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Ingredient file // Animal protein

Lamb Spleen

A useful organ meat with unusually high iron

Lamb spleen is an organ separated when lambs are processed for meat. It adds animal protein and iron to dog food. Its place on the ingredient list does not reveal how much spleen the recipe contains or prove a health benefit.

What it is
The spleen from a lamb, listed separately from lamb muscle meat and other organs.
Made from
Lamb spleens
Main job
Animal protein and iron
Typical amount
Not published
Watch for
Raw food bacteria and lamb allergy
Not the same as
Lamb liver

Straight answer

Is Lamb Spleen safe for dogs?

Read the whole recipe around the spleen

Lamb spleen supplies protein and iron, but its label position cannot tell you the amount. Look at the main protein sources and the food's nutritional adequacy statement. Handle raw products carefully. If your dog has a diagnosed lamb allergy, choose another protein source.

Why it is in the food
Animal protein and iron

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 291 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

<1%

11 of the 3,205 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 3 brands. 5 frozen dog food, 4 dry dog food, 2 dog food topper.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 7. In the top five of 5 foods, so it is usually a supporting 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 $7.14
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 6 priced foods, 120% above the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

64%

of the foods that list it are from Stella & Chewy's. 3 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

During lamb processing for meat, the spleen is removed with the other organs. Retail meat cuts are the main product; the separate organ becomes a secondary stream that pet food makers can use.4,5

  1. 01 // Source Lamb carcass The spleen is an internal organ from a lamb processed for meat.
  2. 02 // Process Organ separated Processors remove the spleen and keep it distinct from muscle meat and other organs.
  3. 03 // Output Lamb spleen The separated organ enters pet food manufacturing under its own ingredient name, rather than as lamb meal.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

1917

mg/kg iron

Iron calculated from USDA's raw spleen figures after removing water. The amount reaching a dog depends on the recipe's spleen content.

Crude protein 78.7%3
Iron 1,917 mg/kg3
Crude fat 14.2%3
Phosphorus 12.8 g/kg3
Zinc 130 mg/kg3
Ash 5.9%3

These are conversions from USDA averages for raw spleen, not published ranges for pet food ingredients. Suppliers and processing methods can differ, and the figures do not describe the finished recipe.3

Why it is in the bag

What the manufacturer gets

  1. 01

    Adds protein and iron

    Spleen contributes animal protein and iron. Its contribution to the finished food depends on the amount added, which the ingredient list does not disclose.3,5

  2. 02

    Changes meat flavor

    An industry supplier says it tests pet preferences for organs, including spleen. It publishes no spleen-only dog result, so a flavor advantage remains unmeasured.9

  3. 03

    Uses a slaughter byproduct

    The meat industry separates organs while making retail cuts, creating another stream for pet food. The available sources give no reliable price comparison with lamb muscle meat.4

How much No typical or tested lamb-spleen percentage was found; ingredient order gives relative weight, while the label leaves each amount undisclosed.5

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

    Lamb spleen supplies animal protein and iron

    Evidence

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

    USDA reports 17.20 g protein and 41.89 mg iron per 100 g raw lamb spleen. Those measured nutrients support the claim, but the label does not show how much either nutrient contributes to the finished food.3,5

  2. Brands say

    Lamb spleen makes food irresistible to dogs

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

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

    A supplier says it tests organ preferences but publishes no spleen-only dog result. A two-bowl offal study tested cats and favored liver. Neither shows how dogs respond to lamb spleen in a recipe.8,9

  3. Brands say

    Eating spleen prevents anemia in dogs

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

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

    An older dog study fed raw beef spleen after spleen removal and found no clear effect in preventing the resulting anemia. It did not test lamb spleen in ordinary dog food or show a preventive benefit.1

  4. Critics say

    Spleen is a low-grade filler

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

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

    USDA measures 17.20 g protein and 41.89 mg iron per 100 g raw lamb spleen. It supplies nutrients. The label's real limitation is that it gives no amount or measure of spleen's contribution to the food.3,5

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    It is an animal organ with measured protein and iron. Its position on the list tells you its weight relative to neighboring ingredients, but not how much protein or iron it contributes.3,5

  2. Q02

    Is spleen the same as liver?

