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Ingredient file // Animal protein

Pork Liver

Useful organ nutrition, with no magic attached

Pork liver is the pig's liver, added to pet food as an organ ingredient. It supplies animal protein, iron and vitamin A. Its place on the ingredient list shows its weight going into the recipe, not how much of those nutrients the finished food provides.

Role in the food Supporting nutrient
Pork Liver
What it is
The pig's liver, separated after slaughter and used as an organ ingredient in pet food.
Made from
Livers from slaughtered pigs
Main job
Animal protein and micronutrients
Typical amount
Not published
Watch for
Extra liver with a prescribed low copper diet
Not the same as
Pork liver meal

Straight answer

Is Pork Liver safe for dogs?

Read the recipe, then count the treats

Read pork liver alongside the other animal ingredients and the food's nutritional adequacy statement. Its list position reflects wet weight, so the label alone cannot tell you its nutrient contribution. It is a useful organ ingredient. Keep extra liver treats modest, and avoid them if your dog needs a low copper diet.

Why it is in the food
Animal protein and micronutrients

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 26 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

4%

122 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 30 brands. 74 wet dog food, 31 dry dog food, 10 frozen dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 4. In the top five of 86 foods, so it is usually a main ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

100%

Almost always listed before the salt, so there is more of it than a pinch.

Price per lb

Foods with it $3.69
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 33 priced foods, 14% above the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

23%

of the foods that list it are from Hill's. 30 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Pig slaughter produces more livers than people buy for food, so some go to pet food. The organs are separated, kept cold and mixed into recipes. Drying and grinding them instead produces liver meal, a different ingredient.3,5,6,11

  1. 01 // Source Pig livers Livers are removed during slaughter, with the gallbladder separated before the organs leave the plant.
  2. 02 // Process Ground and mixed In a published pet food formulation, frozen pork liver was ground and mixed with other ingredients.
  3. 03 // Output Pork liver Fresh or frozen liver enters the pet food recipe as an organ ingredient; its final cooking depends on the product.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

74

% protein

The approximate protein share after removing water from one slaughterhouse study's raw liver samples. The recipe amount determines its contribution to the food.

Crude protein 74.1%3
Crude fat 13.7%3
Ash 5.1%3
Iron 827 mg/kg3
Copper 54.9 mg/kg3
Retinol 464 mg/kg9

The protein, fat, ash and mineral figures are study means, not a fixed specification. Retinol comes from a separate national food table. The animals, handling and moisture content vary between samples.3,9

Why it is in the bag

Real organ nutrition alongside the main meat

  1. Main nutrition
  2. Supporting nutrient
  3. Does a job
  4. Mostly filler

In many foods pork liver sits near the top of the list, often behind a main meat such as chicken or pork. There it adds a real share of animal protein plus iron and preformed vitamin A, though much of its listed weight is water. Further down the list it is mainly a vitamin A and iron source. Makers also like it because pig slaughter yields more liver than people buy, so it is an available, lower value stream.3,5,8,9

  1. 01

    Adds animal protein

    Raw pork liver supplies about 19% protein by wet weight. It contributes to the recipe, although much of its listed weight is water that leaves cooked dry food.3,8

  2. 02

    Supplies iron and retinol

    Both are measured in raw liver. A manufacturer can account for them while formulating, but the finished food still needs appropriate amounts of every required nutrient.3,9,12

  3. 03

    Uses an available organ

    Pig slaughter produces more liver than people buy. Pet food provides a market for that lower value stream, which explains its cost appeal without implying poor nutrition.5

How much One patent example puts pork liver at 7.7% of the finished food product by weight; it gives no usual inclusion rate.11

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Pork liver supplies useful protein and iron

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Across 6 slaughterhouse sample groups, raw liver averaged about 74% protein and 827 mg/kg iron on a dry matter basis. Those nutrients are present, but the ingredient list cannot show their contribution to the finished food.3,8

  2. Brands say

    Pork liver naturally keeps eyesight sharp

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A government food table lists 13,000 micrograms of retinol per 100 g of raw pork liver. Dogs need vitamin A for vision, but no dog trial shows that adding liver to a complete diet sharpens eyesight.1,9

