Are Chicken Feet Good for Dogs? Can Dogs Eat Chicken Feet? (5 Interesting Facts)

Chicken feet don’t have much aesthetic appeal. Yet there are many dog owners who swear by them – terming them as the most perfect treats for dogs. You may find yourself being tempted to give your dog chicken feet.

Are chicken feet good for dogs? Well, the chicken feet are mainly made up of tiny bones and cartilage. They also contain tendons and skin tissue. As such, they are good and safe for dogs. The small bones in them are of the type that dogs digest with ease. Once a dog ingests such bones, they crumble and crush easily, and are subsequently fully digested. The only types of chicken feet that are not good for dogs are cooked ones.

But you would be having questions like whether it is safe to do so and whether the chicken feet are beneficial. The key underlying question would be: are chicken feet good for dogs? That is the question we will attempt to answer in detail in this article from different perspective.

Are Chicken Feet Good for Dogs?

In answering that question, we have to deal with two issues. The first one is on whether chicken feet are safe for dogs to eat. And the second one is on whether chicken feet offer any benefits to dogs.

Let us start with the safety bit. So, are chicken feet good for dogs safety-wise? Well, the true position is that chicken feet are safe for dogs: as long as they haven’t undergone cooking. Thus raw chicken feet are safe for dogs. Similarly, dried (but uncooked) chicken feet are safe for dogs. The small bones in such chicken feet pass through the dogs’ digestive tracts with ease. Once they get inside the dogs’ tummies, they are fully digestible. They are therefore safe.

Turning to benefits, are chicken feet good for dogs in terms of nutrition?

Here, the true position is that chicken feet offer at least three benefits to dogs. First of all, the chicken feet can be a good source of protein for dogs. Secondly, the chicken feet can help keep the dogs’ teeth clean. And thirdly, the chicken feet contain compounds known as glucosamine and chondroitin. Those are very helpful in keeping dog joints in good form. They can also help with arthritis and perhaps even (to a small extent) hip dysplasia.

So, are chicken feet good for dogs? Given what we have said about their safety and benefits, it is clear that chicken feet are indeed good for dogs.

Are Raw Chicken Feet Good for Dogs?

In other words, can dogs eat chicken feet that are uncooked? The answer is ‘yes’. Raw chicken feet are good for dogs. They may (admittedly) not look very pleasant to us as humans. But from the dogs’ perspective, they are very attractive treats.

As a matter of fact, raw chicken feet are the best for dogs. You should only feed your dog with raw chicken feet. Under no circumstances should you give your dog cooked chicken feet.

Are Cooked Chicken Feet Good for Dogs?

To put it differently, can dogs eat chicken feet that are cooked? The answer is ‘no’. Chicken feet that have undergone cooking are not good for dogs. The problem with cooking is that it changes the chicken feet bone structure.

Therefore after undergoing cooking, the chicken feet become brittle and prone to splintering. They develop glass-like qualities. They therefore become capable of hurting the dog: within the mouth or further down the digestive tract.

Another question arises here: is chicken feet good for dogs if it has undergone partial cooking? And the answer is that any form of cooking has potential to change the chicken feet bone structure. Therefore even partially cooked chicken feet are not ideal for dogs.

Any discussion on how to cook chicken feet for dogs shouldn’t be entertained. The cooking process can make the previously good chicken bones lethal for dogs.

Someone may ask: can dogs eat cooked chicken feet in small quantities? And the answer would still be ‘no’. There is really no quantity of cooked chicken bone that can be termed as safe. Even the smallest piece of cooked chicken bone has potential to splinter inside the dog, and thereafter cause a great deal of damage.

Are Puffed Chicken Feet Good for Dogs?

Puffed chicken feet (that are air-dried) are good for dogs. The good thing with puffed chicken feet is that they tend to have all their nutrients intact. Further, puffed chicken feet tend to retain their natural shape (to a certain degree).

All these things make them ideal treats for dogs. The only scenario where it would be inappropriate to give dogs puffed chicken feet is if the chicken feet have undergone cooking.

Are Dried Chicken Feet for Dogs Safe?

In other words, are chicken feet good for dogs if they have undergone processing by way of drying? And the answer is that dried chicken feet are safe for dogs. That is of course as long as they haven’t undergone cooking.

The drying process makes them crunchy, and therefore enhances their beneficial effect on dogs’ teeth. Furthermore, chicken feet that have undergone drying may remain edible for longer.

You may wonder: are chicken feet for dogs safe if they have undergone drying by fire? [This would be a pertinent question, given what we have said about the dangers of chicken feet that have undergone cooking].

But the true position is that drying and cooking are two different processes. As long as the chicken feet have only undergone drying — but not cooking — they should be safe for the chicken.

Is Dehydrated Chicken Feet Safe for Dogs?

In other words, are chicken feet good for dogs if they have undergone dehydration? The answer is ‘yes’. Chicken feet that have undergone dehydration are safe. They are crunchy and therefore can function very well as natural toothbrushes for the dogs.

As the dog gnaws on them, it ends up getting rid of plaque and tartar in its mouth. No dog toothbrush can match their efficacy at cleaning dogs’ teeth.

Where To Buy Chicken Feet for Dogs?

There are several places you can buy chicken feet for dogs. Butcher shops are a good place to start, if you are seeking to buy chicken feet for dogs.

Further, if you venture into grocery shops’ meat departments, you may be lucky enough to find chicken feet for dogs on sale there. Yet another place where you can buy chicken feet for dogs is the farmers markets. In fact, some farmers markets may have traders who specialty is that of selling chicken feet for dogs.

