Dog owners must have strong stomachs when they think of the unusual snacks we give our pets, like pig ears, cow hooves, and bully sticks. But can you add raw chicken feet to that list? The mere suggestion may sound incredulous to anyone who is a first-time dog owner. However, chicken feet are one of many foods appearing on menus promoting the nose-to-tail movement of no food waste.

The operative word in this question is “raw.” Cooked chicken feet may have some merits along with risks, as we’ll discuss. However, the line gets blurry when you talk about uncooked animal parts. We support the position of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when we recommend not feeding your dog any raw meat, including chicken feet.

Why Can’t Dogs Eat Raw Chicken Feet?

The question of whether to give your pup chicken is easy to answer. Humans enjoy poultry and consume it more than beef or pork, and it’s also a common animal-based protein in many commercial dog foods. It’s highly digestible, adding to its nutritional value, but the red flag pops up with raw chicken feet when we put their nutritional value aside.

Consuming raw chicken meat carries the risk of several foodborne illnesses, including bacteria from Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella spp., or Campylobacter spp. The raw meat or juices may contain these harmful pathogens. However, that caution applies to any part of the bird, or any raw meat, for that matter.

The risk doesn’t exist just with your pet; it also can affect you or anyone who handles the chicken feet. Anyone in your household is at risk if the proper precautions aren’t taken when handling the meat. While this discussion may sound overcautious, it’s worth noting the CDC estimates there are 1 million reported cases annually.

Dangers of Feeding Raw Chicken Feet to Dogs

Foodborne illnesses are probably enough reason for many pet owners to give raw chicken feet a pass, but the health risks don’t end there. Chickens are well-equipped to defend themselves against predators with sharp nails, so you must remove them to protect your pet before they consume them. Some cooks peel the feet before using them, as the skin might make the chicken feet hard to digest and present a choking hazard.

The other concern we have rests more with you than your dog. Some people may find preparing and serving your dog chicken feet distasteful, being too close to the bone for some. Availability might be another issue. Much depends on where you shop, but you may find a butcher shop that is a more reliable source of this food.

What About Cooked Chicken Feet?

Chicken feet don’t contain much meat, and they have more cartilage and collagen. Therein lies some of its nutritional value. This protein is a major component of connective tissue, including muscles and skin.

Humans boil chicken feet to eat on their own or use them to flavor broths and soups. They add body to dishes with the gelatin they bring to these preparations. Boiling them makes peeling the feet easier. However, this all changes when considering the food’s safety.

Pros of Cooked Chicken Feet

Boiled chicken feet have excellent nutritional value, even if they aren’t choice meat. They are high in protein, with 19.4 grams in a 100-gram serving. They are also rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and folate. Chicken is a complete protein, which means it contains all the essential amino acids.

Chicken feet are not a typical meat choice for many American households. You may find it difficult to find them. If you can, they may prove inexpensive based on the local demand.

Cons of Cooked Chicken Feet

We’ve discussed the preparation, which some may find squeamish. As we also already mentioned, chicken feet aren’t very meaty, and while offering cooked chicken feet might not pose the risk of foodborne illnesses, they could still cause digestive issues. If the bones were consumed, they could splinter and tear or obstruct your dog’s digestive system. They are also quite high in fat, a 100-gram serving contains 14.6 grams

We recommend extreme caution whenever feeding dogs human foods. Yes, they bridged the gap between humans and canines. However, things are different now, and we know better than to just offer whatever food scraps we have to our precious pets. Another concern is the other ingredients you may use to cook the feet or marinate them, such as onions and garlic, both of which are toxic to dogs.

Conclusion

While chicken is an excellent source of animal-based protein, raw chicken feet are problematic. They present problems with possible foodborne illnesses. The risks exist for the pet, owner, and household members. We recommend taking this food item off the menu, no matter how low the chances of an issue. The feet are more challenging to prepare, even if offered raw. Plus, they could cause serious digestive issues, regardless of if they’re cooked or not. It’s best to steer clear of chicken feet altogether when it comes to our pets.

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Featured Image Credit: AlexeiLogvinovich, Shutterstock