t usually see pork as a staple ingredient in dog biscuits or dog mince, leading to the question - why? Given we’re confident in the benefits of pork as part of a balanced diet for humans, why should it be different for dogs? Check out some of the reasons why pork is not only safe to feed your dog, but how it helps improve their diet.  

Pork Fat is one of the healthiest in the world!

Pork fat is often misunderstood when it comes to dog nutrition, with a common myth being that pork is too fatty to feed to dogs. In essence, pork isn’t any fattier than beef or lamb, and depending on the cut, can be even leaner than chicken and some fish. All animal proteins have varying fat levels across the different cuts. What gets really interesting is the type of fats that occur naturally in animal proteins. 

 

When it comes to dogs, fats aren’t classified as “good” or “bad” in the same way they are in human nutrition.

 

Dogs are well adapted to digesting both saturated and unsaturated fats. What matters more is total fat intake and the presence of essential fatty acids, which support skin, coat, immune and joint health.

 

Pork naturally contains a mix of saturated and unsaturated fats, including linoleic acid (an essential omega-6 fatty acid for dogs). When fed in moderation and as part of a balanced diet, pork fat can be a perfectly appropriate and beneficial energy source for dogs.

Pork ranks in the top 10 of the world’s most nutritious foods.

What’s pretty exciting about pork is that it actually offers more nutrients than other common pet proteins. In fact, pork fat was ranked as number eight in a scientific study published by the BBC ranking the top 100 most nutritious foods. The article states: “A good source of B vitamins and minerals. Pork fat is unsaturated and healthier than lamb or beef fat.” 

 

Pork was actually the only land animal protein listed in the top 100 nutritious foods on the planet, and only two types of fish came in with a higher score (Flatfish and Ocean Trout). 

 

All those B vitamins and minerals make pork a pretty good choice for your dog. Check out this hefty list: 

 

Vitamins

  • Thiamine (Vitamin B1) & Niacin (Vitamin B3) – these ones keep the nervous system, digestive system and skin healthy. 
  • Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – helps keep the skin, eyes and nervous system healthy. 
  • Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) & Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) – these two help produce haemoglobin, which is the protein that carries oxygen through the blood. These vitamins assist with overall blood and nerve function. 

Minerals 

  • Selenium – this mineral has a range of benefits, including boosting immune function, to promoting thyroid and reproductive function.
  • Zinc – a mineral our dogs need for many things including cell division, immune function and wound healing. 

Just remember, variety is the key to a healthy diet for dogs. They can’t get all the nutrients they need from just one source. Diets should be all about balance, as different proteins are naturally high in different nutrients and vitamins, so switch it up and add some pork to your dog’s weekly schedule! 

Pork contains one of the highest protein levels of all red meat.   

We’re all looking for a good source of lean protein, for ourselves and for our pets. Whether it’s for energy, to help us feel fuller for longer or to assist with muscle repair and growth after a good workout – protein is the buzz word of the decade.

 

It’s good news again for pork, as it actually contains one of the highest protein levels of all red meat (behind game and beef). It varies across the different pork cuts, but something like a pork tenderloin contains 28.5g of protein per 100g serve. So for humans, if you eat a small 100g portion of tenderloin, it’s a whopping 57% of your recommended daily protein intake. So if lean protein is your game, pork is a good choice for your dog. 

So why don’t we see pork feature more often in foods for dogs? In short, it’s about availability. The Australian pet food industry grew up alongside beef and poultry processing, with these industries generating huge amounts of cheaper by products that made their way into pet nutrition. Pork processing however prioritised human consumption cuts, with far less low cost by product being available for pet food and treats. Given the nutritional benefits of Pork as a lean, high protein source, packed with vitamins and nutrients that are essential and beneficial for dogs’ health, maybe it’s time we stopped keeping it all to ourselves! 

 

Pork is the most underrated protein in the pet food world - might be time to get some more Aussie pork on your dog’s fork. 

Sources

Nolan-Clark, D.J., Neale, E.P. (2016), Communicating the health benefits of pork consumption 3B-111. Nutrition Research, p. 13-25. 

NUTTAB (2010) Nutritional Data for Uncooked Pork, Snapper, Chicken and Beef Fillets. https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/science-data/food-nutrient-databases/afcd 

British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Future (2020). The world’s most nutritious foods. 

www.bbc.com/future/article/20180126-the-100-most-nutritious-foods  

Food Bytes (2025), Australian Pork Nutrition and Health Claims, p. 3-9.