  3. Brands say

    Pork liver peptides protect dogs from oxidative damage

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Researchers treated pork liver with 4 enzymes; one hydrolysate reached 22.64 mg Trolox per gram in a laboratory antioxidant assay. They did not feed dogs or measure protection from oxidative damage.4

  4. Brands say

    Pork liver makes every food irresistible

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    An older review of two-choice dog tests reports a preference for chicken over liver, while preferences among pet dogs varied. Those tests were not a trial of pork liver in kibble, and they do not support a guarantee.2

  5. Owners say

    Any pork liver risks vitamin A poisoning

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A randomized study followed 49 puppies eating complete diets with up to 100,000 IU of vitamin A per 1,000 kcal for a year without a dose-related rise in adverse events. It did not test unlimited liver treats.1

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    Pork liver supplies protein, iron and vitamin A. Its lower value in the meat trade reflects limited demand from people, not an absence of nutrients. The amount used in the recipe still matters.3,5,9

  2. Q02

    Is liver the main meat?

    Not necessarily

    Ingredients are listed by weight, and raw liver contains substantial water. A high position shows how much wet liver went into the recipe; it does not show how much protein came from liver after cooking.3,8

  3. Q03

    Does it replace vitamin supplements?

    No

    Liver contributes some nutrients, but its name on the list gives no amounts for the finished food. Check the nutritional adequacy statement to see whether the whole recipe is intended as a complete diet.9,12

  4. Q04

    Is pork liver raw in kibble?

    No

    The liver may enter the plant fresh or frozen, but kibble is cooked during manufacture. Freezing describes storage, not whether a food was cooked: one published formulation grinds frozen liver before cooking the canned product.8,11

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Hill's 28 / 116
  2. Royal Canin 19 / 160
  3. Fromm 16 / 67
  4. Open Farm 7 / 42
  5. Acana 5 / 23
  6. Eukanuba 4 / 35
  7. Wellness 4 / 118
  8. Instinct 4 / 98
  9. Health Extension 3 / 47
  10. Orijen 3 / 25

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Plus 20 more brands.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #60 Fromm Four-Star Beef Frittata Veg® Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Chicken 38%
  2. Pork 30%
  3. Carrots 26%
  4. Beef 24%
  5. Powdered Cellulose 20%
  6. Water 17%
  7. Pork By-Products 17%
  8. Lamb 17%
  9. Water Sufficient for Processing 16%
  10. Peas 15%
  11. Rice 14%
  12. Dried Egg Product 14%

On the shelf

Foods that list Pork Liver

122 foods in our catalog list it. These 60 list it highest on the label.