You could even take your search for chicken feet for dogs online. There are online vendors from whom you can easily procure chicken feet for dogs.

Where To Buy Raw Chicken Feet For Dogs?

One of the best places to find raw chicken feet for dogs with ease is at butchers shops. Another place where you may find raw chicken feet for dogs is at the meat departments in grocery stores. You can make an arrangement with a vendor to be keeping those legs for you.

Where To Buy Bulk Chicken Feet For Dogs?

Farmers markets can be ideal places to buy bulk chicken feet for dogs. Often the traders may not know what to do with the numerous chicken feet for dogs they are left with at the end of the day.

You can make an arrangement for them to be selling such chicken feet you. Alternatively, you could search online for vendors from whom you can buy bulk chicken feet for dogs.

Where To Buy Cooked Chicken Feet For Dogs?

We have to pause here, and first ask ourselves, are chicken feet good for dogs if they are cooked? In other words, can dogs eat chicken feet that have undergone cooking safely?

And the answer to both questions is ‘no’. Therefore it is hard to see why anyone would be seeking cooked chicken feet for dogs. Nonetheless, the best places to find cooked chicken feet would include restaurants that sell chicken. You could also get chicken feet that have undergone cooking from some farmers markets.

How Do You Wash Chicken Feet Before Cooking?

The process of washing chicken feet before cooking has two major steps. The first step is where you soak the chicken feet in water, to loosen the dirt in them. You can soak them for 10 or so minutes. The second step is where you rub each chicken foot individually in water, to remove the dirt completely.

But are chicken feet good for dogs even after cooking? The answer, as we have seen, is ‘no’. If you are cooking the chicken feet for your own consumption, then it is alright. However, if you are cooking the chicken feet for a dog, then you would be doing the wrong thing.

How to Clean Chicken Feet for Dogs?

The best thing is to first soak them in water for a few minutes. Then using water different from what which you had soaked them, rub each chicken foot individually. Thereafter, ‘rinse’ them in clean water, to ensure that they are truly clean before giving them to the dogs.

How Do You Process Chicken Feet for Dogs?

One way in which you can process chicken feet for dogs is by drying them. This makes the chicken feet crunchy and hence very nice for the dogs to feed on. Processing chicken feet for dogs may also entail packaging them in a manner that increases their shelf-life.

At this point, you may wonder: are chicken feet good for dogs if they have undergone processing? And the answer is ‘yes’. Chicken feet can be good for dogs after undergoing processing. The only thing that would make chicken feet unsuitable for dogs is cooking.

How Do You Prepare Raw Chicken Feet for Dogs

If the chicken feet were frozen, you will need to first allow them to thaw. The next step is to wash the chicken feet. Then put the chicken feet in a clean container (ideally the dog plate) and present them to the dog.

Is It Okay To Give Your Dog A Raw Chicken Leg?

This is another way of asking, are chicken feet good for dogs while raw? And the answer is ‘yes’. Raw chicken feet are good for dogs. Therefore, it is okay to give your dog a raw chicken leg. In fact, if you have to give your dog a chicken leg, then it should be raw. Don’t ever give your dog a cooked chicken leg.

Can Dogs Eat Chicken Feet?

The deeper question here is still on whether chicken feet are good for dogs. So are chicken feet good for dogs? Can dogs eat chicken feet safely? The answer is ‘yes’. Dogs can eat chicken feet – as long as the chicken feet haven’t undergone cooking.

You may be more specifically worried about the possibility of your dog choking on the chicken feet. So, can dogs choke on chicken feet? The answer is that the possibility of a dog choking on a raw chicken foot is very low. Dogs usually don’t choke on chicken feet.

The only situation where a dog would be likely to choke on a chicken foot is if the foot has undergone cooking (and therefore become brittle). But in normal situations, you can give your dog chicken feet without worrying about the possibility of choking.

The only exception here is that of very young puppies, which shouldn’t be given things chicken feet. Another exception is that of dogs which have shown allergic reactions to chicken.

Another question may come up: can dogs eat chicken paws? Or, in other words, can dogs eat chicken feet with nails? The answer is that dogs can eat chicken paws. And dogs can usually also eat chicken feet with nails safely. The nails look dangerous. But remember, at their core, the nails are simply sharp pieces of bony tissue: which a dog should be able to swallow and digest with ease.

But then again, if you are not comfortable with the idea of your dogs eating chicken feet with nails, you can still pluck them off before giving the chicken feet to the dogs.

Do Dogs Like Chicken Feet?

The answer is ‘yes’. Dogs usually regard chicken feet as treats. They seem to get a lot of joy from devouring these sorts of meats.

Of course, dogs liking chicken feet and the chicken feet being actually good for them are two different things. So you may wonder: are chicken feet good for dogs? The simple answer is ‘yes’. Therefore this is a situation where dogs love chicken feet, and the chicken feet are actually good for them.

Should I Feed My Dog Chicken Feet?

The deeper underlying question here is: are chicken feet good for dogs? And the answer is ‘yes’, chicken feet are good for dogs. You should therefore consider feeding your dog with chicken feet.

The chicken feet will give the dog some nutrients it needs. The chicken feet will also give the dog a chance to clean its teeth thoroughly. And the dog will definitely enjoy munching on the chicken feet.

How Many Chicken Feet to Feed Dog?

Most experts seem to be of the view that you should feed your dog no more than three chicken feet per day. If yours is a small dog, one chicken foot per day may be enough. For bigger dogs, two or three chicken feet may do the trick.

But in most cases, you should avoid giving your dog more than three chicken feet per day.

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Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️