Protein and collagen for dogs: what's in muscle and tendon cuts

People come to tendon chews looking for a joint answer, and this article is mostly about why we won't give one. Dogs build and maintain muscle from the amino acids in dietary protein, and lean meat is where that protein comes from. Collagen is a different protein, the structural one that tendons, ligaments and cartilage are largely made of, and a tendon chew is a natural source of it. That's what the two cuts contain. It is not a claim about what they'll do.

What does protein do for a dog's muscles?

A dog's body is constantly breaking down and rebuilding muscle. Ten amino acids are "essential", meaning the body can't make them, and animal tissue supplies all of them (NRC, 2006). A meat treat adds a little more of the same. Kangaroo is one of the leanest red meats, at roughly 1–2 g of fat per 100 g (FSANZ).

What is collagen, and does eating it do anything?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in a mammal's body — the scaffolding of tendons, ligaments, cartilage, skin and bone (NRC, 2006). A dried tendon is a bundle of collagen fibres with very little else.

On joints, the honest answer: we don't claim it does anything. Collagen eaten as food is digested like any other protein. Whether that changes a dog's joints is a question for research and your vet, not a treat company.

Which cuts, and how to feed them

For protein, any jerky; kangaroo jerky is the leanest. For collagen, kangaroo tendon, beef tendons, backstrap and the cartilage-rich feet, all in the tendon and cartilage range. A tendon is tough rather than hard, but a dog can chew it down to a swallowable stub, and that stub is the risk. Everything stays under the usual ceiling: treats under about 10% of the day's food.

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.

A dog that moves well is mostly a dog kept lean, walked regularly and seen by a vet as they age. Stiffness is a symptom, and symptoms are a vet's job.

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 · Collagen-rich chews: tendons, tails and feet explained

Sources

• National Research Council (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academies Press. nap.nationalacademies.org
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Australian Food Composition Database. foodstandards.gov.au
• American Veterinary Dental College. Chew toys and dental fractures. avdc.org

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