Can Dogs Eat Frog’s Legs?

The purpose of this research is to explain the “Can Dogs Eat Frog’s Legs?“.

Frogs legs are often seen as an exotic delicacy although this type of food is rather popular in the southern states of the US.

Frog legs are good for your dog but should you feed them?

Frog meat is hypoallergenic low in fat rich in minerals and vitamins and hypoallergenic.

It is true that frog legs can carry salmonella but this type of infection is actually rare in dogs.

You do not need to worry about the bones choking your dog if you feed him raw frog legs.

You should be concerned about the costs since frog legs are more expensive than regular meat.

What is the nutrition in frog legs?

Although eating frog legs may seem strange if you’re not French or Chinese the fact is that this type of meat is much better than the meat we’re used to eating – chicken beef pork etc. 

Additionally frog meat is hypoallergenic which is why it is highly recommended for dogs with food allergies and skin problems.

Frog legs are also very healthy providing 214 calories per 100 grams.

Best of all it contains very little fat which makes it very lean meat. There are 11 grams of fat in 100 grams of frog leg meat which is 14% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for a typical individual.

It might sound like a lot of fat for a small dog especially since fat should not account for more than 10 to 15 percent of your pets diet. 

In contrast its not like you’re going to feed your dog frog legs every day because they’re not that easy to find.

As an occasional snack such a treat is perfectly fine and offers many health benefits.

Frog legs are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which are important to promoting skin health and sustaining brain function.

Frog legs for instance contain 2.2 mg of iron per 100 grams or 12% of the daily recommended amount. Iron is essential for preventing anemia and building muscle.

Frog legs contain many minerals including calcium (4%) copper (29%) phosphorus (25%) zinc (11%) selenium (35%) magnesium (6%) etc.

These values refer to the average persons RDA  and will represent much more in terms of percentages for a dog.

In addition to vitamins frog legs are also a good source of B vitamins

Could frog leg bones be a choking hazard for a dog?

Among the main reasons pet owners might be reluctant to feed their dogs frog legs is that the bones could be a choking hazard.

Your dogs breed plays an important role in this.

The small bones in a frogs leg would not pose a problem to a large dog. Due to their small size most dogs have no problem swallowing them.

On the other hand the frog legs you may find at the deli are usually dehydrated so they would not splinter like chicken bones for example.

In general frog leg bones pose little risk of choking your dog

Frog legs vs chicken legs

Frog legs are said to taste very much like chicken especially chicken wings so its no wonder your pet will keep asking for more.

Alternatively since this delicacy tastes like chicken why not feed your dog chicken legs which are readily available and more affordable?

Lets take a look at the nutritional values of chicken legs.

First of all they both provide 214 calories per 100g. 

Compared to chicken wings chicken legs have a bit more fat 13g per 100g.

Additionally chicken legs have a higher percentage of saturated fats and a higher level of cholesterol. In chicken legs 135 mg is found while in frog legs 81 mg is found.

Chicken legs have more protein 22.45 g compared to 17.6 g in frog legs.

Chicken legs contain only 1 mg of iron half the amount of iron in frog legs. Additionally they’re just as good a source of minerals and vitamins as frog legs.

Should dogs eat chicken bones?

Although chicken meat is one of the best meats for dogs experts warn against supplying them with chicken bones which are a significant choking hazard.

As chicken bones splinter easily they are particularly hazardous to eat.

A splinter may get lodged in your dogs throat which is a medical emergency. Additionally bone splinters can cause stomach lesions or puncture the intestines.

Fortunately such cases are rare as chicken bones are partly digested in the stomach so its unlikely that large fragments will reach the intestines.

Serve your dog raw chicken legs rather than cooked if you want to give him chicken legs.

Also avoid giving your dog table scraps just to be safe.

If you want to give your dog a bone make it a large cow bone.

What other meats are as low in fat as frog legs?

Dogs are much healthier when they eat lean meat and this isnot just because they do not gain weight.

Additionally a diet rich in lean meat protects the dog against pancreatitis and facilitates digestion resulting in regular bowel movements and well-formed stools.

You can easily find lean meat at your local store if you do not think frog legs are the best choice for your pet.

In terms of nutritional value and affordability chicken is the best choice but make sure it is skinless. Although turkey is a bit more expensive than chicken it has less fat so it is better for your dog.

A good choice is a lamb since it is leaner than pork or beef but it is not always available.

Even though salmon is relatively low in protein you might consider including it in your dogs diet. There is a high-fat content in salmon but its mostly Omega-3 fatty acids which are very healthy.

Are frog legs easy and cheap to buy?

Your dog may develop a taste for frog legs. Tell him to get a job if he wants to continue eating this delicacy.

Frog legs are occasionally available at popular chain stores like Target but not on a regular basis. 

There are pet stores that offer ‘novel protein’ like frog leg jerky but at $17 for a measly 70 grams you can not expect to buy him that every day. 

Uncooked frog legs are available from other suppliers for $35 for 2 pounds. Thats $17.5 per pound while skinless and boneless chicken breast only costs $2-5 per pound at Target.

Only people living in rural areas can go frogging a few times a year in the Southern states such as Louisiana.

Raw vs cooked frog legs

If you happen to find some frog legs and want to share them with your faithful companion give him a raw snack.

As anyone who eats or handles raw meat of any kind increases their risk of getting sick with salmonella poisoning there is a lot of debate on this issue. 

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that live in the intestines of many kinds of animals including cows pigs chickens reptiles and amphibians.

The symptoms of salmonellosis in humans include fever vomiting and diarrhea although it can be treated.

Salmonella infections in pets are quite rare according to the FDA but dogs who get this foodborne illness can present with similar symptoms.

Its possible for dogs to carry salmonella and spread it through their feces or saliva but they would not get sick themselves.

Nevertheless there are concerns about the possibility of epizootic diseases spreading through the international trade of frog legs.

Several countries including Canada have very strict regulations regarding the sale of fresh or frozen frog legs.

Frog legs that do not pass rigorous testing to be labeled salmonella-free are illegal in Canada.

What is the healthiest way of cooking frog legs?

If you’re making a gourmet dinner and trying a traditional French recipe like sauteed frog legs it isnot particularly unhealthy for your dog as long as it does not contain garlic which is toxic to animals.

For Asian cuisine the traditional Chinese stir-fry frog legs recipe might sound better but it isnot. The Chinese recipe calls for soy sauce which should not be present in a dogs diet since it contains a lot of salt. Stir-frying is a healthier method of cooking than deep-frying.

Frog legs that are fried are not much better since fried food is high in fat.

Frog legs are probably the healthiest way to prepare them if you bake them in the oven without seasoning following this simple recipe.

You can use a bit of butter.

This basic recipe allows the delicate chicken flavor of the frog meat to shine so your dog will have a feast.

Conclusion

Frog legs are an excellent treat for your dog as they provide a lot of protein and have very little fat.

For dogs with food allergies frog legs are particularly recommended. However frog legs can be quite expensive and hard to find on the market.

Donot worry if you can not find such a treat in your area. The protein content of chicken meat is almost equal to that of frog legs although it has a higher fat content.

If he wants chicken wings give him frog legs instead and tell him its a frog. He will not realize the difference!

If you want to read more about dog food tips read here: Dog Food Tips and Tricks.

Can Dogs Eat Frog’s Legs? (Watch Video)