Need Your Feedback on Antlers!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hi Food Groupies. I need some help/info/feedback on antlers.

As most of you know, JD has Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and is on a very restricted diet. Since last December, he has not been allowed to have any chew objects except for plain Dura-chew Nylabones. This is because they are hypoallergenic in terms of not setting off an immune reaction in his gut, and the pieces he chews off are no bigger than a grain of rice, which is smooth and easily passed. 

The problem is, he really doesn't like them very much, and only chews them when he gets desperate. He needs something to occupy him, and also help with tartar on his teeth, since he can no longer have any dental chews or toothpaste.

He cannot have most protein sources. But I think he could have elk or deer antlers, if I could be sure that he could not splinter them or break off any sizeable pieces. He is a very powerful chewer.

So what I'm looking for here are your experiences with your dogs and antlers. Do they just kind of wear them down, gnawing on them, without really getting anything much off of them? Or do they break off pieces? Anyone ever have any chipping, splintering or splitting of the antler? Anyone's dog ever break off a chunk?

All feedback is much appreciated.

[Vivian & Mojo]

My puppy has chewed off chips & pieces of every bone I have given him except for dear antlers, I give him the medium size and have had the 3 I bought intact for the last 4 months. I could have had the one but they get misplaced so I have several. Good luck I hope JD had some good chewing. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Vivian! I know I would have to get a very large one for JD, but I would be willing to do that if I could be sure it would stay intact like Mojo's have.

[Vivian & Mojo]

Watch him at first, I was worried also because Mojo almost choked on other chews and bones...He chewed up the smart bone in 20 minutes and chocked a little on a small piece and threw the Yak bone around and broke it and had a small piece in his mouth, I don't worry about the antlers at all now..

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks again, Vivian. Believe me, I will watch him like a hawk!

[F, Calla & Luca]

The dogs gnaw on the antlers to get a miniscule amount of marrow. They last a very long time. My two have never gotten a piece off or had an antler splinter. Obviously they do get tiny pieces since the antlers wear down and some have area where you can see tooth marks. This is their favorite right now since it has a lot of marrow. But they only chew on their antlers occasionally.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, F. I think I remember you saying that your dogs have split a cow femur, so this is encouraging.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Exactly.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Izzy and Lucca are not powerful chewers but Ben is and he has never gotten a big chunk nor splinters off an antler. They seem to just wear them down. I am wondering though...Linda at Antler Pantry has these Elk Antler Rosettes on Etsy. We have ordered them before. Because of the shape I wonder if they are safer. You could also call her. Here's her Etsy link:http://www.etsy.com/listing/49405477/elk-antler-rosette-or-burr-dog...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Carla. Ben has never been able to break anything off of the rosettes?

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

No but he may be different than Jackdoodle. 

[Margaret & Pebbles]

Pebbles is an aggressive chewer.  Her elk antlers are her favorite.  My non doodle also loves them, but waits for Pebbles to chew on them, Mitzie likes them slobbered on I guess!  I have two kinds, the regular whole elk antler, and I have split ones too.  The marrow is exposed of course, which with Jacks' problem, I personally wouldn't recommend that one since they clean the marrow out of the bone.  Hope this helps with your decission.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Margaret! Good to know about the split antlers!