    No

    Spleen and liver are different organs with different jobs: the spleen filters blood, the liver processes and stores nutrients. A bag naming lamb spleen tells you spleen is present, not whether liver is too.

  3. Q03

    Will it suit a lamb-allergic dog?

    No

    Lamb spleen is still lamb tissue. A review found lamb reactions in 14 of 297 dogs with reported food reactions. A dog with a diagnosed lamb allergy should avoid it.2

  4. Q04

    Can spleen alone replace dinner?

    No

    Spleen alone is not a balanced diet. If a product is meant to be your dog's main food, check its nutritional adequacy statement. FDA says treats and supplements are usually not intended as sole diets.7

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Stella & Chewy's 7 / 85
  2. Instinct 3 / 98
  3. ZIWI 1 / 11

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

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Lamb 100%
  2. Lamb Liver 91%
  3. Lamb Heart 55%
  4. Lamb Kidney 55%
  5. Lamb Bone 45%
  6. Flaxseed 45%
  7. Pumpkin Seeds 36%
  8. Lamb Meal 36%
  9. Mixed Tocopherols 36%
  10. Apples 27%
  11. Carrots 27%
  12. Peas 27%

On the shelf

Foods that list Lamb Spleen

11 foods in our catalog list it, highest on the label first.

Stella & Chewy’s Dandy Lamb Frozen Raw Dinner Patties Frozen Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Dandy Lamb Frozen Raw Dinner Patties Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 2 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Dandy Lamb Frozen Raw Dinner Morsels Frozen Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Dandy Lamb Frozen Raw Dinner Morsels Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 2 on the labelInstinct Raw Longevity Patties Grass-Fed Lamb Recipe Frozen Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Longevity Patties Grass-Fed Lamb Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 3 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Mixers Grass-Fed Lamb Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food TopperInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Mixers Grass-Fed Lamb Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 4 on the labelZIWI Steam & Dried Lamb with Green Vegetables Recipe Dog Food TopperZIWIZIWI Steam & Dried Lamb with Green Vegetables Recipe Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 8 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Limited Ingredient Grass-Fed Lamb Raw Coated Kibble Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Limited Ingredient Grass-Fed Lamb Raw Coated Kibble Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Lamb Recipe with Pumpkin & Quinoa Raw Coated Kibble Wholesome Grains Dry Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Lamb Recipe with Pumpkin & Quinoa Raw Coated Kibble Wholesome Grains Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Free Range Raw Blend Kibble Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Free Range Raw Blend Kibble Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the label
Show 3 more
Instinct Raw Signature Patties Real Lamb Recipe Frozen Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Signature Patties Real Lamb Recipe Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 5 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Venison Blend Frozen Raw Dinner Patties Frozen Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Venison Blend Frozen Raw Dinner Patties Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 7 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Grass-Fed Lamb Raw Coated Kibble Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Grass-Fed Lamb Raw Coated Kibble Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the label

Sources

What we read

Checked October 1, 2026.

  1. 1 The relation of the spleen to blood destruction and regeneration and to hemolytic jaundice: X. Concerning the supposed regulatory influence of the spleen in the formation and destruction of erythrocytes Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1914 // Journal
  2. 2 Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats BMC Veterinary Research, 2016 // Journal
  3. 3 USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28: Lamb, Veal, and Game Products USDA Agricultural Research Service, 2015 // Government
  4. 4 Byproducts AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  5. 5 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  6. 6 Tips for Safe Handling of Pet Food and Treats U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d. // Government
  7. 7 “Complete and Balanced” Pet Food U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d. // Government
  8. 8 Investigation into the palatability of lamb, beef and chicken offal used in the production of pet food : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Food Technology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand Massey University, 2019 // University
  9. 9 Whole Animal Nutrition Simmons Pet Food, 2021 // Industry
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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