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.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I finally took the plunge and bought JD an antler last week. So far, so good. It's an elk antler, labeled for heavy chewers 70-100 lbs. It's pretty thick, and has a rosette on one end and a couple of smaller knobby protrusions where you can see the marrow. He likes it a lot. He only gets it when I can sit and watch him, just to be sure, so he's gotten it three or four times and he gnaws pretty vigorously on it for about 15 minutes at a time but hasn't come close to breaking it or getting anything off. I noticed that the parts where you can see the marrow have little scraped areas from his teeth, which seems fine. :) 

JD wants to say "thank you" to everyone who provided feedback here for giving me the courage to try it. Finally, lol. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm glad JD is enjoying his antler. ;o)

[Pam & Trixie]

That is great Karen, I am glad he is enjoying his Antler

[BG and Gavin]

You go JD!

[Pat and Traveler]

Go, JD!  Glad he has something he can chew.  Trav likes to have me hold one end of the antler while he chews, which gets old pretty fast.  :)

[Theresa & Duncan]

I'm do glad he is enjoying his new bone :). With my luck, I'd put all that thought and consideration into a new bone and Duncan would end up hating it lol.

[Bonnie and Kona]

We used to hold the dogs' antlers for them to chew, too. Then I got to thinking that it might be harder on their teeth if I am providing leverage that they can't get just chewing. Does that make sense? Anyway, I stopped holding their antlers. Just a thought.

[Pat and Traveler]

Yes, that makes sense, Bonnie.  Trav likes to have me hold the antler, but that doesn't mean I do it.  lol  Actually, he only chews on it for about a minute at a time. 

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Thats great news..glad to hear he is enjoying it!