Duck feet are a deliciously crunchy treat that dogs can’t get enough of.
But what are duck feet chews actually, and are they right for your dog?
By the time you are finished reading this review, you’ll have the answers to these questions and more!
Oh, and we have even reviewed different brands of duck feet to find the best and tastiest chews for your dog – why settle for less?
Okay, let’s get on with it…
Best Duck Feet Chews
Let’s take a closer look at the top 5 duck feet chews that delighted our team of doggy testers.
Best Overall Duck Feet
Sancho and Lola’s Duck Feet
The clear winner when it came to duck feet treats – No dog could resist!
When it came down to choosing the best duck feet, we let our dogs do the talking.
We laid out 8 brands of duck feet in a row on the floor and let our picky pups choose which treat they wanted.
After plenty of sniffing, 6 times out of 10, Sancho and Lola’s duck feet were picked first. And it’s easy to see why…
Sourced and prepared in the USA, these all-natural duck feet are free from chemicals, preservatives and flavor enhancers.
I also noticed these duck feet don’t have the same strong waxy smell that other duck feet have – they are comparatively mild.
Each pack of Sancho & Lola’s duck feet contains 18 delicious treats that have been manufactured in small batches to ensure quality. Their attention to detail has paid off – you won’t find better duck feet treats.
Best Duck Feet Value Pack
Best Bully Sticks Duck Feet
The clear winner when it came to duck feet treats – no dog could resist
Ingredients: Duck Feet
Sourced from: Germany
Size: Approx. 6 inches
Calories: 60 calories per treat
Crude Protein (Min.) | 12.2% |
Crude Fat (Min.) | 30.7% |
Crude Fiber (Max.) | 1.6% |
Moisture (Max.) | 15.5% |
Our next pick offers better value for money. With a similar price to our previous recommendation, this pack contains 30 duck feet – 12 more than our top pick.
That works out to be roughly 70 cents per duck chew. That’s a price that’s difficult to beat unless you are buying bulk cases of 100 or more duck feet.
Sourced from Germany, these dehydrated duck feet are of exceptional quality at a reasonable price.
And they passed the taste test too! All our dogs happily munched on these duck feet, their tails wagging with joy.
Best Declawed Duck Feet
Bravo! Dry Roasted Duck Feet
A tasty alternative for those of you looking for nail-free duck feet.
Ingredients: Duck Feet
Size: Approx. 6 inches
Calories: 50 calories per treat
Crude Protein (Min.) | 35% |
Crude Fat (Min.) | 30% |
Crude Fiber (Max.) | 1% |
Moisture (Max.) | 8% |
If you look closely at the end of each dehydrated duck foot, you’ll notice small nails.
Well, you would if you didn’t buy these nail-free duck feet. You see, all Bravo! duck feet have been de-clawed during the manufacturing process- no more pointy bits
I will mention that during testing, none of our dogs had difficulty navigating their way around the nails.
Howeverver, we spoke to many dog owners who clip the nails off duck feet before giving it to their dog.
If that sounds like you, then these nail-free duck feet will save yo time and effort. No more clipping!
These delicious duck feet are made in the United States and are of exceptional quality.
My only complaint is that they are sold by weight. This means that the number of duck feet can vary from pack to pack. One pack we opened had 10 feet while another had 9.
If you want a guarenteed number of nail-free duck feet then check out their bulk 200 pack of duck feet – You also save money by stocking up.
Best Bulk Duck Feet
Pet ‘n Shape Duck Feet
With 100 pieces of crunchy duck feet inside, this box offers incredible value for money
Sourced from: USA
Ingredients: Duck Feet
Size: Approx. 6 inches
Calories: 54 calories per treat
Crude Protein (Min.) | 35% |
Crude Fat (Min.) | 30% |
Crude Fiber (Max.) | 1% |
Moisture (Max.) | 8% |
Is your dog addicted to duck feet chews? Or maybe you just want to stock up for the next pandemic?
You should check out the Pet ’n Shape bulk value pack. The box contains a whopping 100 duck feet, and it’s a bargain that’s hard to pass up.
By buying in bulk, you can get the cost per duck foot down to around 50 cents each – keep your dog’s tail wagging without making a dent in the wallet.
While there were a few different bulk duck feet boxes available, few offered the same value as Pet ’n Shape. The Barkworthies duck feet case only contained 50 duck feet for the same price while the Bravo! 200 count duck feet worked out to be an extra 10 cents per treat and were otherwise very similar in quality.
I will point out that these duck feet were the greasiest out of all the duck feet we reviewed. Personally, I found this a little off-putting – I needed to scrub my hands with soap after handling these duck feet.
However, if you are looking for the most affordable duck feet treats around, the trade-off is worth it. Our dogs didn’t seem to care about the extra grease. They happily devoured these duck feet chews without a second thought.
