Something to chew on

Spyglass Sally · 05-20-2009, 07:41 PM

Buddy (almost 5 months) loves to chew and I'm wondering if anyone has any strong preference for types of chews. I buy the natural ones - pig ears, bully sticks, antlers - but take them away when they get smaller because I'm afraid he'll swallow it. Besides being a potential stink bomb, it just doesn't seem good or healthy.

So anyone have any favorite types or words of advice & experience about chew toys?

Ron · 05-20-2009, 08:04 PM

kongs are always a good choice...especially if they have a treat in them

whitedaisy · 05-20-2009, 08:05 PM

I like bullysticks (I've never had to take them away when small). But lately I've been giving raw ribs. (I'm a raw feeder) Ribs are cheaper and last longer then the bullysticks and are GREAT for the teeth.

KeeperBoy · 05-20-2009, 08:16 PM

Boo goes nutty for raw marrow bones. My two also love dried trachea.

Spyglass Sally · 05-21-2009, 05:46 AM

When they eat raw bones, do you worry about splinters? Do they get loose stools from them? Also curious if bacteria is a problem?

I've never done raw. Buddy eats Innova Puppy.

KeeperBoy · 05-21-2009, 06:59 AM

Cooked bones are the splinter risk. Keepers eats raw meat everyday, I handle it safely and believe it is the best diet for him. He had loose stools 90% of the time on kibble, hardly ever on raw.

Boo eats kibble and still gets raw bones to chew on. She loves them and has no problem with them. I only give her bones to chew on, not to eat. Keepers gets bones he can eat.

bruinsBoxers · 05-21-2009, 08:01 AM

They can get loose stools from marrow bones if there is too much marrow for them to handle . The best way would be to scrape out some of the marrow until their sysyem can handle a larger amount .

whitedaisy · 05-21-2009, 08:31 AM

raw bones are very safe, never give cooked, smoked or any heated bone - those are dangerous. I don't worry about bacteria. I'm not overly clean, we use the same rug (where they eat there raw food and bones) all week before washing. I have 3 dogs and 4 kids and no one has ever been sick. Some people like to give these raw bones outside - maybe that is an option for you, or in the crate? I just try to keep the dogs off my bedroom carpet LOL!

JoeV · 05-21-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyglass Sally

Buddy (almost 5 months) loves to chew and I'm wondering if anyone has any strong preference for types of chews. I buy the natural ones - pig ears, bully sticks, antlers - but take them away when they get smaller because I'm afraid he'll swallow it. Besides being a potential stink bomb, it just doesn't seem good or healthy.

So anyone have any favorite types or words of advice & experience about chew toys?

ropes are good

KeeperBoy · 05-21-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruinsBoxers

They can get loose stools from marrow bones if there is too much marrow for them to handle . The best way would be to scrape out some of the marrow until their sysyem can handle a larger amount .

Interesting. My two have never been able to get the marrow out very quickly so I've never even thought about that.