Are you looking for an easy, one ingredient chew to make for your dog? It doesn’t get much easier than Tripe Chews. Basically beef tripe chews are just tripe–which you can purchase in your supermarket–cut into strips and baked to create delicious dog chews.
Below I’ll show you which kind of tripe to buy, how to make these easy chews and give you everything you need to know on tripe for dogs.
What Is Tripe?
Tripe is the stomach of a ruminant animal; the tripe that you buy in the grocery store is typically a cow’s stomach. I purchase beef tripe to create our dog chews.
Tripe was once a very popular meat for numerous dishes, so much so that there’s even a World Tripe Day on Oct. 24. (Who knew?!)
Today it’s used in many Eastern European dishes, some Italian foods and, in our area, in menudo, a spicy stew. (And if you’re wondering “can dogs eat menudo”, the answer is no. Traditional menudo includes onions, which are toxic to dogs. Make the menudo to enjoy yourself and purchase some extra tripe for your dog then you’ll both be happy!)
According to Wikipedia, several types of tripe are available for purchase:
Beef tripe is made from the muscle wall (the interior mucosal lining is removed) of only the first three chambers of a cow‘s stomach: the rumen (blanket/flat/smooth tripe), the reticulum (honeycomb and pocket tripe), and the omasum (book/bible/leaf tripe). Abomasum (reed) tripe is seen less frequently, owing to its glandular tissue content.
Is Tripe Good for Dogs — and Is It Healthier than Rawhide?
We never give our dogs rawhide because of the risk of choking and obstruction–and the fact that it’s not easily digested. And while we buy marrow bones, we only do so to make bone broth due to the broken teeth our dogs have experienced through the years. But dogs love chews–so it’s up to us to find safe and healthy options!
Beef tripe is a meat that’s chewy (perfect for a dog chew!), low in calories and fat, and even a source of B-12 and zinc.
White tripe, often found in grocery stores for human consumption, is the cleaned version of the raw stomach lining of ruminant animals. Most of the distinct nutritional advantages found in green tripe are diminished in the processing of white tripe. However, white tripe still offers some nutritional benefits for dogs:
- Protein: Like other meat products, white tripe is a source of protein.
- Low Fat: White tripe is generally low in fat, making it a potential option for dogs that need to be on a lower-fat diet.
- Texture: Its unique texture can help in scraping away dental plaque, acting as a form of dental chew, though it’s not a replacement for regular dental care.
- Taste: Many dogs find the taste and texture of white tripe appealing, even though it doesn’t have the pungent aroma of green tripe that many dogs love.
Another benefit: it’s inexpensive! I purchased nearly three pounds of tripe for under $8.
What Is the Difference in White Tripe and Green Tripe for Dogs?
You may have also purchased green tripe treats or food for your dog. Typically you’d need to go to a meat source to purchase green tripe. This is the untreated, unbleached stomach lining. It is called “green” not because of its color but because it is unprocessed.
Green tripe contains many beneficial nutrients, enzymes, and bacteria which can be good for a dog’s digestion. It’s rich in fatty acids and has an appropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Green tripe is smelly (like really smelly), but many dogs love its taste.
While most people don’t have easy access to green tripe (or want to deal with the smell), scalded white tripe is available from most grocery stores.
How to Prepare Tripe to Make Dog Chews
When you take the tripe out of the package, you’ll see that it unfolds into one big sheet:
I know…I know…it is not pretty.
But your dog is worth it! (And don’t worry…unlike with green tripe, white tripe has no unpleasant smell.)
Give the tripe a rinse then you’re ready to start making dog chews!
How to Prepare Tripe for Dogs
As I mentioned, tripe is a heavy, chewy meat; you can see that one side is also very textured.
You can opt for a sharp knife and cutting board to cut the tripe into strips or do as I did and use kitchen shears to simply cut the meat.
I first cut the meat in half, freezing the other portion for future treats.
Flip the tripe over to the non-textured side and you’ll see the grain of the meat. Cut your strips WITH the grain to make them even chewier for your dog.
Use a parchment-lined cookie sheet to line up your strips, cut to a size to your dog’s liking. They’ll shrink a little when baked but not too much so keep that in mind if you have a small dog.
Pop the cookie sheet in the oven preheat to 325 degrees F.
I baked my chews for two hours, flipping them over about half an hour before they were done, so that both sides would be browned.
The result was a flavorful treat that our dogs LOVE!
More Chew Recipes You Might Like
We’ve got many recipes for dog treats and chews here on DogTipper; these might especially be of interest:
How to Make Chicken Jerky for Dogs in the Oven
Print the Recipe for Beef tripe chews for dogs
Tripe Dog Chews
Ingredients
- 2 pounds white tripe
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Remove tripe from package; rinse tripe.
- Divide tripe into two portions. Freeze second portion for future treats.
- Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, cut with the grain of the meat. Cut into chew-size strips.
- Put strips on cookie sheet.
- Bake for 90 minutes.
- Flip over chews on cookie sheet, return to oven. Bake an additional 30 minutes.
- Cool chews before serving.
- Refrigerate for up to one week or freeze.
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