Another post in our series about foods that your dog can / should eat or avoid completely. We break it down into bitesize articles and will cover everything from artichokes to antelope! This is all taken from Jo’s upcoming book called “Can My Dog Eat This?”.

Ah yes, the humble Yak! Also referred to as the grunting ox or hairy cattle, this is a species of long-haired domesticated cattle found throughout the Himalayan region of South Asia. We prefer the title of Yak...although "grunting ox" gave us a giggle!

Himalayan yak chews have become a popular treat on the market for dogs, and are a great option for chewers in the household (humans and dogs!).

They are made from yak milk, a pinch of salt and lime juice, which is then compressed into blocks and smoke dried to give the chews their unique flavour. They are low in fat but high in calories.

The hard texture means dogs need to soften and work at the treat before they’re rewarded with small pieces to chew off. When your dog gets near the end of the chew, rather than allowing them to swallow a big lump of it, you can pop it into the microwave for 30 seconds. This bubbles up the chew to a honeycomb texture, which can then be safely eaten by your dog.

They should also only be given as an occasional treat because of their high calories, and potential high salt content.

Stay tuned for more "Can My Dog Eat This?" posts.

About these posts...

More and more owners are moving away from processed dry and tinned foods towards more natural, healthy diets for their pets. With this shift comes considerable confusion and misinformation. Are blackberries poisonous? Is garlic good or bad for dogs? What about avocado?

There is an important distinction between what dogs can eat and what dogs should eat. As with humans, dogs need a balanced diet to thrive. These posts will hopefully give you a steer in the right direction!