{"id":1957,"date":"2021-03-13T16:45:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T16:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging2.kipandtwiggys.com\/?p=1957"},"modified":"2023-04-21T17:00:20","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T17:00:20","slug":"beef-tendons-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kipandtwiggys.com\/beef-tendons-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Beef Tendons for Dogs (by Jo the Vet)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you looking for a natural chew for your dog? Maybe something that is nutritious and has some health benefits too? Or maybe you’re looking for a chew which will distract your dog for ages, keeping him entertained and happy? Beef tendons may be the right chew for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article we will investigate how beef tendons are made, if they’re safe for your dog, and how they might benefit your dog’s health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Beef tendons are healthy, high in protein and low in fat.<\/p>

Beef tendons help improve dental health, joint health, and mental health for anxious and busy dogs.<\/p>

Beef tendons are long-lasting chews, which can be given to any dog of any size older than 16 weeks. They are particularly helpful in aiding puppies with teething discomforts.<\/p>

Beef tendons are generally very safe, but as with all hard chews, you should take them away when they are small enough to swallow whole, to prevent it getting stuck in the throat.<\/p>

A few great alternatives to beef tendons include ostrich tendons<\/a>, bully sticks<\/a> and chicken feet<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What Are Beef Tendons?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beef tendon chews are 100% natural dried beef tendons. They are usually taken from the Achilles tendon of a cow, but any long thick tendon can be used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They can be sourced from all over the world, however in Europe, Turkey seems to be one of the main producers of beef tendon chews for dogs. They are by-products of the meat industry, and would have been discarded or minced up into dog food had they not been harvested for tendons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tendons are usually quite large, at six to ten inches long, and either air-dried or dehydrated with heat. Some tendons are wood-smoked to add extra flavouring, but this is unnecessary as dogs love them just as they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most tendons look relatively natural, but they can be dried into a twisted shape or plaited together with another tendon or two. These twists and turns can be beneficial when it comes to abrasion against the teeth to improve the effectiveness of teeth cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Benefits of Beef Tendons for Dogs<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beef tendons are nutritious, low-fat chews for dogs which help improve dental health, as well as mental health, by providing plenty of chewing time. They also contain glucosamine and chondroitin which helps to improve joint health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Mental Health<\/strong>
Beef tendons can provide a few hours of enjoyable chewing which releases endorphins.<\/p>

Dental Health<\/strong>
Beef tendons fray as they are chewed and the fibres have an abrasive, cleaning effect.<\/p>

Joint Health<\/strong>
Beef tendons contain glucosamine and chondroitin which are linked to cartilage production and improved joint fluid.<\/p>

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Mental Health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beef tendons are tough to chew through, and will keep your dog entertained for hours. Constant chewing stimulates the release of endorphins; natural compounds which help your dog feel happy and relaxed. Coupled with the hour or two of distraction that a beef tendon will provide your dog, they are ideal to improve your dog’s mental health, especially if they are a worrier, suffer from separation anxiety, or need some distraction through a thunderstorm or fireworks display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dental Health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Also, chewing through tendons helps improve your dog’s dental health. The chewing action provides abrasion against the teeth, resulting in less plaque build-up and cleaner teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joint Health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beef tendons are full of connective tissue. This is high in protein and low in fat, and also naturally contains glucosamine and chondroitin. These compounds have been scientifically proven to improve joint cartilage health of osteoarthritic dogs. Glucosamine and chondroitin are precursors for cartilage, and stimulate the production of glucosaminoglycans (GAGs)<\/a> which make up cartilage. They also improve joint fluid through stimulating the production of hyaluronic acid.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there is a variable amount of glucosamine and chondroitin in each individual product, and it is unlikely to be sufficient to make enough of a difference alone. Therefore, joint supplements are a superior option to ensure your dog is provided with a clinically relevant dose of the compounds. It’s also important to remember that neither supplements or beef tendon chews are substitutes for taking your dog to the vet to receive treatment when he is uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Nutritional Information for Beef Tendons<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beef tendons are also highly nutritious. As already mentioned are high in protein and low in fat, making them excellent choices for dogs which are overweight. The average guaranteed analysis is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nutrition<\/h3><\/div>
Nutrition<\/div><\/div>
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Protein<\/div><\/div>
77%<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Fat<\/div><\/div>
6%<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Moisture<\/div><\/div>
9%<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Compounds<\/div><\/div>
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Glucosamine<\/div><\/div>
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Chondroitin<\/div><\/div>
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Note: The percentages don’t add up to 100% as they are averages from several data sources. Ranges are given when there is a wide variation between products. Find out more about how we calculate nutritional information >><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protein is an integral part of your dog’s diet and helps keep muscles strong, as well as synthesise DNA and hormones. A dog’s diet should be made up of predominantly protein, so beef tendons contribute to it very well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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40 Kilocalories per Chew<\/h3>

Beef tendons are low in fat and low in calories, enabling you to feel guilt free about giving them to your dog. However it doesn’t mean they are completely fat-free, so remember to take a small amount of food away from your dog’s daily ration to make up for eating a beef tendon.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Feeding Guide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Given all the benefits, you’ll probably want to give them as regularly as possible. Well the good news is, medium and large dogs can have a beef tendon daily. Smaller dogs shouldn’t have more than five a week, as beef tendons are quite large, but you can break or saw them in half and give your smaller dog a chew daily if you wish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Disadvantages & Risks of Beef Tendons for Dogs<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A Very Safe Treat<\/h3>

You can feed beef tendons often with virtually no risk. Just be sure to remove the last piece (especially if your dog is a gulper) to reduce the risk of choking.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

There are very few risks associated with beef tendons, however, as with all treats which are tough, you should take it away when it becomes small enough to swallow whole (especially if your dog is a gulper!). This will prevent your dog from choking on the last bit of the treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But generally, beef tendons are easily digestible, so as long as it makes it to the stomach, it should be broken down by the stomach acid and pass through the rest of the intestines with no issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are very few cases where you have to avoid giving your dog beef tendons. Naturally, if your dog is allergic to beef, they are not a good idea as they are full of beef protein. But otherwise, they are suitable for all dog breeds of all shapes, sizes and most ages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>Beef Tendons for Puppies<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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Puppies can be given beef tendons from 16 weeks of age. They are perfect for distracting bitey puppies when they go through their crocodile phase! They also help relieve those itchy gums when your puppy loses his baby teeth to be replaced by adult teeth around six months old.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Alternatives to Beef Tendons<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like the sound of beef tendons but not quite sold on them? Why not try one of these alternatives?<\/p>\n\n\n\n