{"id":35088,"date":"2023-05-16T20:32:07","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T03:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/?p=35088"},"modified":"2024-02-23T16:14:49","modified_gmt":"2024-02-24T00:14:49","slug":"are-pig-ears-good-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/are-pig-ears-good-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Pig Ears Good For Dogs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you have a dog, chances are you\u2019ve seen pig ear chews for dogs at your brick and mortar pet retail store or online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re becoming more and more popular these days, but what exactly is the deal with them and are pig ears good for dogs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s what we\u2019ll look at in today\u2019s blog post, along with how they compare to rawhide, whether or not you can leave your puppy alone with a pigs ear and if dogs can contract salmonella from this type of dog chew!<\/p>\n\n\n

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My pup Wally taking a chew break with a pig ear<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Pig Ear Dog Treat – What\u2019s In It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First things first, (most) pig ears are single-ingredient dog chews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means you won\u2019t find any artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, grains or anything else on the ingredient list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s literally only pig ear in this dog chew<\/a> – unless you buy a smoked pig ear, and we\u2019ll cover the downsides of that later in this blog post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But non-smoked pig ears are high in protein, moderate in fat and consist mostly of soft cartilage and skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That also means that it\u2019s naturally rich in glucosamine and chondroitin as those are the building blocks of cartilage!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as pigs ear calories, they pack a decent punch with 100-200 calories per pig ear, depending on its size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, let\u2019s look at what all of this means for your pup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 Benefits Of Pig Ears For Dogs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Rawhide Alternative<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You may know that bleached rawhide is treated with chemicals and is notorious for causing blockages because it\u2019s not fully digestible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, pig ears are not rawhide, not even close! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you can see in the picture below, they\u2019re not synthetic bright white like rawhides but pig ears have their natural brow-reddish color. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That lack of chemicals makes pig ears fully digestible and turns them into a safe rawhide alternative dog chew. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Pig ears are a natural brown-reddish color<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

2. Supports Oral Hygiene <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pig ears help scrape away tartar and plaque from dog teeth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, they exercise your dog\u2019s jaw muscles and massage their gums. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s particularly beneficial for teething puppies<\/a> whose gum lines hurt as their adult teeth are starting to come in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Prevents Stress & Boredom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that chewing is a natural stress-relieving and entertaining behavior for dogs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to encourage regular chewing sessions along with appropriate dog chews in your pups<\/a>, regardless of their age. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yep, puppies benefit from chewing as much as adult and senior dogs do! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So next time your puppy tries to go for a chew session on your woodwork<\/a>, furniture, or couch, offer them a pig ear instead!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll see that a good chew session keeps boredom at bay and provides mental stimulation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chewing can also be really beneficial in dogs who are scared of thunder and fireworks sounds<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Helps Support Joint Health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pig ears help support your dog\u2019s joints because they\u2019re naturally rich in glucosamine and chondroitin, the building blocks of cartilage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, your dog\u2019s joints are made of cartilage!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s a good idea to offer your pup pig ears<\/a> as a joint preventative on a somewhat regular basis – right along with keeping your pup at a healthy weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because let\u2019s face it, excessive weight adds unnecessary pressure on your dog\u2019s joints, which makes it harder for your pup to move around and be active. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Two of my former dog walking clients with a pig ear chew reward<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

5. Promotes Healthy Muscles & Skin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pig ear treats are naturally rich in protein with 20-30 grams of protein per ear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protein is super important to build and maintain your dog\u2019s skin & muscle tissue as well as their skeletal health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Great For Dogs With Food Sensitivities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pork ears are also a great dog chew for dogs with allergies or sensitivities to grains and starches as well as common proteins like chicken, beef or fish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if your pup doesn\u2019t do well with Milkbone treats, chicken feet, bully <\/a>sticks, beef collagen sticks<\/a>, or salmon skins, try offering them a pig ear instead! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My pup Wally, for example, gets super itchy whenever he has anything made from chicken or salmon, and the same applies to any food or chews with grains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I mostly stick to treating him with single-ingredient dog chews<\/a>, and pig ears are definitely one of them!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Wally busy with a pig ear dog chew<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Any Cons?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well, as much as pig ears are great for dogs with sensitivities to proteins other than pork, they\u2019re a no-no for dogs with pork allergies!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pig ears are also not a long lasting chew for power chewers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember that they mostly consist of soft cartilage and not hard bone like antlers, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just for reference, my 38 lb pup Wally is a moderate chewer and finishes a whole pig ear in about 15-20 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means a power chewer can easily go through a pig ear in 5 minutes or less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since pig ears have quite a few calories, they\u2019re also not a great dog chew for overweight dogs who don\u2019t exercise regularly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which brings us to the next question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Many Pig Ears Can I Give My Puppy?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Pig ear dog chews<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

