Chicken feet have been getting lots of attention in the dog nutrition world for good reason.
Thinking about giving chicken feet and wondering if they would be a healthful treat for your dog? As dog parents, we're all constantly trying to make the best decisions for our dogs, especially when it comes to their health.
And of course, treats aren't simply treats. The right treats play a central role in supporting your dog's physical and mental health. They're super important contributors to your dog's well-being. Just ask your dog... or any canine nutritionist or behaviorist.
Benefits of chicken feet for dogs
Chicken feet may seem unusual as a new treat to add to your dog's diet, but they bring several nutritional benefits that might surprise you. Our all-natural, dehydrated chicken feet chews are a great source of key nutrients and health benefits.
With slow-dried chicken feet, you also give your dog a chance to satisfy the need to chew that all dogs share. Chewing is a hardwired self-soother for dogs, releasing "feel-good" hormones in your dog's brain, stimulating your dog mentally and reducing stress.
Let's jump into the details of what you need to know about chicken feet and why they could be a healthful and happy choice for your dog.
5 things to know about giving chicken feet to your dog
No matter whether your dog is a puppy, a senior dog, or any age in between, here's why and how chicken feet are more than just a single ingredient treat your dog will be crazy about...
1) Joint health: chicken feet are a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are essential for joint health, particularly for aging and senior dogs or breeds of dogs prone to joint issues. That's why canine joint supplements include them in their formulations.
As dogs age, their joints tend to become stiff and less flexible. This can lead to various conditions such as arthritis or hip dysplasia. Consuming chicken feet regularly can help alleviate these symptoms with their naturally joint-supporting compounds and keep your dog's joints healthy.
The glucosamine and chondroitin in chicken feet act as building blocks for cartilage, which cushions the bones in the joints, maintaining joint health. This helps reduce inflammation and pain in the joints, making it easier for your dog to stay flexible and mobile at every age. The tiny bones in chicken feet are packed with collagen, calcium, and cartilage, all promoting healthy bones and joints.
Chicken feet are naturally rich in all these compounds, delivering important joint health benefits to your dog's diet to help prevent arthritis, maintain mobility, and support lifelong healthy joints.
2) Healthy skin and coat: chicken feet are rich in collagen.
Collagen, a vital protein in chicken feet, promotes skin elasticity and a shiny coat. For dogs dealing with dry, flaky skin or fur that lacks luster, incorporating collagen-rich treats like chicken feet in your dog's diet can make a visible difference and maintain skin and coat health.
Additionally, collagen also helps with joint health by providing cushioning and lubrication to the joints, making it a beneficial nutrient for both skin and joint health.
3) Dental health: chewing chicken feet helps reduce plaque.
Chicken feet aren't only a nutritious snack. Chewing on chicken feet acts like a natural toothbrush for your dog's teeth, reducing plaque buildup and promoting healthier gums. The texture encourages gnawing, which helps clean dogs' teeth and prevents dental diseases. Chewing on chicken feet can also help remove food particles stuck in between teeth, preventing bad breath and decay.
In addition to promoting dental health, chewing on chicken feet can also strengthen your dog's jaw muscles. As dogs chew, the bones and cartilage provide resistance, which helps increase their jaw strength. This is especially beneficial for small breeds or older dogs who may struggle with weaker jaw muscles.
4) Freedom from chemicals and toxins: chicken feet are 100% natural, single-ingredient treat.
A big part of what makes chicken feet good for dogs is that unlike overprocessed dog treats and chews, chicken feet are free from chemicals, preservatives, artificial ingredients, and other toxins. They also have no grain, no anything but 100% chicken. They're biologically appropriate for dogs, making them highly digestible.
Chicken feet are a good alternative for dogs with food sensitivities to chemical-laden or grain-based treats and chews. (They're a great alternative to bleached rawhide chews that can be dangerous on multiple levels for dogs.)
5) Mental stimulation and stress reduction: chewing chicken feet releases your dog's "feel good hormones."
Dogs instinctively love to chew. The act of chewing is a natural self-soother for dogs, a soul-satisfying, built-in instinct. Chewing releases endorphins and other feel-good hormones that both calm and stimulate your dog's brain, providing mental exercise and relaxation. This is especially helpful for dogs who may experience anxiety or stress.
How to treat your dog to chicken feet
If you haven't given your dog chicken feet before, a few tips help make choosing and serving them the healthiest, safest experience:
Not all chicken feet are the same.
When treating your dog with chicken feet, you'll want to be sure they're 100% chicken feet with no additives of any kind. Dehydrated chicken feet retain the nutrition while giving your pup a crunchy, chewy texture. Our all-natural chicken feet are dehydrated through a slow-drying process that maximizes the nutrients.
(Note on other options: Concerns for controlling potential bacteria in handling raw meat and feeding raw chicken feet make most dog parents look for other choices. Cooked chicken feet are not a safe way to go since cooked chicken bones can splinter. Some chicken feet are dehydrated to become puffed chicken feet, a way to make chicken feet safe but with a different "puffy" texture.)
How many chicken feet should you give your dog?
That depends on your dog's size and nutritional needs. As a general rule, one chicken foot per day is a good starting point for small to medium-sized dogs, while larger pups can have up to two chicken feet per day. Always supervise your dog chewing anything -- especially the first time.
Chicken feet are no exception. As with any chew of any kind, you'll want to have eyes on your dog during any chewing session.
If your dog has food sensitivities to chicken...
For dogs who show a sensitivity to fresh chicken or cooked chicken, there are other treats and chews that offer similar, excellent health benefits to chicken feet:
- All-natural Bully Sticks - high-protein, 100% beef, long-lasting chews.
- All-natural Beef Gullet Stick - another high-protein, 100% beef option to satisfy your pup's hard-wired chewing instinct.
- All-natural Yak Chews - made from high-protein yak/cow milk and a small bit of lime and salt to harden it into a long-lasting chew, often over multiple chew sessions.
For most dogs, mixing in a variety of different, healthful chewing options is a good way to go. Chicken feet, packed with so many health benefits for your dog, from improved joint health to enhanced dental hygiene to overall physical and mental well-being, are a great addition to your pup's chew treat repertoire.
Enjoy watching your dog enjoying chicken feet!
Seeing your dog joyously chewing away is even more heart-bursting knowing you're giving your pup healthier bones and teeth, solid nutrition, and natural stress relief with every chew session.
That's why we're constantly working to bring you chewing options like our chicken feet to make it easier for you to keep your pup happy and well every day at any age. And to make it all safer, healthier, and more joyful for your pup and you.
We're committed to creating high-quality products that are safe, healthful, and practical for everything you need for your dog, whether that's nutritious chews your dog loves or durable, comfortable equipment for your favorite times together.
