Collagen-rich chews: tendons, tails and feet explained

The working parts of an animal make the best chews: tendons, tails, feet and the neck ligament we sell as backstrap. Connective tissue is mostly collagen, so those cuts are a natural source of it. What a tendon will do for your dog's joints, nobody selling a treat can say honestly.

Which cuts are collagen-rich?

Four families, from quickest to slowest. Feet: chicken feet and duck feet, crunchy rather than hard. Tail tips: kangaroo, bone and cartilage in one piece. Tendons: kangaroo and beef, dense connective tissue with no bone, long and slow. Backstrap: the beef neck ligament some call paddywack, the longest chew of the group for most dogs.

Cartilage is also where glucosamine and chondroitin naturally occur. We won't put a number on it or compare it with anything from a bottle; our glucosamine article explains why.

Which dogs suit which chew?

Small dogs and gentle chewers do well on chicken feet or a single kangaroo tendon. Medium dogs can take a duck foot, a tendon or a tail tip. Big dogs, and the ones who see a chew as a race, are best on a beef tendon or a backstrap.

Puppies wait until the adult teeth are in, roughly six to seven months. Older dogs with worn teeth may find the tougher end hard going; a chicken foot is the kinder choice.

How much, and what to watch for

A tendon or backstrap for a medium dog is a chew every few days, with all treats under about 10% of the day's food.

Feet and tail tips are bone-in, and bone-in cuts can be swallowed whole by gulpers and can splinter. Tendons and backstrap have no bone, but the softened last inch goes in the bin, not the dog. If your dog is stiff in the mornings or slow on the stairs, start with your vet, not a chew. The whole group is in the chews and bones range.

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.

Every dog is different. For an ongoing issue, your vet is the first call — this is general information, not veterinary advice.

Keep reading: Kangaroo tendon for dogs: what's in it and how to feed it · Chicken feet for dogs: what's in them and how to feed them

Sources

• American Veterinary Dental College. Chew toys and dental fractures / Position statements. avdc.org
• RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase. Should I feed bones to my dog? kb.rspca.org.au

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