Duck for dogs: a novel protein when the usual ones don't suit

People come looking for duck when chicken and beef have stopped working. It's one of the less common proteins in Australian dog food, and a protein your dog hasn't eaten before is what vets call a novel protein. In our range it's also a chew: a whole duck foot, naturally dried, small bones and cartilage still in it.

What's in a duck foot?

The foot of an Australian duck, slowly dried at low heat: skin, tendon, cartilage and small, thin bones. Nothing added. Dried, it's light and crunchy — a few noisy minutes for most dogs.

Mostly it's connective tissue, where collagen naturally occurs; cartilage is where glucosamine and chondroitin are found. That describes the tissue; it isn't a promise about joints, and it isn't a meal. Treats stay under about 10% of the day's food, and a foot counts.

Why is duck called a novel protein?

Because for many dogs it's new. A 2016 review found the food allergens most often reported in dogs were beef, dairy, chicken, wheat and lamb (Mueller, Olivry and Prélaud, 2016). Duck and kangaroo appear far less often, so a dog raised on kibble and chicken jerky has probably never met either, which is what makes them useful to a vet who wants a clean starting point.

Novel is relative: if your dog has eaten duck for a year, it isn't novel for your dog. And "hasn't reacted yet" is not "can't react". Duck is a candidate your vet might choose, not an allergy answer in a bag, and we won't sell it as one. On a vet-run duck trial, a single-protein foot has no second protein hiding in it.

Which dogs suit duck feet, and how much?

Dogs that crunch rather than swallow. A duck foot suits small and medium dogs; a big dog can take a whole foot in one go. Puppies wait for adult teeth. One foot is a treat session, and for a small dog it may be the day's budget on its own.

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.

If your vet has put duck on the list, our duck feet are one word on the label and nothing else. That is all we'd claim for them.

Keep reading: Chicken breast jerky for dogs: the lean, light everyday treat · Kangaroo dog treats: what's in them and why it's a novel protein

Sources

• Mueller RS, Olivry T, Prélaud P (2016). Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats. BMC Veterinary Research 12:9. doi.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.