Let's Discuss Antlers....

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

The recent discussion in the main Forum regarding antlers chipping teeth and causing major problems makes me super nervous to give them to Peri.  Here is the discussion:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/antlers-2?id=2065244%3ATop...

 

Thoughts??  Peri is a heavy chewer and if I am going to stop feeding antlers, I must find an alternative that will not cost me an arm and a leg.  We know nylabones are out - does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Or...is it worth the risk?  I do have pet insurance but would never want to cause my girl pain if I can help it!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

interesting video. 

 

I have never liked greenies, but thats more because of the ingredients list and high price.

 

I am guilty of leaving Cooper with chews when we go to work - a big dino bone, a bully stick, a pork chew, and an antler. She isnt a big chewer any more (now shes out of the puppy stage) but she likes to chew every day. I also leave her with a treat dispensing toy which i know she does play with alot during the day (as well as sleep). Theres also a rope toy and a nylabone burried in her toy box if she wants them.

 

If I dont leave her with something to occupy her she will chew something else.... plant, futon, wires etc

[Cheri & Bonny]

I just bought some of the Moose antlers and they are softer than the elk or deer.  She chewed on it for an hour and gnawed about an inch off it which she's never done with the deer or elk.  At her last visit, the vet commented on how nice her teeth looked too...  Maybe I'll just stick to those.  I need to give her something to chew on -- ropes don't do it, bully sticks give her the runs, rawhide is horrible and she chokes on it, and I don't like the idea of her chewing on plastic nylabones.  Argggg!

[Harper]

Just wanted to provide some information to everyone who thinks the antlers might be causing chips.  My 13 year-old Dalmatian had a chip in one of her teeth recently and hasn't chewed on anything other than food since she was a puppy.  So it is possible that the antlers might cause chips, but if your dog has a chip and he/she chews antlers, it may not be the cause.  

 

(I have a doodle pup who is a big chewer and right now we're only doing bully sticks.  I'd love to do antlers or something similar but I haven't made a decision on them yet.)

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I talked to my manager today, and the son of the owners of my chain of stores (8 of them). They said that the problem with greenies was addressed a while back and they changed the formula. I still dont like then due to the ingredient list and cost.

 

They think the vet is just trying to get money for cleaning teeth... like someone suggested earlier

[Stella]

We use antlers because my older LD is a power chewer.  We tried everything, even beef knuckle bones, and he could crack them open and start taking chunks off in less than 10 minutes!!  I love the antlers because they last longer and flake rather than breaking into chunks.  My younger LD has bad teeth, the vet wanted us to brush them every day and said he would still probably needing to be anaesthetised for a cleaning.  Since we began giving them antlers, his teeth are so much better.  So, we'll stick with the antlers!!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

My decision:  No chips yet and Peri is a big chewer, SO I am going to continue giving her antlers.  If something happens to her tooth, I have insurance for her and that's what it is for!  It covers that kind of stuff.

 

So that is my answer for now :)