Can I feed my dog chicken feet? Are they healthy and affordable?

Hello, thank you for your question about Sky. There are many different opinions on feeding raw food diets, so you may hear different opinions depending on who you ask. I would not recommend feeding your dog raw chicken feet. In general feeding raw or even freeze dried food can lead to bacterial infections such as Salmonella. This can be transmitted to humans also. There is no advantage to feeding freeze-dried/raw food over commercial dog food. Hope this helps!

Duck feet/raw foods/even cooked duck feet are not ideal and can lead to gastrointestinal obstructions. They would not help with reducing plaque and tartar even if that were not a risk. I recommend purchasing an enzymatic chicken flavored toothpaste made for dogs and brushing Giulio’s teeth daily. VetriScience makes a powdered product called PerioSupport that you add to your dog’s food daily that helps reduce plaque and tartar buildup and improve their breath as well. This product as well as the toothpaste can be purchased online. Good luck!

This e part of the chicken are not easily digested and not very nutrient as well. Occasional gastrointestinal signs due to inflammation can be observed. I would recommend not to give them chicken feet.

Chicken feet, from a reputable source, are a good snack or treat that can be given occasionally or as a reward. Monitor for stomach upset since some dogs cannot handle them though. Unfortunately, there is no one "best" food. Pedigree is an average food but if a dog does well on it, there is no reason to switch. Switching foods often can lead to stomach upset and a finicky (picky) eater. Find a food that: 1. Captain will eat regularly 2. Does not cause any stomach upset or other negative symptoms 3. Is easy for you to buy. You can buy the most premium food, but if he doesn't eat it or if it causes diarrhea then it is no good. Stay away from store or discount brands as these typically contain low quality ingredients and more fillers. At his age, he should be eating twice daily. Stick to a consistent schedule for feeding. The general rule of thumb is 1 cup of dry food per 30lbs body weight daily divided into 2 meals.

It's lovely of you to want to help this street dog! No, I would not feed him raw chicken claws. Raw meat can cause poisoning from E.coli and salmonella, and the claws could cause damage to the GI tract and/or cause an obstruction. I would offer him dog food every time you see him. You might see if you can catch him or have an animal charity come and catch him so he can get veterinary attention and find a permanent home.

While cooked, boiled chicken and beef is OK to give as a treat, it should not be your dog's main source of food. It is much better to feed a balanced diet or commercial dog food that is nutritionally balanced to provide the right nutrition. Feeding only meat is not enough for your dog to stay healthy and growth healthy. You can add in a little piece of boiled meat with the fat trimmed off, however it should not be given as a meal as it can cause digestive upset and nutritional problems.

Yes, chicken cartilage can be beneficial, but it must be raw. This can turn off most owners who are hesitant to feed raw foods. Glucosamine may promote joint health and may slow down degenerative joint conditions. It is usually given by weight. Discuss a proper loading dose and maintenance dose with your vet. Glucosamine hydrochloride is preferred over glucosamine sulfate as it is more easily absorbed by dogs. Vitamin C given in junction can also increase absorption. Choose a quality supplement such as Cosequin or Dasuquin.