Best Freeze-Dried Duck Feet
Fresh Is Best Duck Feet
Freeze-dried duck feet that are packed full of nutrients and flavor
Ordinarily, duck feet are roasted until they harden and dry. The downside of roasting is that some of the nutrients are lost – heat destroys certain nutrients.
But freeze-dried duck feet are a little different. These duck feet have been processed at freezing temperatures and had all the water removed.
The advantage is that freeze-dried duck maintain the same nutrients as raw duck feet!
But freeze-dried duck feet have another advantage over dry-roasted duck feet – they can be rehydrated.
If you take your freeze-dried duck feet and soak them in water overnight, they will turn into a raw duck-foot.
The only downside of freeze-dried duck feet is their cost – they are more expensive than the roasted variety.
But the extra cost is justified. Made in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from American raised ducks, these nutritious duck feet are too good to pass up.
What are duck feet chews?
As the name suggests, these single-ingredient chews are made from nothing but duck feet.
There is no denying that duck feet have a certain “ick-factor” about them.
I mean, it’s hard to guess what kind of meat bully sticks are made from. But with duck feet, it’s clear to see.
While you may find duck feet disgusting, dogs go crazy over them – there is something about these dehydrated chews that many dogs find irresistible.
Duck feet are digestible, high in protein, and relatively low in fat. They are also a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin which may have anti-inflammatory benefits and boost joint health.[1]
I can only describe them as crunchy. Compared to harder chews, like bully sticks, duck feet easily break between your dog’s teeth – even an older dog would have no issue chewing through them.
It is also worth mentioning that duck feet have a strong, waxy, almost plastic-like smell and greasy surface. This is considered normal. Personally, I didn’t like the smell. However, our dogs didn’t seem to mind.
As for how long they last? Well, it entirely depends on your dog.
I gave 12 different dogs duck feet that were roughly the same size and timed how long it took each of them to finish.
Here are the results:
- Chihuahua – 38 minutes
- Havanese – 22 minutes
- Yorkshire Terrier – 15 minutes
- French Bulldog – 4 minutes
- Jack Russel Terrier – 3 minutes
- Corgi – 3 minutes
- Labrador – 20 seconds
- German Shepherd – 17 seconds
- Siberian Husky – 15 seconds
- Boxer – 13 seconds
- Rottweiler – 11 seconds
- Great Dane – 2 seconds
The larger the dogs were able to finish off their duck feet in no time at all – the Great Dane basically inhaled it.
For all but the smallest dogs, duck feet are not a long-lasting chew. They are more of a quick crunchy snack, like pigs ears, beef lung or fish skin.
This is why I doubt the advertised claims that duck feet can help promote healthy teeth and gums…
You see, duck feet are quickly chewed to pieces and swallowed. They don’t have the same opportunity to scrape plaque off your dog’s teeth as a harder, longer-lasting chew – one that is gnawed on for extended periods.
If you are looking for a longer-lasting chew, consider bully sticks or porkhide.
Like with all treats, your dog may decide he doesn’t like duck feet.
You see, each dog is unique with its own quirky personality. While some dogs go crazy over duck feet, others want nothing to do with them.
But if your dog loves other duck flavored treats, then duck feet are worth checking out.
Pros and cons of duck feet chews
Are you considering using duck feet as your go-to dog treat?
I can’t say I blame you, they have a lot of good things going for them.
So you don’t experience any surprises, I have outlined the good and the bad of duck feet treats…
The good
Duck feet chews have many benefits, including:
An alternative for allergies
Dogs with a sensitive stomach or allergies that are triggered by beef or chicken may not experience the same symptoms when switching to duck feet chews, which is considered a novel protein.
Digestible
Duck feet chews are a natural treat that has undergone minimal processing, without any added chemicals. Compared to heavily processed chews like rawhide, duck feet are readily digestible.[2]
Teeth Cleaning for smaller dogs
Duck feet, like all hard chews, have cleaning properties. As your dog chews, plaque is scraped off by the duck feet. The longer your dog chews, the more plaque will be scraped off.[3]
Relatively affordable
When it comes to all-meat dog chews, duck feet chews are a bargain. Typically, you can pick up duck feet, made in the USA, for around $1.00 per piece. If you buy in bulk, you can get the down to around 50 cents per chew.
Good for joints
Duck feet contain chondroitin and glucosamine and collagen, which offer health benefits. Chondroitin and glucosamine can help to support good joint health in dogs. Many owners use glucosamine and chondroitin to treat arthritic dogs.[4]
The Bad
But like all dog treats, there are some drawbacks of duck feet chews that you should be mindful of…
Dog may reject them
All dogs are different. Some dogs don’t enjoy the taste or smell of duck feet. While all the testers who reviewed duck feet loved them, your mileage may vary.
Can leave grease stains
Duck feet have have an oily skin. Because of this, duck feet are often greasy and leave oil marks. To avoid stains, skip feeding duck feet on the carpet, furniture and other fabric surfaces.
