Can Dogs Eat Pig Hooves?

The Short Answer is:

The short response is yes, there is nothing wrong with pig hooves being eaten by dogs. You can use raw pig hooves to manage your dog's chewing habit by providing him with a chew toy. Additionally, they promote healthy teeth and gums in your dog.

The purpose of this article is to explain the “Can Dogs Eat Pig Hooves?“.

Although dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago they are still naturally carnivores and rely on fresh meat and raw bones to obtain some important nutrients. Hooves and feet of pigs make excellent snacks for dogs and they are generally safe for them to chew on. 

Many pet parents do not mind buying raw pig feet and pig hooves for their dogs because raw pig feet and pig hooves are inexpensive. 

There has also been some evidence that raw bones and hooves are great for dogs’ dental health and can even help strengthen their digestive system which further supports the notion that raw bones and hooves are great for dogs. 

What pet owner wouldnot want a healthy mouth and a strong digestive system for their pet? I know I do. There are many ways to prepare pig hooves and feet so how can you tell which is best for your dog? 

1. 5 different types of pig hooves

To extend their shelf life pig hooves and feet can either be left completely raw or cooked in some way to kill harmful bacteria. Moreover there are different ways to prepare them including boiling smoking and pickling. 

What are the main differences between them?

One of the first and most obvious differences between these types of hooves is their size. The raw pig hooves are uncooked while the others have been cooked in some way. Hot smoke is used only to cook or cure smoked pig hooves with indirect heat. 

Generally speaking smoked meat of all kinds is known for its high sodium content and pig hooves and feet are no exception to this rule and as such may not be the best option for your pet. 

Pig feet and hooves are cooked by boiling them in hot water with or without herbs and spices. Herbs and spices are definitely a no-no for dogs but thats not the major risk with boiled pig hooves and feet since bones that have been cooked become brittle and unsuitable for dogs. 

To prepare pickled meat you soak it in pickle juice which has a high sodium content or you brine it. Vinegar sugar salt vinegar garlic onion mustard and sugar are all ingredients used to make pickle juice. The sodium content of pickled pig hooves and feet is high rendering them unsuitable for consumption by dogs. 

2. Have pig hooves any nutrition?

Keratin is a special protein made up of amino acids that makes up the soles of all hooves-whether they be on cows pigs goats or horses. In spite of their appearance pig feet and hooves actually contain a lot of nutrients they are rich in proteins fats and fatty acids and they also contain minerals and trace elements. 

Pig hooves contain minerals such as sodium potassium zinc magnesium selenium phosphorus etc. and feeding them to your pet is a great way to help absorb these nutrients. Pork and cow hooves are excellent for making bone broth because the minerals they contain dissolve easily in boiling liquid which your pet will absorb by consuming the broth. However the cooked hooves should not be consumed. 

3. Why might eating hooves be dangerous for a dog?

There are many chew toys available for dogs since they enjoy chewing. Some dogs however are “power chewers” and require more than just a chew toy to keep them entertained long enough to avoid causing damage to the house. 

As a result many pet parents use hooves as chew toys or treats to keep their dogs entertained. There are also benefits to this. Hooves of cows and pigs for example are known to promote healthy teeth in dogs. By chewing on their hooves dogs remove plaque and tartar from their teeth which is great for preventing the formation of plaque. 

Moreover if your pets paws are hollow you can add another healthy treat into the cavity like peanut butter or cheese to encourage him or her to keep nibbling. Moreover these hooves are very cheap and can be found at any pet store. 

However there are concerns regarding how safe hooves really are when it comes to curbing your pets destructive chewing habit. Pig hooves are not a problem for many dogs to chew. However if your dog is an aggressive chewer with a strong and persistent bite force he may eventually crack the hoof and splinters with sharp edges that may tear or lodge in the gums causing intense pain and discomfort. 

If they swallow a jagged-edged part of the broken hoof this may puncture their digestive tract and pose a serious health risk. In their fruitless attempts to crack a cow hoof some dogs can crack their own teeth. 

There have also been cases of dogs swallowing chunks of hooves that were too large to pass safely through their GI tract causing choking hazards. Cow and pig hooves emit an awful smell that some pet owners complain about but it appears that this is the least of your worries.

4. Raw pig’s feet vs cooked pig’s feet- which is better?

Dogs enjoy chewing on pig feet like a good source of nutrients to complement their regular diet. Pig feet are strong big bones that keep a dogs attention for quite a while and make great chew toys. 

Dogs can eat raw pig feet; they help maintain a healthy digestive system and provide certain minerals and nutrients. If you want to feed your pet a raw diet raw pig feet are a great option. 

In addition dogs who have raw bones to chew on and play with tend to be less destructive and less likely to tear your house apart. However concerns have been raised about raw meat and bones being contaminated with bacteria. 

Bacterial infection can be extremely dangerous for elderly dogs or dogs with compromised immune systems. Raw pig feet and raw meat in general should be handled carefully to reduce the chance of your pet ingesting infected meat. You should be able to feed your dog raw meat if you get it from reputable sources and take the same safety precautions as you would when feeding your own food.

In light of the possibility of bacteria in raw meat cooking pig feet may seem like a safer option but it isnot. As you probably know cooking bones changes their texture and strength making them brittle and easy to splinter. 

Cooked pig feet pose more of a risk to dogs than raw pig feet because they are easier for your dog to crack and swallow putting them at risk for digestive issues. In addition to taking more time to prepare cooking pig feet takes longer than serving them raw.

6. Are pig’s ears a better treat for your dog? Why or why not?

Pig cognizance is the extraneous part of the observance which have been castrated. This part of the observance is primarily made of cartilage and skin no bones or muscles which makes it much easier for tykes to bite up and digest.

Pig cognizance contains a high quantum of fat and is frequently slithery. This high-fat content makes them infelicitous for fat tykes or tykes prone to developing pancreatitis. Assimilated to hooves gormandizer cognizance may not be a better treat for your canine because it will make your canine have bad breath.

They don’t have the teeth-drawing benefits of hooves and bones and they clearly don’t keep your canine busy for long. But if your major concern is with the negative aspects of hooves and bones also gormandizer cognizance can be a better volition handed your canine is neither fat nor has problems with high-fat diets.

7. What are the best sorts of animal bones for a dog to chew?

Raw bones are clearly stylish bones for tykes to bite. For clarity raw bones mean raw bones filled with the gist. Some of the stylish raw bones for tykes include tails necks hips caricatures femurs knuckles and bases from creatures like cows gormandizers and buffalo.

Weight-applying bones of any beast similar to leg bones are better than non-weight-applying applying bones because these bones are thick and lower brittle. But they can also be too strong for small canine types and puppies.

You have to be careful when opting for a bone for your canine to bite always remember that no bone is 100 safe theres always a bitsy chance that a commodity may go awry. To make sure that nothing goes awry supervise your canine when you give him a bone to bite.

8. Can dogs eat pig hooves?

The short response is yes there is nothing wrong with pig hooves being eaten by dogs. You can use raw pig hooves to manage your dogs chewing habit by providing him with a chew toy. Additionally they promote healthy teeth and gums in your dog.

Still you have to be careful when giving your canine hooves to bite as they can beget a veritably serious health extremity especially if your canine cracks it or quaffs it.

Do not give your canine a hoof that can fully fit into his mouth to help a choking danger. And formerly you notice that a hoof your pet has been biting on is snapped or broken take off all the corridors and precisely discard them where you’re pet can’t find or reach them.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.