Chicken feet are a tasty, nutritious snack for puppies as young as four months old. Some veterinarians recommend waiting until they are closer to seven months old, or when they have their adult teeth. Offer raw, dehydrated, or air-puffed chicken feet as a daily treat to supplement your puppy’s healthy diet.
The benefits of chicken feet include clean teeth and healthy joints, and they may even prevent arthritis and other ailments. While chicken feet may not be the most appetizing tidbit, rest assured that your puppy will eat them up.
Puppies can eat chicken feet as soon as they have their adult teeth. Never feed chicken feet baked, boiled, or fried. Cooking causes the bones to harden and splinter which can cause injury to dogs’ mouths and stomachs. Chicken feet contain glucosamine and chondroitin that promotes joint health.
Consisting of cartilage, tendons, small bones, and skin, chicken feet are easily digestible, delicious, and nutritious goodies for your puppy. The nails can be removed but it is usually not necessary. Opt for raw, air-puffed, or dehydrated chicken feet as these are more easily chewed and safer than cooked.
A Guide to Chicken Feet for Puppies
Welcoming a new puppy to the family can naturally lead to questions about feeding. You may wonder if puppies and young dogs can eat chicken feet and the answer is yes! Of course, there are a few things to consider.
✔️ Puppies should be at least four months old and have their adult teeth to safely eat chicken feet. They should be fed sparingly, only one or two per day as a treat. Chicken feet should not be given to obese dogs or dogs struggling with a weight problem.
✔️ Never cook the chicken feet as this causes the tiny bones to become very hard and likely to shatter or splinter in the digestive tract.
✔️ Offer raw, clean chicken feet that have been rinsed thoroughly. Look for feet that do not have calluses on them because this indicates that the chicken spent a lot of time standing in their waste. The nails can be left on or cut off, depending on the owners’ preference.
Chicken feet are a great source of protein and nutrients that can prevent joint pain, arthritis, and even hip dysplasia. They naturally contain glucosamine and chondroitin which are necessary for joint health. Chicken feet will keep your puppy’s teeth clean and strong, although they may give them temporary bad breath.
Raw or Cooked?
Chicken feet are available in several different forms including raw, dehydrated, and air-puffed. The tiny bones are easily digested in any of these three forms.
Please note that all three forms are uncooked. You should never feed boiled, baked, or fried chicken bones in any form to your pup. The bones become as hard as glass when exposed to high heat, and just like glass, they can shatter and splinter in the digestive tract or pose a choking hazard.
Chicken feet are completely and easily digested, including the nails. These can be easily removed with kitchen scissors or garden clippers if you prefer, or if you are worried they may be difficult to chew.
Benefits of Chicken Feet for Puppies
The two greatest things about feeding chicken feet to your puppies and dogs are that they support joint and dental health. The nutrients contained in chicken feet, glucosamine, and chondroitin can prevent joint problems, but also relieve pain and improve stiffness to already sore, arthritic joints. Dental benefits include keeping plaque and tartar at bay and cleaning puppy teeth naturally.
Consider that fully twenty percent of the dogs in the United States suffer from arthritis and especially osteoarthritis, which causes the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the bones in the knees and hips.
Arthritis can also lead to degeneration of the tendons and ligaments found in the joints, resulting in stiffness and pain. The good news is that the nutrients found in chicken feet can reverse the effects of joint ailments, improve agility and relieve stiffness. If you notice your dog limping or hesitating to jump up or down, these could be signs of arthritis.
Veterinarians agree that prevention is much better than management when it comes to your pets. While this can be accomplished by supplements, if you’ve ever tried to give a dog a pill, you’ll agree that a tasty snack would be the preferred method of administering these necessary nutrients.
Chicken feet also contain lots of protein and calcium for growing puppies. With an average cost of just $2.00 per pound, chicken feet are much less expensive and safer than dietary supplements that may contain chemicals.
Dental hygiene is just as important for the family pet as it is for their human counterparts. Some owners prefer to brush their puppy’s teeth, but it isn’t something that dogs enjoy. A tasty treat would be a much more welcome way to keep teeth clean and breath fresh.
Where to Buy Chicken Feet for Dogs
Chicken feet are available at grocery stores, butcher shops, and Oriental Food Markets, as well as online. The average price is $2.00 per pound making chicken feet an inexpensive treat that provides many health benefits. I found them at my local discount department store advertised as “Chicken Paws”! Whatever you call them, they are a great bargain and your puppy will love them.
Chicken feet are available raw, dehydrated, and air-puffed. They can be frozen and will keep up to six months in any of these forms.
Raw is probably the most preferred. They can be frozen just as you would freeze a chicken for the family. You may choose to offer chicken feet in their frozen state so your eager pup will chew instead of just gobbling down the treats.
Dehydrated chicken feet have all the moisture removed, while most of the nutrients and vitamins remain. Chicken feet that are dehydrated tend to look a little scrawny and less like their fresh or air-puffed counterparts. The air-puff process involves drying by blowing air on the chicken foot. The results are more appetizing than dehydrated, with slightly more vitamins and nutrients.
How Many Chicken Feet Should I Feed My Puppy?
Wonderful health benefits aside, you shouldn’t feed your puppy more than three chicken feet per day. It is advised to offer one or two as a special treat. They are non-greasy and can be fed indoors or outside, as you like.
Since chicken feet are a good source of protein and high in fat, they can provide plenty of energy for your growing puppy. They are a comparatively low-calorie snack option.
The exception is if your dog is seriously overweight or struggling with obesity and you would naturally be limiting snacks and treats. Another is allergies. If your dog is allergic to chicken, they will be allergic to chicken feet as well. In the event your dog suffers from pancreatitis, chicken feet should be avoided due to the fat content.
Consisting of mostly cartilage, skin, tendons, and tiny bones, chicken feet are fully digestible. When dried or dehydrated, the bones crumble easily and agree with almost every pup.
Can Feeding Chicken Feet Prevent Osteoarthritis in My Dog?
One of the best things about chicken feet for puppies and dogs is that they can prevent serious afflictions such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and even combat hip dysplasia. However, even if your pet is already dealing with any of these, chicken feet can help relieve pain and stiffness and reverse the effects of joint ailments.
No matter what age your dog is, or what stage of life, chicken feet can help provide good nutrition and all the benefits of naturally occurring glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as vitamins and calcium.
Studies have shown that more than half of the dogs in the United States are overweight. That is a shocking statistic and very worrisome for pet owners. Obesity is just as dangerous for our furry friends as it is for their humans. Being overweight is hard on the heart, the legs and back, and joints.
The best way to combat obesity is with daily exercise and nutritional supplements. Walking is a great exercise for both puppy and owner. Older dogs may prefer low-impact activities like swimming or a nice, slow walk. Younger dogs will love a rousing game of fetch or a romp in the dog park.
People can Eat Chicken Feet, Too!
We know they are terrific for your dog, but many countries consider chicken feet a delicacy. China is easily the largest consumer of chicken feet in the world. Containing collagen, the most abundant protein in our bodies, they are prized for the promise of younger-looking skin as well as many other health benefits. Served cold with a beer, deep-fried, or made into soup, the Chinese love chicken feet. They are also hugely popular in Vietnam, Korea, the Philippines and Mexico, Peru, Jamaica, and South America.
