Beaver and Bison: Getting to Know Canada's Lesser-Known Novel Proteins

When people come to our shop for the first time, rabbit, elk, and venison tend to get all the attention. Beaver and bison usually get a second look, a raised eyebrow, and then a question: "wait, dogs actually eat that?" So I wanted to give these two proteins their own moment, because they're two of the most useful options we carry.

Bison: rich, lean, and easy on sensitive stomachs

Bison is a red meat, but it's leaner than a lot of the beef most dogs have already been exposed to their whole lives. That matters if your dog has a sensitive stomach or if you're trying to find something a little richer than white meat without the higher fat content of some traditional red meats.

Because bison isn't a protein most commercial pet foods use heavily, it's also a strong option if you're working through a food sensitivity and need something your dog's system hasn't encountered a hundred times before. It has a naturally deep, savoury flavour that dogs tend to respond to right away, even ones who've gone a bit picky on more familiar proteins.

Beaver: an underused protein with a long history here

Beaver is probably the least expected treat on our shelf, and also one of the most fitting for a business rooted in Indigenous land and tradition. Beaver has long been part of the diet and economy in this part of the country, and it's a protein that's rarely, if ever, used in mainstream pet food. That makes it one of the truest novel proteins you can offer a dog.

For dogs who've reacted to nearly everything else, chicken, beef, even some of the more common alternative proteins, beaver is often a real reset button. It's something their body has never had to build a reaction to, because it's simply not in anything else on the shelf.

Why "novel" protein matters more than it sounds

A novel protein just means a protein your dog's immune system hasn't been repeatedly exposed to. Over time, dogs can develop sensitivities to proteins they eat constantly, even ones that seem harmless, like chicken. Rotating in something truly uncommon, like beaver or bison, can help break that cycle, whether you're working with your vet on an elimination process or simply trying to keep your dog's diet varied and their gut a little more resilient.

Same standard, less familiar name

Both of these are treated exactly the way every protein in our shop is. Single ingredient, both from Canada, made at our facility. Nothing added, nothing hidden. The only thing different is the name on the bag, and maybe the story behind it.

If your dog has never had bison or beaver, I'd encourage you to give one a try, especially if you've noticed them getting a little less excited about the usual options, or if you're navigating a sensitivity and looking for something genuinely different.

Try something new. Shop our bison and beaver treats at indigenoustreats.ca.