Okay Antler fans...sell them to me!

[Adina P]

I don't normally buy my dogs chew 'treats' -- they have all been more than happy gnawing away at their sterilized real bones and the tough Nylabones.  So I don't really want to fix what's not broken. I am of the 'buy them a bunch of things that last nearly forever and forget about it' mindset.

I also don't like giving them any other animal 'parts' to munch on besides the sterilized bones. Rosco, for instance, makes such a nice wet spot under wherever he is chewing even a bone that the thought of him making bully stick saliva juices on my rugs ... blech!  

But so many of you swear by antlers so I want you to tell me about them. 

1. Do they have ANY odor?
2. Are they 'clean' enough so my daughter can pick one up and if she puts it in her mouth (because she might) I don't have to worry? (I realize that anything that the dogs have been chewing on and has gone in and out of the house has potential to be germy...but I'm just wondering about antlers specifically).
3. Do they get slimy at all like bully sticks?
4. Is there residue left on the dog's paws after chewing or on the rug?
5. Does it shed little shavings?
6. Do they last a considerable time or are they something I have to buy every few weeks?
7. Have ANY of your dogs gotten diarrhea or upset tummies from them?

Thanks so much!

 

[Roni & Roxy]

Roxy had a lot of mucus covering her poop a couple of days ago. The next day was completely normal. But the day after that (yesterday), there was a LOT of mucus and a lot of diarrhea. I took her stool to the vet, and ruled out parasites and giardia. Then it dawned on me that the only thing different that she's had is an antler! It was a big one...the kind that's sawn in half to expose the marrow. I thought it would last forever since it was so big (cost $30!!), but it's about a third of the size it was when I got it only two weeks ago! She loves it, but yes, it does leave little shavings (not a lot), and I really do believe now that this is what caused her mucus covered poop and diarrhea. I took it away yesterday when I thought of it. Today's first poop was normal, and she has behaved normally all along.