Tripe

Tripe is made from the stomachs of grazing animals — sheep, goats and cows. Grazing animals are known as ruminants, and their stomachs have four chambers in which grasses are broken down into amino acids, gastric juices and digestive enzymes.

White tripe is sometimes called supermarket tripe. It's intended for human consumption, so it's bleached and boiled before sale, which is why it's widely considered to be of little nutritional value to animals.

Green tripe hasn't been treated that way. It's full of the nutrients, good bacteria and enzymes that make it such a good source of essential vitamins and minerals for dogs.

Two things surprise people. Green tripe isn't actually green — it's brown. The name refers to it being untreated rather than lightly rinsed. And the smell is genuinely potent. Your dog will love it. You may want to feed it outside.

High in protein. Tripe supports muscle building and tissue repair, which makes it useful for younger dogs that need protein to grow and older dogs whose muscles and immune systems may be weaker. The protein differs from that in muscle meat, supplying amino acids like leucine and proline that aren't as readily available elsewhere — both of which help recovery from injury.

High in probiotics. Raw green tripe is very high in lactobacillus acidophilus, which helps combat harmful bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella. It's close to a natural probiotic.

Rich in vitamins and minerals. Because it's the stomach lining, tripe contains the partially digested greens the animal grazed on — so your dog gets the benefit of nutrients from grass that would otherwise be inaccessible to a carnivore.

Calcium and phosphorus. Both are present in good quantities, which makes tripe particularly useful for dogs that can't tolerate bone.

Easy to digest. Tripe sits towards the acidic end of the pH scale, which makes it a good choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It's also low in fat and contains omega-3 and omega-6, which support the nervous system and joint mobility.

It depends on your dog's age, metabolism and activity level, but a reasonable starting point is around 2–3% of their ideal body weight.

Any food in excess causes problems, and tripe is no exception — too much will lead to weight gain even though it's nutritious weight.

Feeding tripe alone is fine as a temporary measure for a day or two, but no longer. If you do, the following few days' meals should be weighted towards bone and organ to make up for what was missed.