Beef backstrap (paddywack): what it is and how to feed it

Butchers call it paddywack; we sell it as beef backstrap, which is the plainer name for the same cut. It's the nuchal ligament, the thick, elastic band that runs along the top of a cow's neck and holds its head up. Naturally dried, it becomes a long, tough, springy chew that strong chewers take a while to get through. One ingredient, no bone, a natural source of collagen and elastin.

What's in it?

Ligament is connective tissue, which is largely collagen. A nuchal ligament is also rich in elastin, the protein that lets tissue stretch and snap back. That's why a dried backstrap doesn't shatter like a foot or grind like a tendon: it gives a little, then holds. Dogs that like resistance rate it highly, which is the honest version of "why dogs love it". Vitamins and minerals live in organ meat, not ligament.

We take it from Australian beef and dry it at low heat: no basting, no smoke flavour, no coating. The nutrient side is in our collagen article.

Which dogs suit beef backstrap?

Strong, determined chewers with adult teeth: the dog for whom a tendon lasts five minutes and a chicken foot thirty seconds. A big dog that gulps is better here than on a smaller chew, because a backstrap is too long and too tough to swallow in one go.

It's firm, not hard: you can dent it with a thumbnail, the test veterinary dentists use for whether a chew can crack a tooth. Puppies wait until adult teeth are in, roughly six to seven months. Beef is one of the most commonly reported food allergens in dogs (Mueller, Olivry and Prélaud, 2016), so if beef is off the menu for yours, a kangaroo tendon is the closest thing on a different animal.

How much, and what to watch for

A chew every few days, not a daily habit, counted within the 10% of daily food that treats stay under. As a dog works it, it softens and shortens, and the last stub can be swallowed, so that's when to take it away. If your dog's breath or gums are the reason you're shopping, that's a vet visit first.

Chew safely. Size it so it can't be swallowed whole, supervise, and take it away once it's small. Very hard chews can crack teeth — not for puppies, seniors or dogs with dental issues. Fresh water always. A treat, not a meal.

If your dog is the one for whom nothing lasts, beef backstrap is where we'd send you first in the chews and bones range.

Keep reading: Best natural chews for dogs: how to match the chew to the dog · Kangaroo tendon for dogs: what's in it and how to feed it

Sources

• Mueller RS, Olivry T, Prélaud P (2016). Common food allergen sources in dogs and cats. BMC Veterinary Research 12:9. doi.org
• American Veterinary Dental College. Chew toys and dental fractures / Position statements. avdc.org

Pudel · Reviewed September 2026 · Single-protein, naturally dried dog treats, made in Australia. General information, not veterinary advice.