My vet so HECK NO to antlers and bully sticks.

[Jennett Pulley]

 He doesn't like the idea of a dog chewing on any animal bone or dried body part (I truly had no idea that a bully stick was a dried :faint: ).

He is all about kong toys and misc other things like rope toys, balls, etc.

ARGH!! 

Thoughts?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Bravo makes a line of bones and chews which are all sourced from the US or New Zealand: http://www.bravorawdiet.com/product/bones/index.html

[Jennett Pulley]

He definitely isn't in the business for the bucks.  Our vet is fantastic -- took care of our Hershey dog from her birth till her passing and cried with us when he had to put her down.  (sob!)

He is one of greatest guys I have ever met and I trust him implicitly.  Not saying I agree with everything he says, but I trust that he always speaks with the dog's best interest at heart to his best knowledge.

He was more concerned with pieces breaking off, bacterial growth, the overall cleanliness of the items purchased, etc.  He is also worried about her baby teeth breaking off on the hardness of the objects. I throw all toys into the dishwasher or the washing machine so I totally get this.  I am so repulsed at the thought of the bully stick right now, I'm ok with that.  (Askme again when I need 20 minutes of peace.  We are still in the honeymoon phase.)

I feel OK with the antler for now as I can drop it in hot water and she can barely even make a scrape mark on it as is.  Once she can do it some damage, I will reassess.

[Shannon & Lily]

My vet said the same thing... b/c of tooth breakage and because of the pieces of these various items that she's had to surgically remove from tummies.  I couldn't give a bully stick now that I know what it is.  I'm going to ask her next week if there is anything else besides the Kong toys and Nylabones b/c she doesn't seem too interested in those but really wants to chew.

[Jennett Pulley]

Let me know what you find and I will do the same.  :)

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

are you supposed to boil/sanitize antler?  I've never tried but would love to if the antler stays in tact.

Oh but I never gave them antlers when they had baby teeth.  I only started giving it to them after all their adult teeth came in.  Boys was it hard when Ben was a baby and Zoe had an antler and he had a nylabone and he would try to get her antler!!!  

[T Eaton]

Interesting...My vet says just the opposite! He(as well as the other 3 in his office) all said bully sticks are great!!! The only body part he didn't like was pigs' feet, only because of potential bacteria from the fact they live in ..... but, he actually would not rule them out either. Perhaps this is your vet's concern as well. 

[Moe]

My vet sells antlers in his office. He thinks they are a great way to keep dog's teeth clean.