Bully Sticks?

[diane silver]

Has anyone given their pup Bully Sticks? From what I've read online, they are supposed to be very good in terms of not splintering, etc. I'm just wondering if they are safe or recommended for young puppies to satisfy their chewing/biting needs and if that might be an appropriate substitution for our skin?

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

We love bully sticks! Also flossies, which are tendons I think. Both safe and last long - well longer than anything else I have found. Bully sticks come odor free and my dogs still love them

[Chris & Boys]

They are the BEST! The boys love them. Fozzy Bear is 10 weeks old, and he does just fine with them. We have had no breakage, splintering or any other concern. My vet said they are a much safer alternative to rawhides. Never give your dog Nylabones, at any age. They break teeth and broken pieces have caused choking and death in many dogs. They are expensive, but buy them in bulk, and you will have them for a long time. If you only have the one pup, it may be cheaper to just buy one at the pet store as it takes a puppy a long time to go through one, but my 14 yr old GR goes through one in a couple of hours.

www.bullysticksonline.com

[Kyoko]

http://www.purelypets.com/healthalert/nylabonewarning.htm

Read this. It talks about pieces of Nylabone getting logged in dog's stomach causing fatal injuries....

[nonnie browne]

Buddy loves bullies and I havent had an odor issue. I also buy "piggy bones" which are smoked and easy to eat and he loves them. They digest well, and I get them online from Drs. Foster and Smith. Make sure your treats like these are made in the usa, which unfortunately, leaves out most everything at the well known pet stores. You cant trust these items that are imported from china, mexico and other places as they use dangerous chemicals in the processing.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Our dogs have eaten bully sticks their entire lives and it is a good alternative for their chewing needs. I feel (and our vet agrees) that they are a great use of animal byproducts. However, we have trained our dogs to eat them outside on their beds and to bring them back to us after 15 - 20 minutes. I actually put the timer on the range and tell them when time is up. They are usually tired of chewing by that time anyway and bring the bully sticks to the back door where I put them in a zip lock baggie and back in the dog food area. It takes my big dogs three sessions on the bully stick (we use the 12 inch ones from Costco). They are smelly though, so we insist they are outdoor chews. And, oh yes, the ones from Brazil and Argentina are safe.

[Lynne B]

My dog's love bully sticks, but Beck can tear through one in about 15 minutes now...I get a package of 20 foot long bully sticks from Costco for $18, that's way cheaper than Petsmart or any other pet store I have been to

[Azure & Muppet]

Do you order them from Costco online, or get them in your local Costco store?

[3iwe1z4z14fov]

My Phoebe LOVES bully sticks and so does Yogi. Phoebe is 3 months and it has caused her no problems at all. Hope you can get over the smell.

[Ann & Reggie]

They have saved my life. I give my pup one very night and it keeps him "involoved" until bedtime or he falls asleep from chewing. It is an expensive treat but so worth it as I can watch TV and forget about him. He does not move for hours!! I just bought them online to get a quantity discount. He is 10 months now and has been on them a few months. I gave my other dogs rawhide but he has had nothing but this. All the stores say it is the safest chew.

[jessica (Rufus)]

what bones are good for 6 month old puppy i want something that will not get stuck in his throat and spilnter ??? are bully sticks okay ?or marrow bones should i cook them ?

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

I've worked in a dog bakery/boutique for several years. By far and away it seems the best thing for dogs to chew is bully sticks or Flossies (beef tendon in a spiral shape instead of a stick) for small dogs. I have used them with two of my three dogs when they were puppies and still use them now. They are easily digestible and do not become slimy worms like rawhide. One caveat, be sure they are from the US. Merrick was making them for a while, but is having trouble with their supplier. We now buy our bullies wholesale from a place called Red Barn. I know this is a US company also.
I have heard many negatives about Nylabones as reported in these posts, and although I do like Merrick GI Bones, they can splinter if you don't keep a close watch on them. Also, the marrow can be a bit too rich for some dogs. The very sharp things like hooves can cut your dog's gums.
Before you buy anything for your dogs to chew on, confirm it is made/processed in the USA. Generally, large quantities at a cheap price = imported.
A GREAT non-organic chew toy is made by WestPaw - it's called a TUX. Unlike some other chew things, the chew parts of the TUX are solid, not hollow, so they are probably the most durable chew toy you will ever buy. The TUX is made of a patented material called Zogoflex - it's tough, but has a little give to it. You can stuff them with treats, a small amount of peanut butter, etc. My guys like them even w/o food and will get the TUX out of the toy box themselves. They're also good for interactive play.
Hope this helps. :-)

[28m8zeod7x4sq]

My vet said bully sticks were fine for puppies. I found some vanilla ones at a speciality pet store. They smell fine. Yes, they are expensive, but will last for a few weeks with my 7 pound puppy. I do find, however, that if he has them for too long, he can have some loose stools. So i limit the time to about 1/2 hour, couple times a day. It is, I have found one of the best ways to keep my busy guy occupied!