Are Pig Ears Good for Dogs? Benefits, Safety and How Often to Feed

Somebody has told you pig ears are bad for dogs. That is usually why people end up reading something like this, and it is why I get asked about them more than almost anything else on the stall.

So let me give you the honest version, including the bits that do not help me sell them.

Are pig ears good for dogs?

Yes, as an occasional treat. No, as a daily one.

That is the whole answer, and everything below is just the detail behind it. Anyone who tells you they are simply brilliant with no caveats is selling. Anyone who tells you they are dangerous and should be avoided entirely is overstating it.

Let us talk about the fat, because that is the real issue

Pig ears are fatty. Ours run at 20% fat, and that is not a flaw in our supply, that is simply what a pig's ear is.

For most dogs, occasionally, that is absolutely fine. Where it matters:

• Dogs prone to pancreatitis. If your dog has had pancreatitis, or your vet has warned you about it, do not give pig ears. Not "in moderation", just do not.
• Dogs who need to lose weight. A pig ear is a meaningful chunk of a small dog's daily calories.
• Dogs with sensitive stomachs. Rich chews and delicate digestion do not mix. Introduce slowly if at all.

If any of those sound like your dog, a cow ear is the swap I would suggest. Same shape of chew, same sort of thing to work at, 6.4% fat instead of 20%. Our whole low fat range sits under 10% with the figures on every page.

One thing worth saying, because we used to say otherwise on this very page: a puffed pig snout is not the leaner option. Ours are 22.3% fat, so slightly richer than an ear. A snout is the better pick for a dog with worn teeth, not for a dog on a diet, and we had that wrong until we checked the figures properly.

So why do I still sell them?

Because for the right dog, given sensibly, they are a genuinely good chew and dogs adore them.

• One ingredient. Our Large Pig Ear is 100% pork. Nothing added, nothing sprayed on.
• High in protein. 68.4%.
• Rich in collagen and cartilage, which supports joints, skin and coat.
• Good for teeth. The chewing action works at plaque, and the cartilage gives proper resistance.
• Far better than rawhide. Rawhide is a by-product of the leather trade, often chemically treated, and it swells in the stomach rather than breaking down. A pig ear is meat. It digests.
• Grain free, chicken free, single protein. Useful for dogs who react to poultry.

How long does a pig ear last?

Not long, and this is worth knowing before you buy a single one and feel short-changed:

• Small dog: around 30 minutes
• Medium dog: around 10 minutes
• Large dog: about 5 minutes

An ear is soft and flat, so there is not much for a dog to work against. It is a treat rather than an occupier. If you want something that keeps a dog busy for an evening, a buffalo horn or a jumbo paddywack is a far better use of your money.

Which, incidentally, is another reason not to make these a daily thing. Ten minutes of chewing for that much fat is not a great trade.

How often should I give one?

Once or twice a week for most dogs, and count it as part of that day's food rather than something on top.

The general rule is that treats and chews should make up no more than around a tenth of what a dog eats in a day. With something this rich, I would stay well inside that.

A pig ear is a Saturday treat, not a Tuesday habit.

Are pig ears easy to digest?

Yes, and this is where they beat rawhide comfortably.

A pig ear is skin and cartilage, and it breaks down properly in the stomach. Rawhide does not, which is the thing that lands dogs at the vet. Every genuine digestion problem I have heard of with pig ears has come down to a dog eating too much too fast, or a dog whose stomach was never going to cope with something that rich.

Introduce one slowly the first time. If your dog is fine with it, they will be fine with it thereafter.

Can pig ears be a choking hazard?

The last inch is the bit to watch, and this applies to every chew we sell.

A dog who has worked an ear down to a small floppy piece will often try to swallow the rest whole rather than keep chewing. Take it off them at that point. It is the single most useful habit you can get into, and it removes almost all of the risk people worry about.

What about salmonella?

You may have read about this. There was a significant recall in the United States a few years ago involving imported pig ears, and it is why a lot of the American articles on this subject are so alarmed.

It is worth knowing about and worth being sensible about. Wash your hands after handling any dried animal chew, do not let small children carry them about, and buy from someone who can tell you where their stock comes from. Ours are sourced from suppliers in the UK and Europe, and I am happy to tell you exactly where anything came from if you ask.

What age can a puppy have a pig ear?

From around 12 weeks, with you watching, and sparingly.

They are soft enough for a puppy to manage, which is the appeal. But a puppy's stomach is not ready for something that rich in any quantity, so treat it as a rare thing rather than a teething staple. A paddywack at 7.5% fat is the better everyday option at that age.

The honest summary

Pig ears are a good chew for a healthy dog, once or twice a week, taken away before the last swallowable bit.

They are the wrong choice for a dog with pancreatitis, a dog on a diet, or a dog with a delicate stomach. If that is yours, I would genuinely rather sell you a cow ear.

If you are not sure which side of that line your dog falls on, email me and tell me about them. I answer every message myself, and I have talked plenty of people out of pig ears over the years.