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Is Lamb Dog Food Good for Dogs? Vet-Approved Canine Nutrition

Jessica Rossetti

By Jessica Rossetti

lamb dog food in a bowl

Vet approved

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Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Paola Cuevas

MVZ (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Lamb is commonly used as a protein source in dog food. But with so many options for protein in dog food, it can be hard to know which one is best. Is lamb dog food actually good for dogs? Lamb dog food can indeed be good for dogs, as long as it is well-formulated and high-quality.

In this article, we look at lamb as a dog food ingredient and find out why it is a great protein option for dogs. But remember to speak to your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet.

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Lamb Health Benefits

Lamb is high in protein and amino acids, both things that your dog needs in their diet. Protein helps build and heal muscles and body tissues to keep the body working properly. Lamb contains glucosamine and chondroitin to keep your dog’s joints healthy. It’s a good source of energy from dietary fats. Since lamb is a red meat, it provides your dog with vitamins and minerals.

lamb meat
Image Credit: APICE CREATIVE, Shutterstock

What About Lamb Meal?

You may see “lamb meal” listed as an ingredient in your dog’s food. Both lamb and lamb meal refers to real lamb meat, but the difference is in the way that the two are processed.

Lamb is meat from a sheep. Lamb meal is processed lamb that was condensed and repackaged at a facility. During this process, most of the water is removed. Lamb meal, therefore, provides a higher protein content per gram of product weight. It’s concentrated, so more meat can be packed into the kibble instead of water.

Both lamb and lamb meal are great protein sources.

Is Lamb Hypoallergenic?

Some dog owners may have switched their dogs to lamb-based dog food because their dog was allergic to their previous food. When dogs are allergic to their food, most of the time, they are allergic to the protein source in it. One way to stop allergic reactions is to introduce a new protein that your dog has never had before. For example, if your dog is allergic to poultry, you might switch to salmon.

Lamb was once the top option for this because it was a fairly new ingredient, and many dogs hadn’t had it before. Now, lamb is a common ingredient, and novel proteins are things like bison, venison, and kangaroo.

While lamb isn’t necessarily hypoallergenic because some dogs can still be allergic to it, it can still be a great option for dogs with food allergies if they are not sensitized to this protein.

Dog beagle eating canned food from bowl
Image Credit: Przemek Iciak. Shutterstock

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Conclusion

Lamb is high in protein and works well as a new protein for dogs with allergies that need a protein that they’ve never had before. Lamb meal is a heat-processed, dehydrated, and highly concentrated,  form of lamb that can provide even more protein per gram of weight. Both are great options for dogs with allergies to poultry, beef, or pork;  and can serve as a healthy food ingredient.

If you are looking for a new dog food for a dog suffering from food allergies to other more common protein sources, lamb is a great option to consider. But be sure to check with your vet to make sure the lamb is right for your dog before making any changes.


Featured Image Credit: Louella938, Shutterstock

Jessica Rossetti

Authored by

A lifelong resident of Chicago, Jessica has shared her home with furry, feathered, and scaly pets for over 30 years. Her passion for animals began at a young age and led to her eventually owning and operating a pet care company. She is now a full-time writer and spends her days writing about all types of animals. Jessica and her husband Dominic enjoy city life and have turned their backyard into an oasis for the neighborh...Read more

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