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Ingredient file // Animal protein

Freeze-Dried Chicken Heart

Real chicken protein with a fatty catch

Freeze-dried chicken heart is heart muscle with most of its water removed after freezing. It contributes protein and fat to dog food. Claims that it protects a dog's heart or makes food easier to digest go beyond the evidence.

What it is
Chicken heart muscle frozen and dried under vacuum, then added to pet food or sold as treats.
Made from
Hearts from processed chickens
Main job
Animal protein and fat
Typical amount
Not published
Watch for
Raw pieces need pathogen controls
Not the same as
Chicken liver

Straight answer

Is Freeze-Dried Chicken Heart safe for dogs?

Count it as meat, then check fat

Find freeze-dried chicken heart on the ingredient list, then check the main protein sources and the finished food's fat level. A lower listing suggests a smaller addition, but gives no percentage. It is a useful animal ingredient for most dogs. Ignore promises that its taurine protects the heart.

Why it is in the food
Animal protein and fat

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 153 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

<1%

21 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 2 brands. All dry dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 16. In the top five of 0 foods, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

33%

Usually listed after the salt, which caps it at roughly 1% of the recipe in 67% of foods.

Price per lb

Foods with it $4.35
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 15 priced foods, 34% above the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

76%

of the foods that list it are from Instinct. 2 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Poultry processing produces hearts alongside other organs. Selling hearts by name gives that stream a separate use. Freeze-drying removes water from frozen tissue under vacuum, leaving dry pieces that manufacturers can add to food or sell as treats.2,6,7,9

  1. 01 // Source Chicken hearts Hearts are collected as a separate organ during poultry processing.
  2. 02 // Process Whole or sliced Freeze-dried heart products are sold as whole hearts or slices.
  3. 03 // Process Frozen and dried Under vacuum, ice leaves the frozen hearts as vapor, removing water without conventional cooking.
  4. 04 // Output Dry heart pieces The dried tissue is supplied for pet food or packaged as separate treats.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

35.8

% fat

The fat share in a reference chicken-heart table. Removing water concentrates the fat along with the protein.

Protein 60%5
Fat 35.8%5
Ash 3.1%5
Phosphorus 6.8 g/kg5
Calcium 0.5 g/kg5

These are reference values for chicken heart, not a guarantee for freeze-dried batches. A separate analysis found a lower fat share relative to the water and solids in raw hearts.2,5

Why it is in the bag

What the manufacturer gets

  1. 01

    Adds animal protein

    Removing water leaves protein and fat in a compact ingredient. How much it changes the finished food depends on the amount used.5,7

  2. 02

    Names a poultry stream

    Poultry plants produce hearts alongside other organs. Selling hearts separately lets a manufacturer name the tissue on the label instead of using a mixed organ ingredient.2,9

  3. 03

    Stores as dry pieces

    Freeze-drying pulls water from frozen tissue under vacuum, leaving pieces that store dry. FDA lists the cost and complexity of the equipment as drawbacks of the method.7

How much The label gives no inclusion percentage; it ranks chicken heart by weight as the recipe is formulated.8

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Chicken heart contributes real animal protein

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A reference table lists chicken heart at 60% protein on a dry matter basis. That protein counts, but the ingredient's contribution to the finished food still depends on how much the manufacturer adds.5,8

  2. Brands say

    Freeze-dried heart digests better than kibble

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A Primal-funded crossover tested complete diets in 10 dogs. The recipes differed, and no diet isolated chicken heart. The study cannot tell whether freeze-dried heart improves digestibility.1,12

  3. Brands say

    Chicken heart taurine protects a dog's heart

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A taurine assay tested 3 samples labeled chicken heart and liver together, without measuring heart alone. No feeding trial shows that chicken heart in dog food prevents heart disease.3,11

  4. Brands say

    Chicken hearts are low in fat

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A reference table puts chicken heart at 35.8% fat on a dry matter basis. A brand calling its heart treats low fat declares 34.84% fat as sold. That is a poor low-fat pitch.5,11

  5. Owners say

    Freeze-drying makes raw hearts free of harmful bacteria

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    FDA sampling found Salmonella in freeze-dried chicken-heart treats recalled in 2025. Removing water does not guarantee a pathogen-free raw product; the maker's safety controls matter.6,7

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    Heart is animal tissue that supplies protein and fat. Freeze-drying removes much of its water, so the dried ingredient contributes nutrients even when it appears below the main proteins.5,7,8

  2. Q02

    Is heart the same as liver?

    No

    They are different organs with different nutrient profiles. The reference table lists more than twice as much fat in chicken heart as in chicken liver on a dry matter basis.5

  3. Q03

    How much is in this bag?

