Home › Yak chews and pancreatitis: the fat each brand lists and what vets say
Yak chews and pancreatitis: the fat each brand lists and what vets say
If your dog has had pancreatitis, the question about a yak chew usually comes down to fat. This page puts the fat and calorie lines from 8 yak cheese chew product pages side by side, explains what a "Crude Fat (min)" figure does and doesn't tell you (per AAFCO), and quotes veterinary nutritionists at Tufts on fat and pancreatitis. None of the yak chew pages we checked mention pancreatitis. Nibbables doesn't say whether any chew suits a dog with pancreatitis; that's a call for your vet, who knows your dog's history.
Last checked 2026-11-01
Fat and calories on each yak chew page
Quoted from each brand's product page, checked 2026-11-01. "Not stated" means we found no figure on that page. Fat is listed as a minimum ("min"), so the real fat content can be higher. Best Bully Sticks' nutrition table shows 0 for every value, which looks like a placeholder, not a measurement.
Yak Milk, Cow Milk, Lime Juice, and a small amount of salt
Can dogs with pancreatitis eat yak chews?
None of the 8 yak chew product pages in the table above mention pancreatitis, so no brand we checked addresses it. Veterinary nutritionists at Tufts write that "If your dog has had pancreatitis, ask your veterinarian whether she should be fed a lower fat diet." The yak chew pages list fat as a minimum of 0.5% to 2% (Best Bully Sticks shows 0.0%, which looks like a placeholder), and AAFCO explains that a minimum means the real fat can be higher. Per chew, Pupford lists "About 329 kcal per chew." (Medium) and "About 471 kcal per chew." (Jumbo), and Mighty Paw lists "275 kcal ME/serving" with a serving size of one chew. Show your vet the label and let them decide.
What fat percentage do yak chew brands list?
Mighty Paw lists "Crude Fat Min: 1.5%" and, in its nutrition facts, "Fat - 9 cal." of "275 kcal ME/serving". Pupford lists "Crude Fat (min): 1%" on both its Medium and Jumbo pages. Raw Paws Pet Food lists "Crude Fat (min)... 0.5%" on its Small and Medium pages. Bully Bunches lists "Fat (min) 2%". Best Bully Sticks' nutrition table reads "Crude Fat Min 0.0%" and "Calories per kg 0 kcal/kg", which can't describe a milk-based chew and looks like an unfilled template. Pawstruck's page gives ingredients but no fat or calorie figure.
Why a "Crude Fat (min)" figure isn't a maximum
AAFCO, which writes the model rules for pet food labels, says guaranteed analyses must show "minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture". It explains that a lab test of the product means "the crude protein and crude fat must be NO LESS THAN the stated percentage on the label". So a yak chew labeled 1% fat (min) has at least 1% fat, and the label doesn't say how much more it could have. If the exact fat matters for your dog, ask the brand for a typical analysis and share it with your vet.
What veterinary nutritionists say about fat and pancreatitis
In a Tufts Petfoodology article (December 1, 2020), Cailin R. Heinze, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Nutrition), writes that in dogs pancreatitis "is associated with high levels of fat in the blood, especially triglycerides, which is more common in certain breeds such as miniature schnauzers." She adds: "Some dogs do not do well on high-fat diets and may develop gastrointestinal signs, increased fat levels in the blood, and/or pancreatitis." and "Some dogs may need special therapeutic low-fat diets because normal diets that you buy at pet food or grocery stores may be too high in fat." An earlier Tufts post (March 15, 2018) notes that "many dogs can eat high fat diets and never develop pancreatitis and many dogs that develops pancreatitis do not have a history of eating a high fat diet."
How many calories brands list per yak chew
Brands state calories in different units, so the figures can't be compared directly. Pupford gives "About 329 kcal per chew." for its Medium and "About 471 kcal per chew." for its Jumbo. Mighty Paw gives "2751 kcal ME/kg; 275 kcal ME/serving", and its nutrition facts list "Serving Size: 1 Chew". Raw Paws Pet Food gives "3,168 kcal/kg., 90 kcal/oz." and Bully Bunches "Calories 119/oz". Our yak chew microwave guide and bully stick calorie guide cover related questions.
How fish skin chews compare on listed fat
Fish skin chews vary more. Campfire Treats lists "Crude Fat (min.) 1%" for its Alaskan Crunch cod skins, while Jack's Premium's nutrition panel for its smoked salmon skins shows "Fat 18.0%". Our fish skin chews page quotes the fat line from each fish skin brand we list.
What to ask your vet before giving a yak chew
Bring the product page or bag. Useful things to show your vet are the fat line (and the fact that it's a minimum), the calorie line, the ingredient list (some yak chews are yak milk only, others list cow milk too), and how big the chew is for your dog. Raw Paws Pet Food and Pupford list yak milk with no cow milk; Bully Bunches, Best Bully Sticks and Pawstruck list cow milk alongside yak milk; Mighty Paw lists "milk" without naming the animal.
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Yak cheese chews
Mighty Paw: All-Natural Yak Cheese Dog Chews
Ingredients (as listed)
Made from just milk, salt and lime.
Made-in claim
Handcrafted in Nepal and inspected at our headquarters in Rochester, NY
Sourced-from claim
Not stated, check with them
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
dog chews should always be a little larger than the dog’s mouth to avoid them swallowing it whole.
Supervision note
Always supervise your dog’s chewing. Remove small end pieces when they get too short.
Raw Paws Pet Food: Himalayan Yak Chews for Dogs, Medium - 3-ct
Ingredients (as listed)
Ingredients: Yak Milk, Lime Juice, Salt
Made-in claim
Origin: Nepal.
Sourced-from claim
Sourced from free-range yak raised without antibiotics, steroids, or added hormones.
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
Ideal for Medium to Large Dogs.
Supervision note
To prevent injury and choking hazard, always supervise your pet when giving any chew. If this chew splinters, develops sharp edges or breaks into pieces throw it away immediately.
Raw Paws Pet Food: Himalayan Yak Chews for Dogs, Small - 10-ct
Ingredients (as listed)
Ingredients: Yak Milk, Lime Juice, Salt
Made-in claim
Origin: Nepal.
Sourced-from claim
Sourced from free-range yak raised without antibiotics, steroids, or added hormones.
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
Ideal for Small to Medium Dogs.
Supervision note
To prevent injury and choking hazard, always supervise your pet when giving any chew. If this chew splinters, develops sharp edges or breaks into pieces throw it away immediately.
Best Bully Sticks: Medium Himalayan Golden Yak Cheese Odor-Free (3 Pack)
Ingredients (as listed)
Ingredients Yak and Cow Milk, Lime Juice, Salt
Made-in claim
Not stated, check with them
Sourced-from claim
Not stated, check with them
Rawhide-free?
Not stated, check with them
Size / dog guidance
These hard, long-lasting yak cheese chews are perfect for small to medium dogs who are power chewers.
Supervision note
Please supervise your dog when giving any chew or treat and ensure your pup has easy access to fresh water before, during, and after treat consumption.
Options on the page
Medium, 3 pack (single listing)
Note
The page says the chews are "made from yak milk and cow milk, following a traditional Himalayan recipe" and "Each medium chew is approximately 4 inches long." It doesn't say where they are made. On 2026-10-24 the page said "rawhide-free"; the rewritten page now calls it an "Easily digestible rawhide alternative that's high in protein" instead. Its Nutrition Facts table lists 0 kcal/kg and 0.0% for every nutrient, which looks like a placeholder.