Potential choking hazard
When pieces get too small, they pose a risk, especially if your dog swallows a duck foot in a single gulp.
Limited cleaning
Larger dogs can crunch duck feet with just a few bites. Because of this, the treat doesn’t have the same opportunity to scrape plaque off the teeth that harder chews offer.
Are duck feet safe for your dog?
Thousands of dog owners feed their pups duck feet without any harm. However, you should be aware that there are some risks associated with duck feet chews.
If you look closely at the tip of your duck feet, you may notice small claw-like nails.
While these nails may look sharp, I found them to be as scratchy as a chunk bitten off a bully stick.
Many dog owners worry that these claws may injure their dog. While they may scratch, none of our testers had difficulty navigating the nails as they chewed and swallowed.
The nails on duck feet are significantly smaller than those found on chicken feet chews.
I should also mention that the nails on duck feet are digestible and will break down in your dog’s stomach.
If you are worried about the nails, you can clip them using your dog nail clippers. Alternatively, some brands come de-clawed. Check out the nail-free duck feet we recommend earlier in this review.
It is also worth mentioning that duck feet contain bones. And as you know, bones can pose a risk of splintering if cooked at high temperatures
Fortunately, duck feet are either dehydrated or dry roasted. The heat is low enough that it does not affect the bones – they crunch instead of splintering.
I would be more concerned if your dog swallows his treats whole, without chewing.
Like with most chews, duck feet can be a potential choking hazard – if your dog gulps a duck foot down without chewing it to pieces, it could become lodged in the throat!
It is for this reason that duck feet should always be given under supervision – so you can quickly react if things do go wrong.
You know your dog best. If you have any doubts, then speak to your vet before introducing duck feet to your dog’s diet.
Duck feet vs chicken feet
Having reviewed both chicken and dog feet, I must say that the two are incredibly similar.
But is one better than the other?
From a nutritional standpoint, the critical difference is that chicken feet are slightly higher in protein and lower in fat.
Duck Feet | Chicken Feet | |
---|---|---|
Fat | Approx. 30% | Approx. 20% |
Protein | Approx 35% | Approx 50% |
Otherwise, these two treats have plenty of similarities. Both are 6-8 inches in length, packed with chondroitin and glucosamine and contain just one ingredient.
Physically, the most significant difference is the claws on the feet. Chicken feet have longer, sharper nails. Many dog owners trim the nails on chicken feet before giving them to their dog – if you want to do the same, you can use a pair of dog nail clippers.
If your dog suffers from food allergies, then duck feet may be the way to go. Duck is a novel protein and may not trigger your dogs’ allergies in the same way that chicken feet will.
Otherwise, whether you feed chicken feet or duck feet is a matter of preference – if your dog prefers one over the other, then that’s the treat for you!
How do you store duck feet?
Duck feet are a natural dog chew that does not contain any preservatives. Because of this, proper storage is essential to prevent your duck feet from going rancid.
An airtight container is the ideal storage – keep the container in a cool, dry spot in your pantry, and they will last up to 6 months.
If your duck feet came in a resealable packet, then it’s fine to use the pack as storage. Make sure you seal the package properly each time.
However, if you live where it’s hot and humid, you’ll want to refrigerate your chews instead. If you leave them out, the chews can “sweat” and go bad.
For long-term storage, duck feet chews should be frozen in an airtight container – frozen duck feet can last up to two years!
The only exception to this is freeze-dried duck feet. As long as they are stored under 75˚F in an airtight container, freeze-dried duck feet can last up to 30 years.
How many duck feet chews can your dog have each day?
While some owners give their dogs duck feet every day, others offer them as a rare treat.
How often should you give your duck feet?
A good guideline is that treats like duck feet should not take up more than 10% of your dogs daily calories.[5]
duck feet contain around 50 calories per chew. However, calories can vary according to how much meat is on the foot and where it is sourced from. Refer to the manufacturer for the exact amount of calories in your duck feet chews.
For the most accurate estimate of your dogs daily calorie intake, you should speak to your vet.
Like with all treats, duck feet are not essential to your dog’s diet. You should be relying on dog food to provide the complete nutrition your pup needs – duck feet are a treat given in addition to your pup’s regular meals.
Conclusion
If you have made it this far, you should now know if duck feet chews are the ideal treat for your dog.
A recap of our recommendations:
The best duck feet for dogs that we reviewed:
- Sancho & Lola’s Duck Feet – Best all-round duck feet
- Best Bully Sticks Duck Feet – Best duck feet value pack
- Bravo! Duck Feet – Best nail-free duck feet
- Pen ’n Shape Duck Feet – Best Bulk Duck Feet Case
- Fresh Is Best Duck Feet – Best freeze-dried duck feet
Do you give your dog duck feet chews? Why/why not? Let me know in the comments below!