There has been a huge increase in demand for antler chews for dogs over the past few years.
Are antler dog chews safe for puppies.
Unfortunately antler chews aren t recommended for strong chewing dogs.
In this article we weigh up the pros and cons of antler dog chews so you can make an informed decision for your pup.
However split elk antlers will not last as long as whole elk antlers because they are already broken.
A broken tooth is extremely painful and can sometimes become abscessed.
Types of antler chews.
All we can do is talk about the anecdotal evidence.
Yes antlers can hurt dogs.
Whole elk horns are better for dogs that are more powerful chewers.
However vets advise against purchasing antler chews because of the ways they can injure your dog.
The hardness of antlers also means they can damage your dog s teeth and gums if they chew too aggressively or if they have weak teeth.
Deer antlers are good treats for puppies especially when they are teething to relieve the discomfort of their adult teeth coming through.
Unfortunately like bones antlers hard nylon chew toys and other hard chews ice cubes can actually be hard enough to break your dog s teeth.
Avoiding health complications from.
Perhaps the biggest irony when it comes to hard chews like antlers is that we as owners.
This makes it much more difficult to find a novel protein if needed in the future for skin or intestinal issues.
I believe that hard plastic or nylon chews sterilized bones cow hooves and antlers are too hard to be safe for most dogs.
Plus strong chewing dogs will whittle down antlers into sharp points that are painful to touch.
While antlers are hard they can splinter and these pieces can become lodged in your dog s mouth throat or stomach causing damage as well as pain.
This is how teeth are broken or gums are lacerated.
You may not need to dive onto a fallen ice cube before your dog gets to it but it s not the best idea to intentionally give ice cubes to your dog to chew.
They must be provided with caution though as puppies are more at risk of swallowing objects.
Excessively hard chew toys are a common cause of broken teeth in dogs.
But because they are considered a novel protein once a dog is given this as a treat venison can no longer be considered a novel protein for that dog.
Each type has different textures.
Because we don t have any published data on the causes of tooth fractures there is no way to specifically tell you for sure that antlers are safe for dogs to chew or that antlers are not safe for dogs to chew.
Antlers are an excellent tool for dogs with inflammatory bowel disease.
Are antlers safe for dogs.
Antlers are rock hard and strong chewing dogs will bite down on antlers with all their might.