Dog Community

No rawhides. Maybe bully sticks?

Posted : 12/30/2006 12:15:04 AM

I am not giving Buddy any rawhides based on my vet's advice and from other's advice on here. However, Buddy is considered a "strong chewer" as per the Nylabone packaging. He hasn't gone completely through a bone yet, but he has chewed the ends down to points on a bone he got over the summer. Also, he got a nylabone ring for Christmas and he has almost chewed one side flat. Jeez! So, are bully sticks something that I can give him? Should I check with my vet first? Buddy is 8mo. Should I get a marrow bone? Nylabones are the only toy that can withstand his chewing. Fortunately, he hasn't been chewing on anything he shouldn't.

knock on wood!

Sue

Misskiwi67

Posted : 12/30/2006 1:25:39 AM

Bully sticks, cow hooves, PRESSED rawhides and raw meaty bones are what I use for my own hard chewers. I also like stuffed KONG toys stuffed with canned food and frozen, as well as the everlasting treat ball, which is expensive but durable and the dogs love it.

Jenny Stromsdorfer

Posted : 12/30/2006 7:33:43 AM

I am not giving Buddy any rawhides based on my vet's advice and from other's advice on here. However, Buddy is considered a "strong chewer" as per the Nylabone packaging. He hasn't gone completely through a bone yet, but he has chewed the ends down to points on a bone he got over the summer. Also, he got a nylabone ring for Christmas and he has almost chewed one side flat. Jeez! So, are bully sticks something that I can give him? Should I check with my vet first? Buddy is 8mo. Should I get a marrow bone? Nylabones are the only toy that can withstand his chewing. Fortunately, he hasn't been chewing on anything he shouldn't. knock on wood!

Sue, why are the vet's telling you not to give rawhids any longer? Allergies, nutrition, etc. We found out Bogey's allergic to beef, so no more rawhides due to that. We're giving pigs ears and she seems to like those just as well. Hey, where is the Chicago suburbs do you live? I'm in Carol Stream.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 12/30/2006 11:11:45 AM

Bully sticks, Nature's Variety rabbit ears, and recreational bones are what I use.

I will not feed rawhides or pig ears because of the possibility of chemicals used to preserve them.

Shohin

Posted : 12/30/2006 11:52:26 AM

Winston can't handle rawhide, it gives him the runs BAD. Bullysticks, despite the smell, are great for him. They are natural, and a 12" stick (costs about $5) lasts him several hours. I also give the occasional raw bone too . . . .

jones

Posted : 12/30/2006 12:19:50 PM

Bully sticks are great but a power chewer might go through them pretty fast, so I recommend - once you try them out and see he likes them - buying in bulk. Buying one 12" usually costs about $5 but if you get a bulk shipment you can get the price down to about $1 per.

Bobsk8

Posted : 12/30/2006 12:27:23 PM

My son-in-laws brother has a large vet practice in New York City and they have seen many dogs that have had their digestive track blocked by rawhide. He recommends not feeding any rawhide, pigs ears, or similar chews. My vet agrees with that too. Nylabones are great and it tells you right on the directions to replace them when the ends get chewd off. Kong toys are also great. I won't let my dog near a piece of rawhide anymore, and the process of taking rawhides away from her, I found the cause of her occasional diarrhea. For her teeth, I give Smokey Booda Bimples which she loves to chew on. The vet always tells me that her teeth look excellent... Not a bit of tartar...

Luvntzus

Posted : 12/30/2006 12:39:22 PM

I won't give rawhides because of the possibility of a blockage if the dog chews off a hunk. I've given pig's ears before (not to Gingerbread) but I won't do that anymore because I've read that they're very fatty and can cause pancreatitis.

There are so many better alternatives out there. For a strong chewer I would give real bones. They sell certain ones at Petsmart and Walmart that are practically indestructible. They have ones that are smoked with marrow inside (I'd remove that part) and others that are sterilized. Also, Nylabone has a line for aggressive chewers called the Big Chew:

http://www.nylabone.com/newproducts/bigchews.html

Sue and Buddy

Posted : 12/30/2006 12:44:09 PM

Jenny, I'm in Lombard, near the Yorktown Shopping Mall. I'm familiar with Carol Stream. I used to work at the Children's World at North and Gary. I grew up in Addison and spent most of my teenage years at Strafford Square Mall! lol

I am not feeding Buddy rawhides because I have heard about the blockages that it can cause when swallowed.

Sue

Sue and Buddy

Posted : 12/30/2006 12:46:52 PM

ORIGINAL: jones

Bully sticks are great but a power chewer might go through them pretty fast, so I recommend - once you try them out and see he likes them - buying in bulk. Buying one 12" usually costs about $5 but if you get a bulk shipment you can get the price down to about $1 per.

Are bully sticks the name of the type of chew or is it a brand? I think I have seen something at the store were I buy Buddy's food.

Sue and Buddy

Posted : 12/30/2006 12:49:33 PM

ORIGINAL: Luvntzus

I won't give rawhides because of the possibility of a blockage if the dog chews off a hunk. I've given pig's ears before (not to Gingerbread) but I won't do that anymore because I've read that they're very fatty and can cause pancreatitis.

There are so many better alternatives out there. For a strong chewer I would give real bones. They sell certain ones at Petsmart and Walmart that are practically indestructible. They have ones that are smoked with marrow inside (I'd remove that part) and others that are sterilized. Also, Nylabone has a line for aggressive chewers called the Big Chew:

[linkhttp://www.nylabone.com/newproducts/bigchews.html]http://www.nylabone.com/newproducts/bigchews.html[/link]

I know to not give cooked bones to dogs, but do I need to watch packaged (sterilized) bones at Petsmart? Should I be getting something fresh from the butcher? I don't want to do a raw bone, but wouldn't mind a marrow bone for him to chew on.

Luvntzus

Posted : 12/30/2006 12:56:27 PM

ORIGINAL: Sue and Buddy

I know to not give cooked bones to dogs, but do I need to watch packaged (sterilized) bones at Petsmart? Should I be getting something fresh from the butcher? I don't want to do a raw bone, but wouldn't mind a marrow bone for him to chew on.

Just make sure to choose one of the really heavy, solid ones. There are different types of bones. I once got a femur, which is very light and crumbly- I looked over and half the bone was gone! [

] The solid kind that I'm talking about though should last indefinitely. I've got a bone yard here from the ones that Gingerbread has chewed the smokey stuff off the outside. I'm a complete worry wart (I won't even feed raw food) and I give those bones to Gingerbread. [

]

The heavy duty Nylabones could work really well also. It's hard to tell from just seeing a picture, but those things are SOLID. If you look at one at Petsmart you'll be able to see how durable they are.

jones

Posted : 12/30/2006 1:02:26 PM

Sterilized bones are heat-treated and therefore not considered safe. Raw from the butcher or meat counter is the way to go.

Bully sticks are the generic name of the treat, sometimes they're called bull pizzles or something similar.

Sue and Buddy

Posted : 12/30/2006 1:07:21 PM

Thank you! [

]

Luvntzus

Posted : 12/30/2006 1:11:19 PM

ORIGINAL: jones

Sterilized bones are heat-treated and therefore not considered safe.

Do you have any links or information about that?