Healthy Chews and Bones Review
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Chewing is essential for your dog. It is an instinctive behavior that requires focus, concentration, and problem-solving skills.
The products reviewed below are the chews/bones I have given to my dog Sophie.
I no longer give her naturally cooked bones. They are very brittle, and she has gotten sick and vomited after chewing these bones. They are a real choking hazard as shards can break off while chewing. Sharp jagged edges could cause internal damage as well.
She loves the yak chews and the cheese and antler chews. They are the chews of choice for her.
My advice is to choose chews with minimal ingredients and monitor your dog while they are chewing.
What I like about this product
- 3 recognizable ingredients (Organic Yak & cow’s milk, salt and lime)
- 69% Crude protein
- No odor
- Long lasting chew that promotes dental health
- Can be microwaved for a crunchy snack
What I don't like about this product
- Could be a choking hazard
These chews are a favorite. Native Yak Chews are all natural and long lasting.
Sophie loves them and will chew on them for hours.
The best part is when the chew gets down to a small piece at the end, just pop it in the microwave for 45 seconds and it turns into a crunchy treat.
Rating:
What I like about this product
- 3 recognizable ingredients
- 58% Crude protein
- No odor
- Long lasting chew that promotes dental health
- Antler Powder makes them stronger than a regular Yak chew
- Can be microwaved for a crunchy snack
What I don't like about this product
- Could be a choking hazard
Like the Yak chews these are a favorite.
The Antler Powder makes these chews last even longer.
The end piece can also be microwaved for a crunchy treat.
Rating:
What I like about this product
- Single Ingredient – Cod Skin
- 88% Crude protein
- Full of Omega-3 for healthy skin and nails
- Dogs love to tear them apart
What I don't like about this product
- Strong fish odor
- Can be messy when eaten
- More expensive than other chews
A definite favorite of Sophie’s. She loves shredding these chews.
They do not last nearly as long as the Yak Chews, but they are good for mental stimulation as dogs love shredding things.
Be aware that these do have a very strong fish smell and are messy. I make sure the floor is covered when I give these to Sophie.
Rating:
What I like about this product
- 100% beef pizzle (Bull Penis)
- Free-Range Grass-Fed Beef
- No additives or preservatives
- Promotes good dental health
- Highly Digestibled
- Long lasting
What I don't like about this product
- More expensive than other chews
- Has a very strong odor
- High in calories
- May contain harmful bacteria
You see them in every pet store but what exactly is a Bully Stick? Are you ready for it?…A bully stick, otherwise known as pizzle, is bull penis.
Dogs love them but we as humans think they are pretty gross. Bully sticks are high in protein and promote good dental health for your dog. They remove tartar, reduce bacteria on teeth and promote strong jaw muscles.
Bully sticks can carry harmful bacteria including salmonella. Only purchase from a trusted vendor and wash your hands thoroughly after touching them.
I give these to Sophie all the time and have never had an issue. As with all natural chews, use with caution.
Rating:
What I like about this product
- One Ingredient
- No odor
- Long lasting chew that promotes dental health
- Don’t contain the calories of other chews
What I don't like about this product
- Large or sharp pieces can break off
- Can crack or chip your dog’s teeth
- Give only under supervision
I purchased an Antler Chew for Sophie because it was recommended to me by a friend who had 2 labs of her own. Her dogs loved them and chewed them all the time.
Sophie, however, paid little attention to her Antler. It is now in her toy basket collecting dust.
I give this chew a thumbs-down review only because it was not a popular chew for my dog. You may have different results with your dog.
It is important to note that antler chews can be hard on your dog’s teeth. Sharp pieces can also break off and be swallowed by your dog causing serious digestive issues including blockages.
Give antler chews only under supervision. If pieces break off throw the antler away.
Rating:
What I like about this product
- One ingredient
- 15.5% Crude protein
- Natural way to clean teeth
- Rich in Glucosamine and Chondroitin to Support Healthy Hips and Joints
- Contain very few calories
What I don't like about this product
- Very strong odor
- Should be avoided if you have a young puppy, or a dog allergic to chicken or prone to pancreatitis
Chicken feet are becoming much more popular as dog owners search for natural alternatives in the chews they give their dog.
Are chicken feet safe for your dog? The answer is a resounding yes as long as they aren’t cooked!
