Rabbit Ears for Dogs: What They Are and How to Feed Them

Rabbit ears for dogs are whole rabbit ears, dried and sold as a single-ingredient chew, and most dogs finish one in a few minutes. Give one at a time, take the last small piece away, and keep them for dogs rather than cats.

This page covers what a dried rabbit ear is, the fur question, and how it compares with the other chews people ask us about. After that come amounts by dog size, a first-time plan, and what ours is like. We make ours in Malvern, Pennsylvania, but the guide comes first.

What a dried rabbit ear is

It is exactly what it sounds like. A rabbit ear is long, thin and mostly skin and cartilage, and drying it turns it into a light, brittle chew. There is no cut or ground meat in the picture. It is one whole piece of one animal, which is why the shape and size change from ear to ear.

That also makes it a different thing from a bone or an antler. Nothing about a dried ear is dense. It crunches and breaks apart more than it wears down, so it works as a short snack rather than something a dog carries around all afternoon.

Fur on or fur off

This is the question people ask most, and it is a fair one. Rabbit ears are sold both ways by different makers, and some dogs and owners have a strong preference. Our product sheet does not say either way, so we are not going to guess here. If it matters to you, ask us before you order.

Rabbit ears against duck feet and chicken feet

People often weigh these three against each other, so here is the plain comparison. Feet are a bonier chew. They are small bundles of skin and tiny bones, they take a dog longer, and they sound loud when they crunch. Our guides to duck feet and chicken feet go through each one.

A rabbit ear is the lighter option. It is shorter, it has less to it, and most dogs are done in a few minutes. If you want something that lasts, feet are the better pick. If you want a quick chew that does not sit on the rug for an hour, ears are.

How much by dog size

Treat a dried ear as a snack, not a meal. Keep all treats to about 10 percent of what a dog eats in a day, and give one ear at a time.

• Small dogs under 20 pounds: half an ear. Break it in half first.
• Medium dogs, 20 to 50 pounds: one ear.
• Large dogs over 50 pounds: one ear, or two across a day.

A few times a week is plenty. A dog that gets a chew every day tends to stop caring about it, and a plain rotation keeps it interesting. Our sheet does not carry a calorie figure for this one, so we will not print one.

The first time

Hand over one ear, or half of one for a small dog, and stay in the room. Dried chews are the one kind of treat we would not give to a dog and walk away from. Watch how your dog goes at it. Some dogs gnaw, and some gulp.

When the ear is down to a piece small enough to swallow whole, take it away. That is the rule for any chew. Give fresh water alongside, and if your dog is on a special diet or has had trouble with a new protein before, ask your veterinarian first. Rabbit is a less common meat, so for many dogs this will be a new one.

Can dogs and cats share

Not this one. Rabbit ears are a dog chew, and we do not list them for cats. A cat will not know what to do with a long dried ear. If you share a house with both, the full treat shop shows which treats we list for dogs and which for cats.

What our rabbit ears are like

If you want a ready-made option, ours is Rabbit Ears Dog Chews. The only ingredient is rabbit ear. We dry them in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and a pack holds 5 ears.

They are whole ears, light and crunchy, and most dogs finish one in a few minutes. For a small dog, break an ear in half before you hand it over. Because each one is a whole piece, expect shape and size to vary. It is a seasonal item for us, tied to spring and Easter, so the product page shows where things stand. We have also put the spring angle in a separate guide, Easter dog treats with rabbit ears.

Storing dried ears

Keep any dried chew in a cool, dry place with the bag closed. Moisture is the thing to avoid, because a crunchy ear that has been left near the sink turns leathery. Keep a pack away from the dishwasher and from a hot car.

Rabbit ear questions

Can dogs eat rabbit ears?

Yes, dried rabbit ears are a common dog chew. Give one at a time, stay nearby, and take away the last piece once it is small enough to swallow whole.

Do rabbit ears come with fur?

Some do and some do not, depending on the maker. Our product sheet does not say, so we do not state either one. Ask us before you order if it matters to you.

How long does a rabbit ear last?

Usually a few minutes. It is a light, crunchy chew rather than a long one, so if you want something that lasts, a duck foot or chicken foot is the longer option.

Can puppies have rabbit ears?

Our product sheet does not list a life stage for this chew, so we do not make a claim either way. Ask your veterinarian about chews for a young puppy, and watch any dog closely while it chews.

Can cats have rabbit ears?

No. We list rabbit ears for dogs only. They are a long dried chew and not a cat treat.

What size should I buy for a small dog?

There is one size, a pack of 5 ears. For a small dog, break each ear in half and you get ten smaller chews out of one pack.

Is a rabbit ear a whole ingredient or a cut piece?

It is a whole ear, dried, with nothing added. Because it is not cut or ground, the shape and size change from one ear to the next.