Comparison
Baby octopus or frog legs: where the two bags differ
Updated
Octopus vs frog legs for dogs is mostly size and species. Our baby octopus is listed for cats and for adult dogs of every size; our frog legs, only for medium and large adult dogs. Octopus is a mollusk we file with shellfish; frog is an amphibian. Both crunch at 4 of 5.
How are a baby octopus and a frog leg different bags?
Start with what is in each bag. Inside the octopus bag is a single ingredient: entire baby octopus, tentacles on. The frog legs bag holds one ingredient too, frog legs, and each piece is a leg. The frog legs listing is blunt about it: you are getting a leg, not something pressed into a biscuit shape.
The next difference is who each bag is listed for. Octopus names dogs and cats. Frog legs name dogs only. We do not sell frog legs as a cat treat, and we do not describe them that way anywhere.
Where they match: both listings place the freeze drying in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Two more facts are ours and appear on no label or listing: the octopus includes imported ingredients, and the frog legs are imported. Our full pages are octopus for dogs and frog legs for dogs.
Which one is listed for a small dog?
The octopus listing covers every size of adult dog. The frog legs listing stops at medium and large adult dogs.
That is a statement about who the bag is for, and breaking a frog leg into smaller bits does not change what the listing names. We would not nudge a small dog toward the frog legs. If your dog is small, the listing wording is the thing to go by, and your veterinarian is the one to ask when you are unsure.
How do the octopus and frog legs labels line up?
The analysis rows below come from the two package labels. Sizes and cats come from the listings, and the two scores are from our own scorecard.
| Baby octopus | Frog legs | |
|---|---|---|
| Crude protein (min) | 70% | 53% |
| Crude fat (min) | 3% | 7% |
| Crude fiber (max) | 18% | 8% |
| Moisture (max) | 15% | 12% |
| Energy on the label | 2,235 kcal ME/kg (approx. 63.4 kcal/oz) | 3,029 kcal ME/kg (approx. 85.9 kcal/oz) |
| Crunch (our scorecard) | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Training value (our scorecard) | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Dog sizes on the listing | Adult dogs of all sizes | Medium and large adult dogs |
| Cats on the listing | Yes | Not listed |
Read the table as a list of printed facts. It does not say which bag is the right one, and neither label explains why its numbers are what they are.
What do the pieces look and smell like side by side?
Each octopus piece is the whole animal, tentacles included. No two match in size or texture, and the listing is frank that the smell is a strong seafood one.
The frog legs are a medium sized piece shaped like a leg. The listing says shape and texture vary from piece to piece. It says nothing about smell. We call it a weak fish smell, in our words.
Both listings let you feed a piece whole or break it smaller. The octopus listing ties that choice to the size of the dog, and the frog legs listing leaves it to the dog you have. Neither gives a piece count or a weight for one piece.
Which one counts as shellfish?
Octopus is a mollusk, and this site files it with shellfish. Frog is an amphibian, so frog legs are not shellfish. Both of those are our own statements, since neither listing has a line on ingredients to avoid.
If your veterinarian has set your dog's diet, ask before bringing in a new protein. Treats like these are an extra and never a complete diet, as the listings say.
Questions
Are both in the Exotic Collection Box?
Yes. The Exotic Collection Box holds four bags: frog legs, baby octopus, scallops and quail eggs. Each bag in it carries one ingredient. The box is put together for dogs.
Can a cat have either one?
The octopus listing names cats, and its cat line is to serve one piece whole or crumble it over food. The frog legs are not listed for cats. We sell them for dogs, and they carry no cat line.
Which one has fewer calories per ounce on the label?
The labels print 63.4 kcal per ounce for the octopus and 85.9 kcal per ounce for the frog legs. Those are the printed figures. We draw no conclusion from them, and the labels print no per piece number for either bag.
Is either one raw?
Both are. The octopus and the frog legs are freeze-dried raw, so wash your hands after handling either one. The frog legs are also bone-in, which the labels do not mention but we can confirm.
Do both listings say shelf stable?
Yes. The octopus listing calls the bag light, shelf stable and in need of no refrigeration. The frog legs listing calls it light and shelf stable. Each also asks you to close the bag after use and keep it in a cool, dry spot.
Is each one a single ingredient bag?
Yes. The octopus bag holds baby octopus and the frog legs bag holds frog legs, with no grains, fillers or dyes in the octopus and no grains, fillers or preservatives in the frog legs. The Captain's Catch medley is a different bag with five ingredients.