Nina and I just visited family, and my parents spoiled her at the boutique dog shop in their posh town. I checked out the shop, and I’m not worried—all their treats are natural and safe, no rawhide, etc. However, she absolutely loves her beef chew, which is gigantic.
My parents, spoiling their granddog, keep telling me not to take it away because “she can’t eat it all at once anyway! It’s too hard to chew!” There’s some logic to that, but the thing is huge.
How long should I let her chew on it at a time? And is there a sanitary way to store it between chewing sessions?
What kind of chew is it? Is it a bone, rawhide, or something else?
If it’s rawhide, I wouldn’t recommend giving it to any dog at all. If it’s a natural bone, is it cooked, dried, or cured in some way?
I always limit the time a puppy can have with any chew if they can get pieces off it, to control how much they consume and to supervise in case of choking.
The one chew I’ve allowed my young dog to have all the time is made from wood, solidly pressed into a bone shape. I’m not sure how they made it, but he’s had it for many months and has made surprisingly little progress in wearing it down, even though he chews it a lot. I think it’s good for his teeth because he chews ridges into it, which then help clean his teeth. And since it’s not made of any animal product, it doesn’t smell.
For storing the chew between sessions, it depends on what it’s made of. Would it spoil if not refrigerated?
I honestly don’t know! I know it’s definitely not rawhide (that’s in the title). It’s a 100% beef, no-hide chew. It kind of looks like a bone marrow bone. She’s never had them before, and I’ve never had dogs before, so I’m guessing a bit, but it has a hard shell with a sort of chewy, meaty core.
For now, I’ve let her chew it for about half an hour, then I wrap it in cling film twice, put it in a Tupperware, and store it in the fridge. (Maybe overkill, but it looks gross to me, and I don’t really want it touching my food.)
I think your approach is reasonable. Personally, I prefer a large chew that can be used repeatedly; when small ones reach the finish, there is a risk of choking.
I believe what you’re doing is about right. Definitely observe her chewing of it (it states so on the wrapper), and if you notice her grabbing any chunks off of it, take them away so she doesn’t choke on them.
Thanks! I might be overcautious, but ingredient lists don’t mean much to me! It’s like someone handing me a length of silk and expecting me to make a dress out of it, sight unseen. I’m like, what kind of silk? How’s it woven? What’s the momme? I can’t make a heavy silk dupion dress out of an 8 momme silk habotai, even though they’re both 100% silk fiber. I was really thinking about the “shell” part and whether it splinters, you know?
Still, I figured the shop was so posh and organic that it was probably fine, just wasn’t sure about time limits! Luckily, Nina is very relaxed about having things taken away from her!
When I used to give my dog deer antlers, I would allow a 30-minute chew session and then take it away. After each session, I would dip the antler in boiling water to kill any bacteria. It’s also helpful to dip it in boiling water before giving it to them. Dip it until it slightly softens, wait for it to cool down a bit, and then give it to your dog. You want it to be firm enough to help clean their teeth and not break off easily, but not so hard that it might chip a tooth (a common injury with hard chews). For this reason, it’s always best to supervise them while they chew.
Deer antlers are not regarded safe for dogs to chew, and I would never give one to my dog or recommend it.
Antlers are far too hard on dogs’ teeth, splinter easily, causing injury, and break off into small hard bits that pose choking or blockage concerns.
Many respected websites urge that dogs never be given deer or other antlers to chew on. Here are just a few.
While opinions (and vet recommendations) on antlers are quite divided, I personally love them and they are my go-to long-lasting chew. I keep a selection in the dog toy bin along with other chew and toy options. I’ve never had any issues with chipped teeth, dangerous fragments, or shards, but that’s partly because I take precautions—broken teeth or swallowing dangerous pieces can definitely happen.
I treat antler chews similarly to fresh bones. They can be great enrichment for the right dog, with some caveats. Firstly, it depends on the individual dog and their chewing style. Dogs that tend to break off shards and chunks are not good candidates. Secondly, the size, shape, and structure matter. We hunt for shed antlers in the spring and pick out the ones that make good dog chews. Through shed hunting, we teach our dogs how to pick up and carry antlers safely (it doesn’t come naturally to every dog!). I wouldn’t give my dogs dried-out antlers that have been exposed to the elements for too long, especially in dry climates. Freshly shed ones are the safest. Younger animals shed slightly softer antlers, but you need to be mindful of the spikes and examine each one individually. If you’re cutting or splitting an antler, you must do it correctly to avoid splitting and shards. Also, be mindful of the marrow in the middle; you don’t want your dog to ingest too much.
In summary, yes, there are some risks, but they can work really well for the right dog. If an owner feels they aren’t the right choice for their dog, there are many other chew options available. But I love them and have used them for years without problems.
It is undeniably true that relatively fresh antlers differ significantly from ancient ones shed years ago and/or exposed to the weather or in a dry region. I might let my dog gnaw on a recently shed antler or a cut from a young deer killed while shooting. Unfortunately, most antlers sold to the public are not fresh, but have been dried out for a long time, some of which may have been outside before being discovered, and surely some of which have spent time in a warehouse and then a pet store. Those are the antlers that most people (including I) refer to when they advise against them, because that is all the majority of individuals can acquire.
I would let your dog eat this bone for 5 - 10 minutes every day. I give my Mini Australian Shepherds a Bully Stick and let them chew it for 5 - 10 minutes each day. Then I’ll remove it from the chew holder (to prevent choking) and place it in a zip-loc bag before putting it in the refrigerator. Every night, they can’t wait for their chew.
Luckily, Nina is very relaxed about having things taken away from her!