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Antler toys


avlsarah

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Has anybody else given their pup an antler chew toy? At the insistence of a couple of our dog park friends, I got one for Maxwell whileon our routine pet shop trip. It was explained to me that they don't shatter and splinter like bones, and take longer to chew up. I've been letting Maxwell have it for an hour or so at night and picking it up, otherwise he'd carry it around all day! Should I be concerned about his teeth, though? The antler is really hard, and he chews on it pretty tough. I can hear him chomping down on it, and hear it rubbing between his teeth. I don't want to give him something that could hurt him or cause problems in the future. My other thought, though, is that chewing on stuff like this might actually help clean the teeth?

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I got antlers from a website, and Bailey & Sophie didn't seem to like them much. I've been giving them bones once in a while, which they love, but now I'm not so sure I should continue to provide them. They July, 2010 newsletter of "Your Dog" from Cummmings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tuft's University includes an article warning against bones. It says that "The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine is unequivocal in advising against giving dogs bones". The article goes on to describe possible injuries such as broken teeth, mouth & tongue injuries, bones stuck in the esophagus, windpipe, or stomach, intestinal blockage, constipation due to bone fragments, and peritonitis. I know dogs have chewed bones for centuries, but no doubt there are injuries that can occur. I try to keep an eye on them when they have bones, but I don't really sit there and watch them for an hour. Maybe I'll just give them bully sticks, at least they are digestible & not as hard as bones.

Jim

Jim, Connie, Bailey & Sophie

FLOWERCHILD-1-1.jpgBAILEYSOPHIE4-22-07002-1.jpg

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Got an antler at the same time I got a bully stick for the first time. The store owner said they are great and your dog will love them. She does not. I showed her the antler and she did pick it up but does not care to chew it at all. I agree that it is so hard I was afraid about her teeth, but she does not like it anyway. So that was a waste of money.

On the other hand she loves they bully stick, I mean loves!!!!!!! It is so much softer I got the 12 inch size and she gets days of enjoyment from it. It won't her their teeth and is digestable so that is great. I will just stick to bully sticks. I am afraid of bones even though the store owner says the uncooked ones are great. Sounds terrible to me though. He said that he gives his (and sells them at his store) chiwawa uncooked bones and she loves them. He said the uncooked ones are safer, sounds terrible to me. I will not be trying them that is for sure.

As recommended on this forum I got my bullysticks from bestbullystick.com. great prices.

cairn terriers leave pawprints on our lives
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We tried antlers and the dogs didn't care for them nearly as much as bully sticks. After a little investigation, they left the antlers alone.

Also - one of the antlers was "splintering" into pieces that were scary if swallowed. The company I bought them from said this is not normal, but it did happen.

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Wow splintering that sounds scarey, I also think that they are so hard don't know how they do not break their teeth on them. Mine also no interest in them.

cairn terriers leave pawprints on our lives
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Bully sticks are a favorite here, but they also love the raw marrow bones that I get from our local grocery store. I freeze them and just a couple out when I think they need a special treat. I do keep an eye on them when they have bully sticks or marrow bones. Packy is such a strong chewer that he can have a 6" bully stick gone in 30 minutes. I prefer to make them a last a little longer, so they usually don't get them for that long. Kirby isn't such a ferocious chewer and it would take him a couple of days to work a 6" stick down. Still, he gets lots of enjoyment out of both them. I haven't had trouble with either one and they both seem to help keep their teeth clean.

Jandy and my Cairns, Kirby & Phinney 
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I also tried the antlers a few weeks ago and my dogs could have cared less about them. I gave them to my boyfriend's young Labs and they LOVE it

Kintra Cairns

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And ZaZa, the Min Pin

Canine Chronicle article - "Through the Storm" about my first journey to Westminster


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