Hill’s Prescription Diet ONC Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Prescription Diet ONC Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelAnswers Pet Food Straight Simply Protein Pork Formula Grain-Free Dog Food TopperAnswers Pet FoodAnswers Pet Food Straight Simply Protein Pork Formula Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 2 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Purely Pork Dinner Patties Freeze-Dried Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Purely Pork Dinner Patties Freeze-Dried Dog FoodFreeze-Dried // No. 2 on the labelHill’s Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelCarna4 Standard Duck Dry Dog FoodCarna4Carna4 Standard Duck Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 2 on the labelEukanuba Adult Chicken & Vegetable Stew Wet Dog FoodEukanubaEukanuba Adult Chicken & Vegetable Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelInstinct Raw Longevity Patties Farm-Raised Rabbit Recipe Frozen Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Longevity Patties Farm-Raised Rabbit Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 2 on the labelInstinct Raw Longevity Bites Farm-Raised Rabbit Recipe Frozen Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Longevity Bites Farm-Raised Rabbit Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 2 on the labelGo! Solutions Hip + Joint Support Pork Meal Mixer Dog Food TopperGo! SolutionsGo! Solutions Hip + Joint Support Pork Meal Mixer Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 2 on the labelOpen Farm Farmer’s Table Pork Raw Freeze-Dried Dog FoodOpen FarmOpen Farm Farmer’s Table Pork Raw Freeze-Dried Dog FoodFreeze-Dried // No. 3 on the labelAnswers Pet Food Detailed Mighty Raw Pork Frozen Dog FoodAnswers Pet FoodAnswers Pet Food Detailed Mighty Raw Pork Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 3 on the labelRoyal Canin Weight Care Loaf in Sauce Wet Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Weight Care Loaf in Sauce Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the label
Show 48 more
Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit Vegetable & Chicken Stew Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit Vegetable & Chicken Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Hearty Vegetable & Chicken Stew Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Hearty Vegetable & Chicken Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Adult Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Adult Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 2 on the labelInstinct Raw Signature Patties Real Rabbit Recipe Frozen Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Signature Patties Real Rabbit Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 2 on the labelInstinct Raw Signature Bites Real Rabbit Recipe Frozen Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Signature Bites Real Rabbit Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 2 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Adult Small & Mini Chicken & Barley Entrée Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Adult Small & Mini Chicken & Barley Entrée Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Puppy Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Puppy Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality Small & Mini Chicken & Vegetable Stew Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality Small & Mini Chicken & Vegetable Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Prescription Diet i/d Puppy Turkey Digestive Care Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Prescription Diet i/d Puppy Turkey Digestive Care Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken & Rice Stew Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken & Rice Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Adult Chicken & Barley Entrée Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Adult Chicken & Barley Entrée Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Adult Healthy Cuisine Roasted Chicken, Carrots & Spinach Stew Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Adult Healthy Cuisine Roasted Chicken, Carrots & Spinach Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelEukanuba Adult Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Dinner Wet Dog FoodEukanubaEukanuba Adult Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Dinner Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelEukanuba Puppy with Lamb & Rice Wet Dog FoodEukanubaEukanuba Puppy with Lamb & Rice Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Lamb Wet Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Lamb Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Pork Wet Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Pork Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelWholeHearted Freeze-Dried Immunity Support Dog Food TopperWholeHeartedWholeHearted Freeze-Dried Immunity Support Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 3 on the labelZignature Original Food Pork Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Food Pork Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHealth Extension food Grain Free Carolina Skillet Wet Dog FoodHealth ExtensionHealth Extension food Grain Free Carolina Skillet Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelRoyal Canin Size Health Nutrition Mature 8+ Loaf in Sauce Wet Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Size Health Nutrition Mature 8+ Loaf in Sauce Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelRoyal Canin Veterinary Canine Weight Control loaf in sauce Wet Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Veterinary Canine Weight Control loaf in sauce Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelRoyal Canin Canine Care Nutrition Mature Adult in Gel Wet Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Canine Care Nutrition Mature Adult in Gel Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelRoyal Canin Canine Care Nutrition Adult In Gel Wet Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Canine Care Nutrition Adult In Gel Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Puppy Small & Mini Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Puppy Small & Mini Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Rice Stew Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Rice Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Savory Stew with Beef and Vegetables Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Savory Stew with Beef and Vegetables Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Cuisine Chicken & Vegetables Stew Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Cuisine Chicken & Vegetables Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Digestion Small & Mini Chicken & Vegetables Entrée Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Digestion Small & Mini Chicken & Vegetables Entrée Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Adult Beef & Barley Entrée Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Adult Beef & Barley Entrée Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 3 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Marie’s Magical Dinner Dust What’s Shak’n Bac’n Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food TopperStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Marie’s Magical Dinner Dust What’s Shak’n Bac’n Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 3 on the labelAcana Singles Limited Ingredient Diet Pork & Squash Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Singles Limited Ingredient Diet Pork & Squash Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelHill’s Science Diet Adult Light Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Adult Light Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelSmallbatch Raw Pork Patties Frozen Dog FoodSmallbatchSmallbatch Raw Pork Patties Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 4 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Dave’s Stewlicious Chunky Cowboy Dinner with Beef and Pork for Dogs / Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Dave’s Stewlicious Chunky Cowboy Dinner with Beef and Pork for Dogs / Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelHill’s Hill’s Science Diet Adult Savory Stew with Beef & Vegetables Wet Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Hill’s Science Diet Adult Savory Stew with Beef & Vegetables Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Pork Stew Wet Dog FoodKohaKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Pork Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Rabbit Stew Wet Dog FoodKohaKoha Minimal Ingredient Stew Rabbit Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelWellness Core Weight Management Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Weight Management Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelFromm Gold Nutritionals Sensitive Skin and Stomach Complete Pâté Wet Dog FoodFrommFromm Gold Nutritionals Sensitive Skin and Stomach Complete Pâté Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelEukanuba Adult with Lamb & Rice Wet Dog FoodEukanubaEukanuba Adult with Lamb & Rice Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelPure Balance Pro+ Chicken Recipe for Healthy Weight Can Wet Dog FoodPure BalancePure Balance Pro+ Chicken Recipe for Healthy Weight Can Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelWellness Core Digestive Health Lamb Wet Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Digestive Health Lamb Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelWellness Core Digestive Health Beef Wet Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Digestive Health Beef Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelAuthority Healthy Weight Chicken Entree Adult Dog Wet Dog FoodAuthorityAuthority Healthy Weight Chicken Entree Adult Dog Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelFromm Classic Puppy Chicken & Salmon Pâté Wet Dog FoodFrommFromm Classic Puppy Chicken & Salmon Pâté Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelHealth Extension food Grain Free Mediterranean Wet Dog FoodHealth ExtensionHealth Extension food Grain Free Mediterranean Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the labelPedigree Choice Cuts IN Gravy Adult Pouches, Grilled Chicken & Filet Mignon Wet Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Choice Cuts IN Gravy Adult Pouches, Grilled Chicken & Filet Mignon Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 4 on the label

