The Benefits of Air-Dried Duck Feet for Dogs

Anyone who has a dog knows how much they love to chew. It's a good outlet to relieve stress and anxiety and sprinkle in some added mental stimulation. Some dogs love chewing so much that you might find the occasional shoe in their special place in the house, and it's probably not in one whole piece. That's one of the many reasons why feet should be added to your dog's diet, either as a treat, a topper, or even added to their general diet.

Chondroitin for Your Dog's Joints

Chondroitin supports joint health, and fortunately, feet are rich in a natural source of glucosamine, chondroitin, and collagen.

Once they have been consuming these for several weeks, these compounds can build up in their body, resulting in improved mobility.

Dental Health Benefits of Duck Feet Treats for Dogs

Chewing is an instinctive behavior in dogs that helps remove plaque and tartar, resulting in clean teeth. Rather than splintering like cooked bones, these guys will break.

And there's a bonus—you won't have to brush your dog's teeth as often.

High in Protein While Low in Fat

Feet are a good source of protein for our dogs while also being low in fat. The amino acids found in the protein from duck feet are also beneficial.

Calcium Found in the Feet

Phosphate and calcium are essential minerals in your dog's diet. These minerals are important for strong bones and cartilage. Plus, they're helpful in regulating hormones.

In addition to these goodies, duck feet contain:

• Copper
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Niacin
• Potassium
• Selenium
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Zinc

Fully Digestible Option

Foods that your dog can digest easily are particularly beneficial to dogs who are struggling to obtain nutrients from their diet.

Even their nails can be consumed, and they're easily digested. They look sharp, but they're actually not. However, if you are concerned, feel free to clip them off before feeding.

Everything can be a choking hazard, including feet! And big chompers might gulp up a big piece without chewing it. For this reason, it's important to supervise your pooch during their chew sesh.

Zero Additives

It is best to choose single-ingredient dog treats from trusted companies. These treats are healthier and do not contain any added preservatives.

Types of Treats and Toppers

You can choose among any of the following:

• Frozen duck feet for dogs: Once thawed, the rubbery texture of frozen food is often appealing to our pups.
• Dehydrated duck feet for dogs: A crunchy, digestible food that is more suitable as a treat since it could lose some of its nutritional value during the heat process. You also have the option of placing them in water so they obtain a similar texture to raw feet.
• Raw duck feet for dogs: These maintain the most nutrients, but dogs with immune deficiencies should be cautious with these.
• Air-dried duck feet for dogs: Air-dried generally means the feet were dried at a low temperature for a long period of time to retain as many nutrients as possible.
• Freeze-dried duck feet: There are freeze-dried options for our dogs that retain the smell and nutritional profile similar to raw. Freeze-drying involves removing moisture without heat, allowing up to 98% of the beneficial nutrients to be retained. You may find these to be the most expensive (similar to the air-dried) since it's not a quick or inexpensive process.

All of these options will give you what you're looking for, as long as they're high-quality. We recommend grabbing them in bulk and storing them in a cool, dry area if you plan to use them frequently.

Raw Duck Feet Near Me

If you prefer raw duck feet, you can do a quick search for "raw duck feet near me" to figure out where to buy duck feet close to where you live. You can usually find them at local Asian or Chinese grocery stores.

This should yield some results. And of course, we wouldn't be recommending them if they weren't healthy for our pups.

Raw duck feet have an aroma that appeals to our dogs and maintains all the nutrients for optimal benefit. There's one warning to provide, though.

Duck feet may not be appropriate for young pups since their teeth are so delicate.

Air-Dried Chicken Feet for Dogs

If you aren't a huge fan (or your dog isn't) of duck feet, you can also consider chicken feet for your pup. They also contain all of these nutrients, but here are the main differences:

• Higher in protein
• Lower in fats
• You may need to trim chicken nails prior to feeding
• Some dogs may have chicken allergies
• Generally less expensive than duck feet
• Less greasy than duck feet

P.S.- If you want to learn more about canine nutrition, check out our Certificate in Canine Nutrition program! 

For further reading, we recommend:

Comparison of physicochemical and functional properties of duck feet and bovine gelatins

Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken? Get the Facts

RMBs- Perfectly Rawsome