Chicken feet are highly nutritious, low in calories, natural teeth cleaners, and are good for hips & joints.
Chicken Feet can be purchased in several different forms:
Raw chicken feet can be purchased at the local butcher or farm markets. Make sure they are washed thoroughly before giving them to your dog.
They can also be purchased as seen in the above pictures, dehydrated or airdried (puffed).
Never give your dog cooked chicken feet as they become brittle and can become a choking hazard
Be aware that chicken feet have a very strong odor, but your dog will love them.
Avoid giving chicken feet to puppies, dog’s allergic to chicken or prone to pancreatitis.
Rating:
What I like about this product
- 100% natural shin bone
- Made for Power Chewers
- Good for dental health
- Excellent alternative to rawhide
- Refillable
- Comes in 5 flavors
What I don't like about this product
- Stuffing inside bone is made with fillers and artificial flavors
- Dogs should be carefully supervised while using this product. Sharp pieces can break off and be swallowed
- Make sure water is available as chewing will make your dog thirsty
Beware of the stuffing in these bones. The stuffing is generally made-up of fillers and artificial flavors.
I’ve seen stuffing in some brands of shin bones where the first ingredient listed is corn syrup. Please don’t feed corn syrup to yout dog. It’s a sugar, they don’t need it.
I admit, I have given shin bones to Sophie multiple times. She loves chewing them. However, the interest goes away when the stuffing is gone. I find they are a waste of money and I no longer purchase them.
I simply refill the ones I have with peanut butter, baby food or other healthy ingredients. When frozen they keep her busy for quite a while.
The ingredients of this particular brand (Cadet) are beef meal, vegetable glycerin, Artificial peanut butter flavor and potassium sorbate.
Why use artificial peanut butter flavor in a dog chew? Who knows but if it’s artificial, don’t feed it to your dog. Artificial = not healthy.
Let’s look at Beef meal. What exactly is beef meal? Beef meal is meat from cattle, specifically, cows and heifers.
Beef meal is cattle meat that has been dried and ground up, and includes clean flesh, skin, and/or accompanying bone. It goes through a process called rendering where the fat is separated from the bone and protein at very high temperature. The quality of beef meal differs depending on where it is produced.
Vegetable Glycerin in the pet treat ingredient lists, is a by-product of saponification which is used in the manufacturing of soaps and detergents from vegetable oils. It is a chemically altered ingredient that isn’t truly natural.
The other issue, there is no way of knowing how much of the ingredient is actually in the product since vegetable glycerin does not reduce during the cooking process. .
In addition, there’s been very little research on the safety of glycerin for dogs. What does that mean? That means there’s no information saying that glycerin is unsafe … or that it’s safe for your dog. It is best, therefore, to stay away from glycerin.
The final ingredient is potassium sorbate. Potassium Sorbate is a chemical compound that is used as a preservative. It comes in the form of a white powder that is soluble in water. It prevents the growth of mold and yeast in pet foods.
Studies have shown that it is safe for dogs as long as the quantity used is less than 2% concentration.
In conclusion, take careful notice of the ingredients making up the stuffing inside the shin bone. Not all manufactures are the same and some ingredients are better than others.
Rating:
What I like about this product
- 100% natural cow hooves
- Made for Power Chewers
- Good for dental health
- Excellent alternative to rawhide
- Refillable
- Comes in 5 flavors
What I don't like about this product
- Stuffing inside bone is made with fillers and artificial flavors
- Dogs should be carefully supervised while using this product. Sharp pieces can break off and be swallowed
- Make sure water is available as chewing will make your dog thirsty
Very similar to shin bones…Beware of the stuffing.
Rating:
What I like about this product
- 100% natural
- Good for dental health
- Excellent alternative to rawhide
What I don't like about this product
- Dogs should be carefully supervised while using this product. Sharp pieces can break off and be swallowed
- Make sure water is available as chewing will make your dog thirsty
We all know that dogs love bones and these cooked bones are no exception.
If your dog is a super chewer like mine, these bones will be destroyed in a matter of minutes.
The danger is they are brittle and splinter easily. They are a choking hazard, and the sharp edges can do a lot of damage to your dog’s digestive system.
Please don’t feed cooked bones to your dog.
