{"id":1902,"date":"2021-04-21T12:24:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T12:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging2.kipandtwiggys.com\/?p=1902"},"modified":"2022-09-18T12:51:05","modified_gmt":"2022-09-18T12:51:05","slug":"cow-ears-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kipandtwiggys.com\/cow-ears-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"The Big Guide to Cow Ears for Dogs (by Jo the Vet)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Do you have a large dog and find that normal sized treats are not more than a mouthful for him? Or do you have a dog which has a big appetite? Are you looking for a natural treat which your dog is sure to love? Look no further — cow ears for dogs might be for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article we will look at where cow ears come from, how they’re made, what benefits they have and whether or not they’re safe for your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cow ears are a great option for an occasional treat, which offers health benefits for the teeth and joints. <\/p>
They provide a moderate amount of chewing time, and for most dogs, don’t pose any risk of ill-health. <\/p>
However, cow ears can be sourced from a variety of places with varying degrees of animal welfare, as well as processed in very different ways, so it is important to investigate each individual product before buying.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Cow ears, as the name suggests, come from cows. They are a by-product of the beef industry, and processed after slaughter to create delicious chews for dogs. They are commonly chosen as larger alternatives for pig ears, as they are at least 50% bigger, and sometimes double the size! Don’t be fooled that a larger size means more chewing time though. On average it will take between 20 minutes and a couple of hours for a dog to finish a cow ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, cow ears are hairy, so they have to go through a process to get to the point at which they are edible. Firstly, the hair is removed, then they are disinfected. This is usually done with a mixture of sodium hypochlorite, but different companies will use different disinfectant solutions. Next they are dried. This can be through baking or dehydrating. Finally, some cow ears are also irradiated before they are packaged, which kills off bacteria such as Salmonella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Due to the differences in the processing stage between companies, cow ears can look very different depending on where you buy them from. They could be dried relatively hard or slightly puffed up, and they can range in colour from white (most likely irradiated) to brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n