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?

[Susan, Schuester and Olive]

Did he say why? My dogs love nylabones, especially the nubby ones, The dinosaur is their favorite for whatever reason.

[Diane Margetts]

SMILE!!!! The truth behind bully sticks can be an eyebrow raiser . . . Dakota has never been a real chewer so I don't have much experience. Amazingly, his teeth are really worn down--his vet asked if he chewed rocks! When he does chew (like bully sticks) he is a power chewer . . . His vet also said that tennis balls, which Dakota lives for, can be very abrasive and could account for the wearing of his teeth . . .

[Lori]

Casper actually eats rope toys, so for him I believe this poses more of a health issue than a bully stick...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would also like to know why your vet feels this way. We already know that there is no nutritional curriculum in veterinary school, but this is really not about nutrition. Of course, we could be cynical and say that your vet doesn't want dogs chewing on antlers, bones, etc. because those things help keep their teeth free of tartar, and the vet is hoping to get $300 or $400 for a teeth cleaning every few years, but I'd prefer to think he is more interested in your dog's well-being than that. So I would ask for an explanation, if your vet's opinion on this concerns you. But food and treats are the one area where I do not take advice from the vet, except in cases of extreme illness.

There is nothing wrong with giving your appropriately sized antlers, or other natural chew objects, as long as you are absolutely sure that they are made in North America. If you don't like the idea of bully sticks, try beef tendons. They don't smell as much and they last longer. Beef tracheas are another option. But again, it is not enough that the company has an American address, the product MUST be sourced from the US or Canada.

[Susan, Schuester and Olive]

I agree with you, Karen. My dogs get a lot of different things to chew on. I'm not fond of bully sticks because of the smell, but my dogs love them. Tracheas are great and so are antlers. I try to give them a variety of things to chew on. Not only are they good for plaque prevention, it keeps my guys occupied. Doods seem to get bored easily, so they need these items to help keep them entertained. US and Canadian items are a necessity to me. Also.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Karen,

I buy my bully sticks at Petco because they don't have much smell. The ones  I ordered online smelled horribly! Do you know where they are made? I need to go to the store and read the label I guess. I should've looked at that before but I just never thought of it. I just assumed they were...and you know what that makes me?!

[Lynda Kamrath]

I believe that bully sticks are a good use for animal byproducts and my vet agrees with me.  Yes they do smell and I only let the dogs have them outdoors and only for 20 minutes at a time.  Then I put them in a plastic zip-lock bag and put them away for another day.  Works for us and the dogs love them.  They are made from steer pizzles and I am sure there is no other use for that piece of the anatomy.  I buy the ones from Argentina and Brazil.  So far, I have never seen them from China, but that would be something that I would not buy.   Look at labels for anything you feed yourself, your family, or your dogs.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have found that Petco has very few made in the US natural chew products like rawhides, jerkys, bullys, etc. Pet Supplies Plus is a better source, or the small boutique type stores. If I know the brand, I may be able to tell you where they are made.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

They are just the Petco brand. I get the small braided ones. I looked on their website and it doesn't say where they are from.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Someone asked them on their website if they were made in the USA and they said "yes". Shouldn't it say that on the product label?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't see where the company itself says they are made in the US, but I would doubt that they are. I wouldn't buy them without knowing the source.

Here's a source for US made chew treats: http://www.bestbullysticks.com/home/bbs/smartlist_86/made_in_the_us...

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Thanks Karen! And thanks for reminding me, you can never be too careful!