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Help with chew toy ideas

1K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  ShamaMama 
#1 ·
Zen is approx 6.5 months now and I think has many adult teeth with some puppy teeth remaining (definitely the canines).
Till now I've used mostly kongs (which he's not crazy about chewing on) and nylabone Puppy chew toys. However I'm finding he's quickly breaking of chunks of the nylabones and so I have to take them away. I think I'm finding his teeth are now strong enough to break off any chew toy, some more quickly than others. Note he does have several cloth type things he chews on now and then but I'm talking here about more hard chewing.
But I've hesitated from giving non-puppy chew toys to him thinking they'd harm his teeth. I'm rethinking that but could use some advice.
Basically I'd like some suggestions on what I could give him that both SAFELY satisfies his need to chew and even better, ideally lasts a long time. I've never given him actual bones, or antler type products yet - I don't feel like I know enough yet to know what's right or safe for him.
All suggestions appreciated, thanks!
 
#2 ·
Some people get all concerned about antlers and bones. I think dogs chew, whether we give them something to chew on or they chew on whatever they find. Is there a possibility of them damaging teeth? Yes. But there is greater possibility, IMO, of them hurting themselves (or poisoning themselves) chewing on inappropriate items. Raw meaty knuckle bones are probably the safest and most natural chew item, if you are willing to deal with the mess and don't mind raw.

Bully sticks are another option, but they have a lot of calories, can carry a lot of bacteria, and most stink. (I find even the "odorless" ones objectionable) They also make some dogs pretty resource guardy.

We don't do raw often, so my choice for my dogs is the flavored moose antler blade slices from Acadia Antlers. These aren't as hard as most other antler products because of the flavoring process. My guys love them, and have never damaged a tooth on one. Not saying it could never happen... but it hasn't with mine.
 
#3 ·
Lola is teething and the nasty smelly bully sticks and bully pretzel shaped chews. It's what works best while she's in this stage of wanting to bite and chew everything.
 
#4 ·
I am very happy with our experience of using antlers, the wide split ones, the large hollowed out ones and the pointy ones. Nothing has broken off or been a problem with them. I like bullysticks too. But I do worry that they might choke on the last bite so I watch them closely when I offer those. The Himalyan chew (yalk milk cheese-type product) scared me because it was so hard and kind of shattered when crunched by our dogs. I don't give plastic chews except for frozen filled kongs. We have the large hollowed out antlers tied to the legs of the sofa in our family room so we don't have to get down on our aging knees to fish them out from under sofa!
 

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#5 ·
Shama loves her bully springs (easier for her to manipulate than straight sticks), and we have never noticed that they smell:

Amazon.com : Redbarn Bully Springs - 3-Pack : Pet Snack Treats : Pet Supplies

She also likes Himalayan chews.

She really likes water buffalo horn, especially now that my father in law cut a big horn into four more manageable pieces (and sanded them so she wouldn't cut her mouth on the edges).

She's not wild about her antlers, but we've been told to soak them in chicken broth to get her more interested in chewing them.

We have been meaning to try the moose antlers that Karen recommends but never remember to order them!
 
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