pressed rawhide bones?

[mcali]

I am so happy that I found this post. My husband and I were going to give in and just give our Sonny boy some rawhide. We have always been against giving it to our boxers because of their sensitive digestive systems and because we didn't want to take a chance that they would choke. Our Sonny is a serious chewer. No matter what kind of toy we give him, he goes right through it....tennis balls, plastic toys, my kids' stuffed animals, rope toys....you name it....it's like throwing money right in the garbage. He doesn't seem to ingest the toys....he just likes to chew them up. We give him bully sticks and porky chews from Merrick petcare all the time, but he seems to loose interest overtime. I read the other responses and am curious about the elk antlers and the raw meaty bones from the butcher. Basically...the bones that are wrapped and sold in the pet store are not a healthy choice to give? Are the bully sticks and porky chews a bad choice also?
Now here is my question....if I go to my butcher what type of bone am I asking for...is there a certain type/size I need to buy? When I bring it home do I have to boil it or can I give it to my dog as is? The elk antlers...I went to best bully sticks and didn't see them..I saw elk bones...but not antlers....I found them on other websites.....is there a certain brand to look for.
I am a little cautious since my Sonny has some allergies....but he is a real chewer and I would love to give him something that he can enjoy! Sonny thanks you for all your help and advice!!!

Catherine

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Originally Posted by mcali

I am so happy that I found this post. My husband and I were going to give in and just give our Sonny boy some rawhide. We have always been against giving it to our boxers because of their sensitive digestive systems and because we didn't want to take a chance that they would choke. Our Sonny is a serious chewer. No matter what kind of toy we give him, he goes right through it....tennis balls, plastic toys, my kids' stuffed animals, rope toys....you name it....it's like throwing money right in the garbage. He doesn't seem to ingest the toys....he just likes to chew them up. We give him bully sticks and porky chews from Merrick petcare all the time, but he seems to loose interest overtime. I read the other responses and am curious about the elk antlers and the raw meaty bones from the butcher. Basically...the bones that are wrapped and sold in the pet store are not a healthy choice to give? Are the bully sticks and porky chews a bad choice also?
Now here is my question....if I go to my butcher what type of bone am I asking for...is there a certain type/size I need to buy? When I bring it home do I have to boil it or can I give it to my dog as is? The elk antlers...I went to best bully sticks and didn't see them..I saw elk bones...but not antlers....I found them on other websites.....is there a certain brand to look for.
I am a little cautious since my Sonny has some allergies....but he is a real chewer and I would love to give him something that he can enjoy! Sonny thanks you for all your help and advice!!!

Catherine

The bones sold at pet stores have been cooked which is why you don't want to give them. NEVER EVER EVER give a dog a cooked bone, they can easily splinter. So it isn't that they're "not good" but moreso that they're "dangerous", not to mention MUCH more expensive than getting a raw meaty bone from your butcher or butcher department at your grocery store. Personally I've given bully sticks in the past (although my dog's now allergic to beef so no more of that), some say they're okay some say no that wil have to be up to you. Skip the pork chews yes.

If you go to best bully sticks click on "dog chews and treats" then at the bottom of that page it says "Antlerz" that's what you want. I JUST checked they are there so not sure how you missed them but there's what you click on to find them.

DO NOT BOIL BONES it cooks them which you don't want to do. Knuckle bones, soup bones, femur bones, rib bones, marrow bones (although I'd recommend scraping out some of the marrow so they don't get sick) all fine. if you go in and just tell the butcher you'd like bones for your dog, trust me you're not the first, they should know what you're talking about.

My dog has severe food allergies and does well with the Antlerz, Hurley bones, non edible durable Nylabones, Dental Dinosaurs, and that's about all he can have for chewing due to his allergies and strong chewing ability. He chews on these things sometimes for 3 hours straight so they've definitely withstood hard chewing.

Good luck and hope that helps!

[mcali]

BxrMommieNAZ thanks so much for your response, it was very helpful. I will head out to the butcher tomorrow and get Sonny some bones. One last question.....if he bites off pieces and eats them is that ok or do I have to fish the pieces out of his mouth like I do with the other toys I see he destroys?
I was checking the wrong section of the website...so thanks for stearing me in the right direction. I appreciate your quick and helpful response!!!
Catherine

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Originally Posted by mcali

BxrMommieNAZ thanks so much for your response, it was very helpful. I will head out to the butcher tomorrow and get Sonny some bones. One last question.....if he bites off pieces and eats them is that ok or do I have to fish the pieces out of his mouth like I do with the other toys I see he destroys?
I was checking the wrong section of the website...so thanks for stearing me in the right direction. I appreciate your quick and helpful response!!!
Catherine

It takes quite a bit for them to bite off pieces of the raw bone. If they're too big you should probably take the pieces away, but if they're tiny it's no big deal. As with anything supervision and your best judgment are key.

[BigDies]

Love this thread, very informative. I love being able to take all my BW advise to the petstore and pass it all on to unexpecting customers . Just FYI Bully sticks are generally made of the bacula, or penis bone, of large ungulates. When I'm checking you out at the register, please do not pick up and SMELL the baculas, it makes me uncomfortable and makes you look silly.

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Originally Posted by BigDies

Love this thread, very informative. I love being able to take all my BW advise to the petstore and pass it all on to unexpecting customers . Just FYI Bully sticks are generally made of the bacula, or penis bone, of large ungulates. When I'm checking you out at the register, please do not pick up and SMELL the baculas, it makes me uncomfortable and makes you look silly.

ROLMAO!! Yep, typically (and waht it should be) is dehydrated bull penis. YUMMY LoL.