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.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Riley is a very powerful chewer and has managed to take pieces off  marrow bones but the antlers remain intact.  When he loses interest I simply dunk them in hot water for a couple of minutes and that seems to re-generate them.  I get the Deer antlers here and get the big ones. There has never been even a splinter off them and they last forever.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Nicky! This is very encouraging, another dog who can break marrow bones but not antlers!  It's also good to know the hot water renews interest, as JD can't have broth. 

[Mara, Sadie & Zoe]

Sadie is a powerful chewer and was going through too many of the powerful chewer nylabones so I switched her to antlers with only a small amount of marrow exposed. Now I buy mostly split ones since they have not splintered. The larger ones I just wet with water and it must "activate" the odor again because she thinks she has a new one. No more nylabones for us.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Mara. Good to know!

[Susan]

Marlow has been able to splinter chips off the antlers that were up to about a quarter inch long. There have been two lately that where the large end that was cut off was splintering and I threw them away. He does love them but I don't like it when they do that. I think some are softer than others.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Susan, do you know what kind the ones were that Marlow was able to break?

[Gail and Bailey]

I get Elk antlers.  I buy from ADK Antler Products. 

In regards to JD not being interested in chew toys.....I have a question.  Is there something that JD can eat that could be used as a little "spread" (like peanut butter would be)?  Because...there is a toy called Zogoflex Tizzi (by West Paw Design) that looks like a pair of legs and there is a hole where you could put a bit of "something yummy" to intice JD to start playing with and chewing on it.  I sometimes do that if I want Bailey to get busy on something right away because I need her to be occupied.  Just a thought as to how you might interest him in a good chew.  Hope you find something he likes!  It is sad to read about him looking for his old bone. :(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Gail. I have to watch his fat intake, so most spread type foods like peanut butter or cream cheese are out because of the high fat content. But this might be a good idea for others who are looking for a way to occupy their dogs.

[Bonnie and Kona]

WE are antler fiends around here. Kona and Owen are such aggressive chewers that they cannot have anything but a kong and antlers. I order them from Linda at Antlerpantry.com. Just before the order goes out there is a place to put comments. I always tell her that my doodles are aggressive chewsers and ask for dense antlers. She chooses them with that in mind before sending. I just ordered two from her this week and I think I got them in two days. The wear them down to the point that I have to throw them away to be safe, but I have never had one of Linda's splinter. I get whole size large. I bought antlers in the pet store last Christmas and they did splinter. I am sure they were too small and not dense enough for my guys. I think they could splinter a split antler too. I do not have to put mine in chicken broth... they boys like them the way they are. They don't chew them every day but often enough to help their teeth.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Bonnie! This is very helpful information. His birthday is the 28th, and I'd like to give him an antler for a treat.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Neely and the great danes and all the other dogs that have tried a chew on his antlers have never broken off a piece. Neely recently gnawed through the outer antler on his and then got into the softer inside of the antler the marrow I believe. He has his original antler purchased at a store that was 10 to 12 inches long probably over two years ago. It is the base of the antler from the skull and it is now a knub of a couple of inches. I worry the Danes will just swallow it. But they play with it. We have the natural ones that our brother in law found hunting one has been left whole. Others we sawed off for others or left in chunks so each one has its own. I am sitting a pug right now and he loves the little Knubby one! They seem to be a slowly shrinking almost as if it was icecream cone being licked down, and being able to see the scraping marks of the teeth as well. They are the best and I won't waste my time and money on anything else. Neely is older now so chewing isn't as important but he takes fits of going at it and man does he work at it. The full one is great as he uses his paws to move it around and hold it down while he digs in for a satisfying session. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Lorraine! Good to know even the Danes can't break them!