Can Dogs Eat Chicken Feet? [Are They Safe?]
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make your dog more appealing, then dehydrating chicken feet might be the answer. It will give them an interesting texture that is different from any other food they have ever had.
Chicken feet for dogs are becoming increasingly popular as people are looking for natural, healthy treats for dogs. But can dogs eat chicken feet? What are the benefits of giving your dog chicken feet? Are they really safe? We’ll explore all of these topics in this article.
Many pet stores sell raw or dehydrated dog treats, including chicken feet. Before giving your dog to munch on, you should be aware of some things.
We’ll go through all the pros and cons associated with chicken feet, as well as answer some common questions about their use as a dog food or dog treat.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Feet?
Yes, dogs can eat chicken feet. Ideally, the chicken feet will be dehydrated or processed. Raw chicken feet are appropriate for some dogs. Cooked chicken feet are never appropriate and can cause harm.
From joint benefits to healthy teeth and gums, there are a bunch of ways that including chicken feet in a dog diet can be beneficial. Appropriately prepared – this is a popular and safe commercially available (or DIY) dog treat.
While not suitable for puppies or dogs with chicken-related skin allergies – most dogs will do very well with this snack.
Why Chicken Feet Are Good for Your Dog
1. Chicken feet are rich in glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Glucosamine helps support joints while chondroitin supports cartilage.
2. Chicken feet also contain vitamins B6 and E, minerals including calcium, iron, zinc, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium, and amino acids such as lysine, arginine, proline, glycine, cysteine, methionine, threonine, valine, tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine, phenylalanine, and leucine.
3. Chicken feet are high in protein, low in fat, and free of cholesterol.
4. Chicken feet are easy to digest and do not require cooking (though dehydrated chicken feet are often ideal)
5. You can freeze chicken feet and use them later in your dog’s meals.
How To Dehydrate Chicken Feet For Dogs
Dehydraing raw meat for dogs is fast and requires essentially no ingredients. Raw chicken feet dehydrate slowly. You can use a food dehydrator (ideal) or even an oven (less efficient). If you preserve the chicken feet in this way, the bone is not dangerous for dogs (like smoking).
Are Chicken Bones Bad for Dogs?
Dogs shouldn’t eat chicken bones that have been boiled, baked, or fried, as this could cause them harm. Bones that have been cooked may become brittle and break into sharp fragments when bitten by a dog. These sharp fragments can lodge in the dog’s throat causing choking.
Dogs love chicken feet. They’re soft and chewy. They smell great (for a dog). They last a while. All ticks in favor of your dog LOVING a dehydrated chicken bone treat.
Chicken feet are edible, including the nails. You should trim sharp bits away first though if you’re worried about hurting your dog when they swallow.
Chicken feet are great for dogs because they help strengthen bones and joints. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are made from chicken feet.
Chicken Feet Are Good for Dog’s Dental Health
Dogs’ breath can be bad, and brushing your dog’s teeth is something you should do.
Brushing your dog’s teeth, however, is a difficult task that most of us skip. Some dogs may not tolerate brushing their teeth.
Dogs need to chew to help them maintain healthy teeth and gums (to avoid periodontal disease). Chew toys are great for dogs because they’re easy to use and won’t get swallowed by the dog.
Chicken feet are also great for dogs, but they do require more chewing than other types of chews. This can be a great thing!
Chicken feet are more than just nutritious and beneficial for dogs. Eating them helps clean out your dog’s teeth and removes tartar buildup . You can also use them to make treats for your dog.
How Do I Find Chicken Feet?
You can get chicken feet from a butcher shop, or special pet stores. You can also buy them raw in bulk in many Asian markets.
You can make your own chicken feet by dehydrating them according to recipes online. (Chicken feet are even delicious for humans if cooked properly!)
Chicken feet are used as an ingredient in many dishes. Dehydrated chicken feet for dogs will last longer than puffed chicken feet.
Frozen chicken feet are safe. You can freeze them without any problems. Dehydrating them is cheaper than freezing them.
A lot of people think that dogs should eat chicken feet because they’re cheap. But there’s more to it than that. Dogs love chicken feet! They taste great, and they’re low in fat and cholesterol with abundant protein.
One downside of chicken feet is the smell. Don’t forget about the smell. You might not appreciate the stinky odor when your dog eats raw chicken feet, but it won’t bother your pup too much. Luckily dehydrated chicken feet are a healthy snack that smells MUCH LESS than the other types available.
Other Natural Sources of Glucosamine For Dogs
Chicken feet are probably amongst the best natural sources of glucosamine. Other natural sources of Glucosamine include beef trachea, pig ears, duck feet, and the necks of duck, turkey, and lamb.
Pet owners often look into natural treats that are high in glucosamine in order to aid skin health and keep a shiny coat. Honestly, the average dog diet should be abundant in glucosamine, and supplementation is rarely recommended by Vets. Sure the extra collagen in chicken feet (or chicken necks) is nice, but not really necessary for most dogs.
Glucosamine is a natural substance found in cartilage. It helps repair damaged joints. It may help prevent arthritis.
How Many Chicken Feet to Feed Dogs?
Dogs should eat less than 2-3 dehydrated or uncooked chicken feet per day. Be careful not to overfeed them.
Chicken feet are a low-fat snack option, as they don’t contain much actual meat. This means that don’t contain particularly high amounts of calories so they’re ideal for snacking.
They won’t fatten up your dog either. Remember that no more than around 10% of a dog’s daily calorie intake should be snacks.
Can I Feed My Dog Cooked Chicken Feet?
Dogs shouldn’t eat cooked bones because they’re too brittle and hard. Bones can splinter when they get crushed by teeth. Dogs swallow bones and can get stuck inside their throat or stomach.
It is better to dehydrate the chicken feet, or if you are comfortable with your dog eating raw chicken – freeze them. Then just allow them to defrost overnight (in the fridge) and then give them to your dog.
Chicken Feet for Dogs Takeaways
The excellent health benefits of chicken feet for dogs are mostly from the high collagen content. The average dog diet does NOT need this extra supplement, but chicken feet ARE a popular and good treat anyway.
- Canned chicken is perhaps safer but less healthy
- Chicken poop is bad for dogs
- Chicken can be safely cooked for dogs
- Chicken nuggets are also NOT a good snack for dogs