    Not shown

    Ingredients are listed by weight when the recipe is made, without percentages. Heart listed below the main meats and fats is an addition, but its exact share cannot be read from its position.8

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Instinct 16 / 98
  2. Nulo 5 / 117

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Chicken Meal 100%
  2. Mixed Tocopherols 95%
  3. Chicken Fat 90%
  4. Chicken 76%
  5. Citric Acid 76%
  6. Turkey Meal 67%
  7. Peas 62%
  8. Tapioca 62%
  9. Flaxseed 48%
  10. Chickpeas 48%
  11. Sweet Potatoes 43%
  12. Freeze-Dried Chicken 43%

On the shelf

Foods that list Freeze-Dried Chicken Heart

21 foods in our catalog list it, highest on the label first.

Nulo Raw Medley Large Breed Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Medley Large Breed Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelNulo Raw Medley Salmon, Sweet Potato & Turkey Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Medley Salmon, Sweet Potato & Turkey Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Duck Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Duck Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelInstinct Be Natural Puppy Real Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Be Natural Puppy Real Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the label
Show 16 more
Nulo Raw Medley Small Breed Turkey, Sweet Potato & Duck Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Medley Small Breed Turkey, Sweet Potato & Duck Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelNulo Raw Medley Puppy Salmon, Oats & Turkey Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Medley Puppy Salmon, Oats & Turkey Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelNulo Raw Medley Chicken, Oats & Turkey Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo Raw Medley Chicken, Oats & Turkey Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken For Healthy Weight Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken For Healthy Weight Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Senior Dogs Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Senior Dogs Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Large Breed Puppies Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Large Breed Puppies Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Gut Health Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Gut Health Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Whole Grain Recipe with Real Chicken & Brown Rice for Puppies Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Whole Grain Recipe with Real Chicken & Brown Rice for Puppies Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Puppies Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Puppies Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Toy Breed Dogs Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Toy Breed Dogs Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Skin & Coat Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Skin & Coat Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Whole Grain Recipe with Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Whole Grain Recipe with Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 18 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Small Breed Dogs Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Small Breed Dogs Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 19 on the labelInstinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost PeakBoost+ Kibble Real Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost PeakBoost+ Kibble Real Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 25 on the labelInstinct Original Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Original Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 25 on the label

Leaving it out

Foods without chicken

For owners who skip chicken: popular dry foods priced like the ones that list it ($3.04 to $6.09 per lb), with no chicken on the label.

Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Small Breed Formula Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Small Breed Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // $3.41 per lbOpen Farm Wild Caught Salmon with Ancient Grains Dry Dog FoodOpen FarmOpen Farm Wild Caught Salmon with Ancient Grains Dry Dog FoodDry // $4.05 per lbPurina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Lamb & Oatmeal Formula Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Lamb & Oatmeal Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // $3.23 per lbThe Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Beef Recipe Whole Food Clusters Dry Dog FoodThe Honest KitchenThe Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Beef Recipe Whole Food Clusters Dry Dog FoodDry // $5.88 per lbFromm Four-Star Beef Frittata Veg® Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodFrommFromm Four-Star Beef Frittata Veg® Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // $3.68 per lbZignature Original Lamb Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Lamb Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // $3.32 per lbNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites Woodlands Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites Woodlands Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // $4.33 per lbEdgard & Cooper Farm-Raised Lamb Adult Dog Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEdgard & CooperEdgard & Cooper Farm-Raised Lamb Adult Dog Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // $4.32 per lb

Checked against the ingredient list we store for each food. Labels change, so read the bag before you buy.

Sources

What we read

Checked October 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Apparent total tract nutrient digestibility of frozen raw, freeze-dried raw, fresh, and extruded dog foods and their effects on serum metabolites and fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of healthy adult dogs Translational Animal Science, 2024 // Journal
  2. 2 Characterization of Chicken By-products by Mean of Proximate and Nutritional Compositions Korean Journal for Food Science of Animal Resources, 2015 // Journal
  3. 3 Taurine concentrations in animal feed ingredients; cooking influences taurine content Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 2003 // Journal
  4. 4 Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats BMC Veterinary Research, 2016 // Journal
  5. 5 Utilisation of co-streams in the Norwegian food processing industry: A multiple case study Bioforsk, 2014 // University
  6. 6 CORRECTION: Foodynamics Recalls Raw Dog Barkery, BellePepper Cats, and Kanu Pets Brand Freeze-Dried Pet Treats Because Of Possible Salmonella Contamination U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2025 // Government
  7. 7 Lyophilization of Parenteral (7/93) U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 1993 // Government
  8. 8 Labeling & Labeling Requirements AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  9. 9 Pet Food Production and Ingredient Analysis Pet Food Institute, 2025 // Industry
  10. 10 Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats Merck Veterinary Manual, 2025 // Book
  11. 11 Freeze Dried Goods - Chicken Hearts - Dog Treats Thurmans Bites, n.d. // Industry
  12. 12 The Science Behind Raw Nutrition Primal Pet Foods, n.d. // Industry
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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