That\u2019s important to know because remember that pig ears are a calorie-rich food? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, it really depends on the size of the pig ear as well as on your dog\u2019s size and activity level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally speaking, smaller pig ears or half pig ears<\/a> are a better size for puppies and small to medium size dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whole pig ears as well as jumbo pig ears are best for large to extra large dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, if your pup\u2019s at their target body weight and not chubby or obese, you should be able to give them a pig ear once a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But your pup\u2019s activity level and life stage plays an important role in the amount of pig ears they can have, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Can Dogs Eat Pig Ears Every Day?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If they exercise 2-3 hours per day and have weekly agility practice sessions in combination with agility trials on the weekend, they\u2019re burning a lot of calories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means they\u2019ll be fine with several pig ears per week, potentially even one per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same applies to puppies who need considerably more calories while they\u2019re growing compared to their adult and senior counterparts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if your couch potato Bulldog eats a pig ear every day and only gets to walk their neighborhood for 30 minutes, they\u2019ll get chubby real quick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Pig Ears Safe For Dogs or: Can I Leave My Dog Alone With A Pigs Ear?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We already covered the fact that unlike rawhide, pig ears are fully digestible, so your pup shouldn\u2019t have any issues there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they\u2019ve never had a pig ear, it\u2019s probably best to introduce it slowly to prevent an upset tummy, especially if your dog is known to have an overly sensitive stomach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they don\u2019t reliably respond to a \u201cleave it\u201d command<\/a>, you can hold one end of the pig ear and let your pup chew on the other end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 5 minutes, take it away and let them continue chewing on it the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as leaving your dog alone with a pig’s ear, it\u2019s safer not to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if your dog is a seasoned chewer, there\u2019s always a small chance they may choke on it for whatever reason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a general rule of thumb, it\u2019s best to supervise your pups when they\u2019re busy with any type of chew – regardless of whether it\u2019s an antler, a beef collagen stick<\/a>, or a pig’s ear.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That also means that it\u2019s not a good idea to leave your pup home alone in their crate<\/a> with a pig ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A filled and frozen KONG dog toy<\/a> is a much better crate companion when you\u2019re not home to supervise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I digress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Baked Or Smoked Pig Ears Better For Dogs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Generally speaking, the less processed a dog chew, the healthier and better it is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smoked pig ears are more processed than baked or slow roasted pig ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because they undergo an additional level of treatment and contain unnatural, chemical flavors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the name suggests, chemicals are the opposite of natural and are not something that should be in your best friend\u2019s dog treats, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OK, let\u2019s go down one more important pig ear rabbit hole:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Dogs Get Salmonella From Pig Ear Treats? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The chances that healthy dogs contract salmonella from pig ear treats or any other chews are slim to none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because a dog\u2019s stomach is very acidic and their digestive system is very short. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of that, dogs are well equipped to handle bacteria like salmonella. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s also the reason why they can eat raw meat<\/a> – as a matter of fact, dog and wolf DNA are almost exactly the same and only differ by less than 2%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, people can get salmonella from affected pig ear treats, which is what happened in 2019 and caused multiple pig ear dog chew recalls<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to always remember to wash your hands after handling any dog treats such as pig ears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have kids, teach them the same!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom Line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overall, oven-dried pig ear treats<\/a> are really good for dogs and make a healthy rawhide alternative! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re a single-ingredient dog chew that\u2019s naturally rich in health promoting components and doesn\u2019t feature any harmful chemical ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fed in moderation, your puppy can greatly benefit from pig ear chews both on a physical AND mental level because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n