Green Beef Tripe is one of the unsung heroes of the dog food realm.
Ugly, smelly and sporting a high gross-out factor, this wonderful food source is passed by without a second thought.
Most people are familiar enough to know that it's stomach tissue, and I bet lots have also snuck a peek at the cleaned tripe found in some butcher counters. Let's demystify tripe and what makes it "green".
The honeycomb tripe you can find at the grocery store has been steamed, cleaned and deoderized before it lands on the butcher counter, so all of the good stuff is gone. It's also not very digestible for your pooch. You don't want to feed this to your dog.
Green tripe is the stomach lining of the cow's "fourth" stomach, or abomassum, where the actual digestion of the grasses and grains the cow has ingested takes place. It's called "green" because it's the raw stomach tissue that still contains the undigested and semi-digested grasses and grains on which the animal had been feasting. These "remnants" of partially digested plant matter plus the naturally occurring gastric juices of the cow contain enzymes, beneficial bacteria and other nutrients that provide enormous benefit to your dog. Plus the earthy smell drives dogs wild with delight!
What are some of the benefits of green tripe? Let's start with the fact that in general dogs and puppies will experience general improvements in physical and mental (temperament) health. Puppies tend to thrive while dining on green tripe, and senior dog citizens tend to experience an increase in activity and vitality in addition to an improvement in digestive issues, if they exist. Dogs with "attitude" tend to calm down, and even dogs with chronic illnesses or conditions tend to improve.
Is green tripe the magic cure all? Of course not. But you can't beat nature when it comes to
designing food. Tripe is rich in essential fatty acids, is a great source of protein and contains enzymes that help with doggy digestion. But that makes sense, doesn't it? After all, green tripe contains all of the digestive juices of the animal from which it comes.
Green Tripe is excellent as the sole diet or as an accompaniment to dry kibble with a great taste dogs love! As with any dog food, the amount that you feed your dog will depend on size and activity level.
