{"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

<\/span>Key facts<\/span><\/h2>

<\/h4><\/div>

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

<\/span>What are Cows Ears?<\/span><\/h2>\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

<\/span>Benefits of Cow Ears for Dogs<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/circle><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

Key benefits<\/h3><\/div>

Dental Benefits<\/strong>
Cow ears can also help your dog with improving his oral hygiene. Chewing on cow ears helps to remove plaque from the teeth, and reduce the chances of developing periodontal disease.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Nutritional Information for Cow’s Ears<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/circle><\/path><\/path><\/line><\/svg><\/div>

Nutrition & Compounds<\/h3><\/div>
Nutrition<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Protein<\/div><\/div>
66% – 90%<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Fat<\/div><\/div>
1% – 3%<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Compounds<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Chondroitin<\/div><\/div>
High<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The nutritional make up varies between brands, but the numbers above are a reasonable rule of thumb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chondroitin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since ears are mainly made up of cartilage, they are naturally full of chondroitin<\/a>. This helps improve the health of joint cartilage, and specifically aids dogs with arthritis, or who are hard-wearing on their joints, such as active, working dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/polygon><\/polygon><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

Don’t Overdo It<\/h3>

As with all treats which are ingested, despite being low-fat, cow ears for dogs still contain calories, so it is important to make sure your dog doesn’t over-indulge.<\/p>

Cow ears should be given as an occasional treat, as part of a balanced diet, no more than several times a week.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Downsides & Risks of Cow Ears for Dogs<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/path><\/circle><\/circle><\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

<\/h3>

Cow’s ears carry a small risk of choking, so always remove the last chunk. Overfeeding could cause an upset tummy. And obviously don’t feed if your dog has a beef allergy.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Small Choking Risk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cow ears are generally considered safe for dogs as they are highly digestible. This means everything that reaches the stomach should be successfully digested. However, when they get small enough to swallow, you should remove the last bit to ensure your dog doesn’t swallow it whole and choke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diarrhoea  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On very rare occasions, cow ears may trigger diarrhoea, however this is most common in dogs who have not had cow ears before, or eat too many too often. Most dogs tolerate them well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beef Allergy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You should consider avoiding cow ears if your dog has a beef allergy, as beef protein makes up a large percentage of cow ears. In addition to this, a whole cow ear is not a suitable size for a small dog, and therefore only a portion of it should be given as a treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/circle><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

<\/span>Cow Ears for Puppies<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
<\/div>

<\/h4>

Puppies can be given cow ears from four months old to chew on to reduce teething discomfort, however a whole cow ear will be too big for a puppy. Therefore, you will need to cut it up or remove it from your puppy once he has eaten his allowed amount.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Alternatives to Cow Ears<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like the idea of cow ears but still not quite sold? Here are a few alternatives which you could consider giving your dog instead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n