1. The rawhide roll- This is a traditional chew toy, and one that most people feel comfortable giving to their dogs. It's pretty safe and digestible, and if you have a larger dog there isn't a high risk of choking. (Keep in mind that there is some risk of choking with every chew toy and dogs should always be monitored when chewing these). I stay away from any of the colored or flavored rawhide rolls because they can stain carpet and furniture. These are mildly durable- if Luka's in a serious chewing mood they may last a day; on average we get two or three days out of each one. They are among the most cost effective as well as you can get a package of three for 9 dollars at large chain pet stores. As far as taste/interest goes, this is not Luka's favorite. He enjoys it if he has no other option, but he prefers the taste of other treats.
2. The bully stick- This is a stick of fibrous muscle collected from a bull; traditionally the penis. It comes in three major shapes- braided, spiral and regular, for lack of a better term. Each shape has different durability. The spiral shape is a joke for Luka and takes him 15 minutes to chew through, the braided ones and the regular last about the same time, which for Luka is maybe an hour. Safety wise they're about the same as rawhide rolls. Cost effectiveness is not great- each regular stick costs about 8 dollars for a dog Luka's size, and is gone rather quickly. This is a treat enjoyed more sparingly, though sites like doggyloot.com and certain livestock and tack stores may have them for cheaper.
3. Antlers- This is a great chewable because it's incredibly durable and also sustainable. These antlers are collected as elk and similar animals shed their antlers for the season. They are cut into dog sized pieces and distributed as a chew toy. The elk are not harmed at all and no extraordinary measures are required to continue production. These chews last nearly forever. Luke has had his antler for three months and it's only very slightly worn down. However, because it lasts for so long and companies do not have as many frequents purchases, these can cost upwards of 25 dollars for a decent sized antler. Additionally, dogs prefer the marrow inside and to get an antler that is cut in half is even more expensive. While these are durable they do not hold Luka's interest at all. Every once in a while he decides to nibble on it a bit, but mostly it sits untouched. Because of it's durability it is probably the safest chew. I feel comfortable leaving this in Luka's crate as a toy when I'm not there to watch him. This is the only chew I feel comfortable doing that with.
4. Bull horns- These are just what they sound like: hollowed out bull horns. You can buy them either hollow or already filled with peanut butter, bacon, beef, etc, flavored stuffing. I often compare them to edible Kong toys. These are durable enough to last about a week. While it doesn't hold Luka's attention the same way a bully stick does, because he cannot get to the rest of the stuffing until he chews down some of the horn, this does hold his interest for a half hour or so at a time. These are pretty cost effective as well. One with stuffing can be purchased for about five dollars, and in the event that your dog eats all the stuffing before he finishes the horn you can fill it with any stuffing you'd use in a Kong. These should not be left with a dog unattended. They tend to come apart in little pieces and could be choked on.
5. Pig Ears- Again, this is a self explaining name. These are the least durable of the chewables. Luka can chew through one of these in 15 minutes when he really wants to, though normally they last closer to a half hour or 45 minutes. Luka prefers these the most. If all of these chewables were laid out next to each other Luka would pick the pig ear every time. They are pretty cheap, most feed stores sell them for a dollar or two, but because they last for such a short amount of time these are also best as a once in a while treat. We're having some plumbing done today and Luka's happily gnawing on a pig ear so he doesn't keep barking at the plumber every time he walks in the house. These are also not safe to leave with your dog unattended because when the dog reaches the end of the pig ear they may try to swallow too large of a piece. This could lead to gagging or choking.
MANY other chewables exist! It's important to do a little reading / recon and trial and error to determine what works best for your budget and your dog's particular tastes. Happy hunting!
*I am not a veterinarian; consult your veterinarian if you have any questions regarding safety, ingredients, or digestibility for your particular dog*
*All photos belong to their respective owners. I own none of these photos.
No comments:
Post a Comment