Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through links on this site, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
iPaw sent me their turkey dog treats to try, braided sticks with duck liver. My three dogs are all seniors now, and one of them just had teeth pulled, so a chew treat was going to get a real test.
Two of them went straight for it. The smallest one sat this round out due to my own paranoia.
Quick Verdict
- Buy it if: you want a turkey chew with an ingredient list you can read in one breath, and your dog needs a few minutes of something to do
- Skip it if: your dog has a soy allergy, or is still healing from dental work
- My favorite feature: Turkey meat is the first ingredient. Four ingredients total, and I knew what every one of them was.
- Would I buy again? Yes
What’s in an iPaw turkey braided stick?
Turkey meat, coconut glycerin, soy protein isolate, duck liver. That’s the whole list. I read it out loud on camera because I like seeing meat at the top, and I didn’t have to look anything up.
It’s sold as a rawhide alternative, hand shaped into a braid and slow roasted. The bag also calls out that it’s rich in protein and collagen and low in fat and cholesterol.
iPaw Turkey Dog Treats, Braided Sticks with Duck Liver
Hand-braided, slow-roasted turkey and duck liver chew sticks. No grains or artificial preservatives. Contains soy protein isolate.
iPaw turkey treat specs at a glance
- Form: hand-braided stick
- Texture: flexible and chewy, can be cut into smaller pieces
- Made for: all life stages, with senior dogs and dogs with bad teeth named on the bag
- Duck liver: rich in iron and vitamin A
- Free from: grains, additives, chemicals, preservatives, artificial flavors and coloring
- Production: SQF-certified process
- Allergen note: contains soy protein isolate
Which dogs are iPaw turkey sticks best for?
Senior dogs who still want to chew. The brand says to cut them smaller for seniors or dogs with sensitive teeth and to supervise, which matches what I’d do anyway. Small dogs can have them in pieces.
They’re also an option if your dog does badly on beef or pork, since the base is turkey. They’re not built for power chewers. The brand’s own description says moderate chew sessions, not an ultra long-lasting chew. If you’ve got a hard-core chewer, my dog gear roundup covers what held up in this house. Once the bag is open, I keep treats like these in the one-touch treat container I reviewed.
What happened when I woke three sleeping dogs for a treat
I filmed the unboxing with everybody still asleep, because I didn’t want three dogs in my lap until I was ready. Then I said the word treat and they all showed up. The two bigger dogs each got a whole braid.
For my smallest dog I tried to break one in half and couldn’t, so I cut it with scissors. She didn’t end up getting it. She’d just had teeth pulled and this was too chewy (in my mind) for her right now, so she got something softer instead. She can have one in a few months when I’m sure her mouth is good.
My senior guy planted himself on the car seat he treats as a bed and went to work. When I checked back a few minutes later he was still at it.
Three details that mattered in use
- The braid is the point: the twisted shape adds bite resistance, so a stick lasts longer than a flat strip would. My dogs chewed rather than swallowed.
- Slow roasted, and you can smell it: I opened the bag and asked the dogs if it smelled good. They answered by standing on me.
- Duck liver isn’t just flavor: it brings iron and vitamin A, which is why it gets its own badge on the front of the bag.
What I liked
- Three sleeping dogs got up for it
- One braid was enough to settle a big dog, no second helping needed
- The bag has a clear window, so you see the sticks before you open it
Before you buy, three things I’d flag
- The bag says soft and tender. Mine were chewier than that sounds. Fine for my senior guy, not for a mouth that’s still healing
- It’s a treat-length chew, not an all-afternoon project
- Soy protein isolate is one of the four ingredients. If your dog reacts to soy, this is not your chew
Common questions about iPaw turkey dog treats
Can you cut iPaw braided sticks into smaller pieces?
Yes, with scissors. I couldn’t break one by hand, and kitchen scissors went through it without a fight. iPaw itself suggests cutting for small dogs, seniors, or calorie control.
Are iPaw turkey treats okay for senior dogs?
Mine handled them. My senior dog chewed his without any trouble. If your dog just had dental work, wait for the vet’s okay first. The one of mine with fresh extractions sat this round out.
Do iPaw treats contain grains or artificial preservatives?
No. They’re made without grains, additives, chemicals, preservatives, or artificial flavors and coloring. The full ingredient list is up top under what’s in the stick.
What does SQF-certified mean on a dog treat?
SQF stands for Safe Quality Food, a third-party food safety certification. iPaw puts it right in the product name, which means the production process is audited against that standard. It doesn’t tell you anything about taste, only about how the treat is made.
How long does one iPaw stick last?
A few minutes for each of my two bigger seniors. It’s a short chew, not an all-day one, and the brand says the same: meant for moderate chew sessions, not for aggressive chewers.
What else compares to iPaw turkey sticks?
I’ve only tested the iPaw sticks. The other three are turkey tendon chews described from their own listings, so you can see what a different shape or a single ingredient looks like.
| Chew | Protein | Shape | Texture or chew style | Added ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPaw Turkey Braided Sticks (the one I tested) | Turkey meat and duck liver | Hand-braided stick | Flexible and chewy | Coconut glycerin, soy protein isolate |
| AFreschi Turkey Tendon Strips | Turkey tendon only | Flat strips | Described for moderate chewers who take their time | None listed |
| Nature Gnaws Turkey Tendons | Turkey tendon only | Tendon pieces | Described as thick and crunchy | None, grain-free and rawhide-free |
| Dog Nip Gobble! Turkey Tendon Sticks | Dehydrated turkey tendon | Thick 6-inch stick | Not stated on the listing | None, no preservatives |
Would I buy iPaw turkey treats again?
Yes. I like the ingredients and my dogs like the sticks. The smallest one gets hers once her vet says her mouth is ready.
Where to buy
A tool I built
Dopamine Dealer
Track your habits and get a hit of dopamine every time you check one off. No willpower required.
Start your streak →I run an affiliate program on the tools I build. Approved affiliates earn 20% on what their referrals pay, for up to a year. US only for now. See the program →
