The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Nickie on August 20, 2012, 02:04:53 pm

Title: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: Nickie on August 20, 2012, 02:04:53 pm: Hi all,

We have just had 3 hoggets slaughtered & there is a small amount of blotching on one of the livers (Fluke damage I believe).

We treated the rest of the flock 2 weeks ago, but didn't do these as we knew they were being slaughtered.

For obvious reasons I don't fancy eating this liver but the question is, is it safe to feed to the dogs? They are fed on a raw meat & bone diet, liver being an important part of this diet, but I don't want to give it too them if it will risk giving them fluke. Equally, I like to make use of as much of my animals as I can so don't want to throw it away if I don't need to.

Would freezing it help?
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: SteveHants on August 20, 2012, 02:29:37 pm: If it poses a health risk, the abbotoir will condemn it, so you should be fine.
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: Dans on August 20, 2012, 10:46:24 pm: Can't get liver fluke from eating livers.

You can only catch it from eating the cysts which will be on vegetation in the paddocks. Not a vet though so don't know what else it could be, if it's bacterial or viral then that may be an issue, but fluke wouldn't be.

Dans
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: Moleskins on August 20, 2012, 11:29:40 pm: Dunno what the cost of liver is at the butchers but I'd ditch it and buy some fresh. Also if I wouldn't eat it I wouldn't give it to my dog.
Don't jump straight on my case though I couldn't eat liver or any offle if you paid me. Where's that throwing up emoticon when you need it?
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: SteveHants on August 20, 2012, 11:42:30 pm: Aye, but if it came back from the slaughterhouse ok its fit for human consumption.

I like liver. Specially with onions.
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: Fleecewife on August 20, 2012, 11:51:06 pm: Quote from: moleskins on August 20, 2012, 11:29:40 pm
Dunno what the cost of liver is at the butchers but I'd ditch it and buy some fresh. Also if I wouldn't eat it I wouldn't give it to my dog.
Don't jump straight on my case though I couldn't eat liver or any offle if you paid me. Where's that throwing up emoticon when you need it?

(http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-sick-smileys-1050.gif) (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/skype-emoticons.html)
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: jaykay on August 20, 2012, 11:59:20 pm: :D
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: Rosemary on August 21, 2012, 11:17:42 am: Quote from: Fleecewife on August 20, 2012, 11:51:06 pm
(http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-sick-smileys-1050.gif) (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/skype-emoticons.html)

That's gross ;D

I love liver (and kidney) but no-one else here does :(
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: sabrina on August 21, 2012, 11:59:37 am: How do you go about getting the liver back, we have had hearts and kidneys. No one has said it was condemned.
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: woollyval on August 21, 2012, 12:48:18 pm: Some abattoirs don't give the liver back.....I think they assume folks don't like it and it gets snaffled by the employees! This happened to some people I sold meat lambs to....they got an apology from the abattoir! If its condemned they usually say so!
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: Bramblecot on August 21, 2012, 10:17:10 pm: (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-sick-smileys-1050.gif) (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/skype-emoticons.html)

I love it :roflanim: :roflanim: - but I can't stand offal :P . Our abattoir sends back nearly everything but we have to sort it out for different buyers as several only want joints.
One time we had some liver retained due to tapeworm - which I didn't understand as the sheep, dogs and cats are all wormed ??? (dog is host ?)
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: doganjo on August 21, 2012, 10:38:08 pm: I agree with Holey Moley :-J Cheap enough at supermarkets - don't chance it if you DO get it back. Although it's more than likely if you do get it back it'll be safe enough. They're pretty careful with offal these days.
Title: Re: Liver Fluke - Safe for Dogs?
Post by: SteveHants on August 22, 2012, 01:20:02 am: I don't get why it would be chancing it. If they send it back, it is fit for human consumption, let alone dogs.