On labels as

Raw pork liver: what changes

One page covers every name. Here is what each label word adds, and whether it changes anything for your dog.

Raw pork liver

Matters for your dog A little

Raw Pork Liver

What it means AAFCO's feed terms, which most states adopt, list raw as a process term: food not heated while being prepared as food. FDA wrote in 2015 that it had not yet defined raw dog or cat foods. The word describes the liver going in; the finished food may still be cooked.

For your dog In kibble or canned food the liver is cooked during manufacture, so the word changes nothing for the dog. In food sold raw, it stays uncooked: CDC says raw animal protein can carry Salmonella and Listeria, and freezing or freeze-drying only reduce germs. Handle it like raw meat.7,11,13,14,15

  1. Strong
  2. Some
  3. Thin
  4. None

Sources

What we read

Checked October 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Safety evaluation of vitamin A in growing dogs British Journal of Nutrition, 2012 // Journal
  2. 2 Taste Preferences and their Relation to Obesity in Dogs and Cats The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 1981 // Journal
  3. 3 Microbiological Quality and Physicochemical Characteristics of Pork Livers Supplied by an Industrial Slaughterhouse Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2023 // Journal
  4. 4 In Search of Antioxidant Peptides from Porcine Liver Hydrolysates Using Analytical and Peptidomic Approach Antioxidants, 2022 // Journal
  5. 5 Strategies for Porcine Liver Valorization as a Source of Food Ingredients Current Food Science and Technology Reports, 2024 // Journal
  6. 6 Liver meal from warm-blooded animals Feedipedia (INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ, FAO), n.d. // Database
  7. 7 Tips for Safe Handling of Pet Food and Treats U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d. // Government
  8. 8 What's in the Ingredients List? AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  9. 9 肉類/＜畜肉類＞/ぶた/［副生物］/肝臓/生 - 01.一般成分表-無機質-ビタミン類 Japanese Standard Tables of Food Composition, 2023 // Government
  10. 10 Copper hepatopathy and dietary management Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, n.d. // University
  11. 11 Process For Preparing a Pet Food Composition Google Patents, 2019 // Industry
  12. 12 Complete and Balanced Pet Food U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d. // Government
  13. 13 CVM Issues Assignment to Collect Official Samples of Raw Foods for Dogs or Cats in Interstate Commerce in the United States and Analyze them for Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Non O157:H7 Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015 // Regulator
  14. 14 About Pet Food Safety Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. // Regulator
  15. 15 AAFCO Official Publication, Chapter 6: Official Feed Terms (2024 edition) Association of American Feed Control Officials, 2025 // Regulator
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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