Ostrich vs Horse Treats: The Rarest Novel Proteins Compared

By BEANS Team · Published 2026-11-04

Ostrich and horse are the two proteins Singapore owners tend to reach for once chicken, beef and lamb are off the table and even kangaroo or rabbit have been tried. Both are unusual, both are single-ingredient freeze-dried treats in our range, and both cost the same. They are still quite different. Ostrich is a bird and very high in protein. Horse is a mammal, a little lower in protein, and has a long history in veterinary elimination diets. This guide puts them side by side with our label figures and prices, and says plainly when neither is the right buy.

Which is better for dogs: ostrich or horse treats?

Neither wins outright. Ostrich is the better pick for most dogs who simply need a new, high-protein reward. Horse is the better pick for a dog who already reacts to chicken or other poultry, because it is a mammal rather than a bird.

The deciding question is your dog's food history. A protein only counts as "novel" if your dog has never eaten it. The Merck Veterinary Manual puts it simply: "Novel protein diets must be carefully selected to avoid previously fed ingredients." So before comparing labels, check every kibble, wet food, chew and topper your dog has had. If either protein turns up, the other one is your answer.

How do ostrich and horse treats compare side by side?

The headline difference is protein. On our labels ostrich is a minimum of 83% crude protein and horse a minimum of 50%. Fat is almost the same, at around 10% for both, and so is the price.

Both are freeze-dried raw with nothing added and suit dogs and cats. Prices are as listed on our shop today. For context, our rabbit treats are $15.90 per 50g ($3.18 per 10g), so ostrich and horse are the premium end of the range.

Is ostrich a good choice for a dog allergic to chicken?

Be careful. Ostrich is a bird, and vets generally advise steering away from species that are related to foods a dog already reacts to. If your dog is chicken-sensitive, horse is the safer first try of these two.

Merck notes that "it might be prudent to avoid selecting diets that contain species similar to those previously fed", giving lamb for dogs previously fed beef as the example. We haven't found a study testing ostrich specifically in chicken-allergic dogs, so we won't claim it does or doesn't cross-react. We'd simply rather not gamble with an itchy dog, and we'd ask your vet first.

Horse isn't a guaranteed pass either. A 2022 study in Veterinary Dermatology that mapped chicken allergens in dogs found they "exhibit the theoretical potential to be cross-reactive between poultry and mammalian meats." The authors stress that this is theoretical and needs confirming. In plain terms: a mammal is a better bet than a bird for a chicken-sensitive dog, but watch for any flare after the first few pieces.

Why is horse a classic novel protein?

Because it is the traditional choice. Marianne Diez of the University of Liège vet faculty writes that for home-made elimination diets "the traditional choice is a combination of horsemeat and potato", and notes horse is "scarcely used in pet food." That rarity is the whole appeal: a protein most dogs have never met.

Rarity also explains why neither meat shows up in allergy statistics. A 2016 review in BMC Veterinary Research pooled 297 food-allergic dogs: 34% reacted to beef, 17% to dairy, 15% to chicken and 13% to wheat. Horse and ostrich weren't on the list at all. That reflects how seldom dogs eat them, not proof they can never cause a reaction, and the authors add that true prevalence "is likely to be higher than that reported."

Can you give ostrich or horse treats during an elimination diet?

Only if your vet agrees. A strict food trial means the diet and nothing else. Merck says "any food-based item must be avoided, including rawhide chews, pill pockets, table food", and VCA Animal Hospitals advises the trial "should be fed for at least eight weeks."

Whether a treat fits is your vet's call, not ours. If your vet is happy for you to use one, a single-ingredient treat with nothing added is the easiest kind to fit in, because there is no hidden chicken fat or flavouring on the label. Our hypoallergenic treats guide covers the wider shortlist.

How would we choose between ostrich and horse?

Work through your dog's history first, then the job the treat has to do.

1. List every protein your dog has eaten. Kibble, wet food, chews, toppers and table scraps. Anything on the list isn't novel.
2. Chicken, duck or turkey sensitivity? Choose horse over ostrich, and introduce it slowly.
3. On a vet-guided food trial? Ask your vet before adding any treat.
4. Want maximum protein per bite? Ostrich, at a minimum of 83%, is far ahead of horse at 50%.
5. Watching fat? Both are around 10%, far leaner than our kangaroo (27%) or venison (34%). If your vet wants the leanest option, rabbit or turkey (under 7%) beat both.
6. Think about cost per reward. At $4.58 per 10g, break cubes into pea-sized pieces. The AKC says "treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily diet", and training rewards count. Our treat count guide makes this easy.
7. Store it well. Singapore humidity softens freeze-dried treats quickly, so reseal the pouch every time.

Which BEANS treat should you buy?

For most dogs who need something new: Ostrich. Sourced from South Africa, very high in protein and moderate in fat. A great reward for a dog who has already had kangaroo, venison and rabbit. See the ostrich treats page.

Ostrich Freeze-Dried Pet Treats (SGD $22.90): Pure ostrich. Nothing else. An exotic lean red meat that's naturally grain-free and additive-free.

For chicken-sensitive dogs: Horse. A mammal protein with a long history in vet elimination diets, and moderate in fat. Details on the horse treats page.

Horse Freeze-Dried Pet Treats (SGD $22.90): Pure horse. Nothing else. Lean, iron-rich cubes from a protein most pets have never eaten.

When neither is the right fit: if your budget matters more than rarity, rabbit does the novel-protein job for less. If your dog has eaten both before, compare kangaroo, venison and rabbit instead. If your dog is on a hydrolysed prescription diet, use the treats your vet recommends. And treats support a good routine; they don't treat allergies, which is a job for your vet.

Rabbit Freeze-Dried Pet Treats (SGD $15.90): Pure rabbit. Nothing else. A classic novel protein, lean and gently digestible.

Bottom line

Ostrich and horse cost the same and have similar fat, so the choice comes down to your dog. Pick ostrich for a high-protein reward your dog has never had. Pick horse if your dog reacts to chicken or other birds. Check your dog's food history first, keep pieces small, and keep treats to about 10% of the day's food.

Ready to try one? Browse our itchy pets collection for the full novel-protein range. We pack in Singapore, ship within 24 hours and deliver in 3 to 4 business days.

This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet has ongoing symptoms, see your vet.