Pigs ears for dogs are a common treat available in most pet stores; they are cheap and delicious to our canine companions. This article delves deeply into the subject, answering these questions and more. But how are they made? Are they actually a healthy option when it comes to dog treats? If so, why?
When given in moderation, pig ears can be healthy and delicious treats for your dog.
If your dog is still a puppy, overweight, or prone to pancreatitis attacks, stay away from pigs ears.
The majority of mature, healthy dogs can safely eat one pig ear as a special treat each week.
3 Safety Concerns With Pig Ears for Puppies
Even though pig ears are designed to be completely edible, there are some other components that could make the treat poisonous for a puppy.
Physical issues such as it being a choking hazard and other oral problems that come with pig ears are present along with harmful bacteria strains.
Sadly, pig ears are not produced in the cleanest of environments. In fact, it is frequently regarded as a waste when pigs are being slaughtered.
Pig ears can be found at the butcher shop along with all the extra organs that butchers would not sell because people typically discard them.
Because of this, even after the pig ears are dried, if they are not properly sanitized, numerous harmful bacteria are populating and growing on the pig ears.
Because there are so many different pathogens that can cause illness inside a pig, as we have already mentioned, these bacteria can prove to be extremely dangerous for both humans and dogs. Salmonella is the most notable and typical one.
In fact, this dangerous characteristic of pig ears was the cause of a recent salmonella outbreak in 2019 during which the government made an official statement telling all pig ear producers to temporarily stop producing them and making the consumers aware of the risks of providing pig ears to their dogs.
The main issue with salmonella is that, despite not being lethal, it can make people and dogs sick. As a result, if the owner becomes ill alongside the dog, the dog will not be able to receive the proper care, especially if the owner is the only person the dog knows and can therefore rely on.
However, because there have been so many different methods that have evolved over time to treat or lessen the symptoms of salmonella infection, salmonella tends to be easier to treat for humans.
However, this isn’t always the case with dogs. You must take precautions against bacteria, especially if you are feeding pig ears to puppies who have weakened immune systems.
Although this holds true for the majority of chew treats and toys on the market right now, it is especially true for puppies and pig ears.
Just like beef jerky, pig ears are made out of dried meat. This means that the treat itself is a lot more chewy and, therefore, more difficult to break down with the teeth before swallowing it.
Obviously, this was the point of the product:
Before they soften the treat enough for them to be able to swallow it without any issues, you want dogs to chew on the treat for as long as possible. Unfortunately, dogs who are chewing on pig ears do not have the same perspectives.
Similar to how candy tempts us, the aroma and flavor of meat only makes them eagerly consume the consumable chew toy. We are compelled to swallow them as soon as possible due to how sweet they taste, even though the act of swallowing it after breaking it apart is not pleasant.
The same applies for dogs and pig ears.
However, due to their brittleness, hardness, and difficulty in chewing, pig ears are typically much more dangerous. This means that if it becomes stuck in your dog’s throat, it will be very difficult for you to remove it on your own without assistance from a professional.
However, you have to try until help arrives. The Heimlich maneuver can be used in these situations:
All dogs are susceptible to choking hazards, but given that puppies’ throats are so small and pig ears are so hard and brittle as a chew treat, we do not advise giving your puppies any pig ears.
This health issue pales in comparison to the other issues mentioned above. Due to the brittleness of the treats, your puppy’s gum lines may become extremely agitated while chewing on pig ears, resulting in cuts and scratches.
Normally, a scratch on your dog’s legs wouldn’t be much different from a normal scratch, but for puppies, these wounds can be fatal.
Because of its weakened immune system and high risk of bacterial infection, not because it bleeds excessively.
The mouth of your dog is one of the places where there are the most bacteria.
While this does not imply that your dog’s mouth is necessarily unhealthy, it is possible that it contains pathogens that shouldn’t be in your dog’s bloodstream. In such cases, infections may arise. Fortunately, most infections only cause minor discomfort and are not fatal.
This issue might improve once your puppy reaches adulthood, but for now, its gum lines are too soft, and you still do not want your best friend to sustain a cut in its mouth. You run the risk of infecting it with bacteria, so please use caution.
Does It Get Better Over Time?
For bacterial issues, no, not really. However, for oral and choking concerns, yes.
Although your dog’s immune system does strengthen with age in terms of pathogens, salmonella is a particularly potent bacteria that can seriously illen even the healthiest dogs.
Fortunately, however, oral problems improve with time as your dog ages and its gum lines become more resilient. You don’t really need to be concerned about cuts developing in your dog’s mouth once it is an adult. The same holds true for worries about choking, but you still need to be cautious about this.
Depending on the product, your dog should be fine if it is chewing on a pig ear that is either too large to swallow or small enough to do so without choking.
However, due to their wider throats, adult dogs generally tend to be more secure around pig ears. So, when your puppy gets older, this safety concern really improves, so wait until then!
Are cows ears safe for puppies?
Pig ears can make for good chewing, but the coating they often have can upset your dog’s stomach and leave stains on your carpets. They can also serve as a growing surface for a variety of nasty bacteria!