liljaker

I agree with all of the above posters. I have found I need to get LARGE braided bullies and he is less apt to get little pieces off, but it is a challenge. He has virtually no interest in any nylabone type chew, likes bullies, but maybe because there are so many around my place it's not a big deal. He will walk over and pick one up on occasion. I experiment on the bestbullies.com site and they have some larger chews. He likes to chew and I know would swallow a 2" piece of a bully, so I am sooooooooooo careful.

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CT Girl

It is a good idea to keep a close eye on all chewies. A bad batch of antlers, a too small bully ... It is scary to think of all the ways they can get hurt.

Ladyscarletthawk

Now I have finally been able to download these pix lol. I bought these 5-6" antlers at the pet store. As you can see no splintering, or anything. My toy stole my mini's antler, but my mini isnt much of a chewer unless she can swallow it. Otherswise she doesnt feel like she should bother so I have to toss her raw chicken wings. She LOVES raw! Anywho my toy was the one doing the most damage to the antlers and she chews on them every day . You can see the difference in her favorite and the other antler. There is a "top view" where she is wearing them away, and her enjoying her favorite antler. Dont know why she likes that one but it didnt have a point on either end.

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Laura, Eve, and Fergie

Dusty Rose

Your pictures look like the antlers had been shed quite some time ago. I was given a moose shed to use to train my dogs to find them in the woods. It was much whiter than your pictures. I cut the tines off for the 3 dogs to chew on and haven't seen any sign of splintering. I think the paddle, the wider, flatter part, might be more apt to splinter.

fairhavenmagick

I have been feeding antlers for a little over a year now. There are normally 2 or 3 laying about the house. I haven't had any problems with them. They crumble down on the ends like Ladyscarletthawk's photos. I have never seen any the color of the splintered one.

I also feed bullies but my dogs and I have a new favorite. Himilayian Dog Chews, you can check them out here . No mess or smell, the dogs go nuts for them and when they get down to nubs you can throw them in the microwave and the puff up for a tasty treat! I love that there is no waste.

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Quossum

We have purchased antlers, and my husband would cut them in half with his bandsaw, as the corgis enjoyed being able to scrape the inner material out of them. They never had any problem with them.

However, my big, strong-chewing spoo boy *did* manage to break a splinter off of one of the split ones. Since then I've taken up all the split ones and kept a very careful eye on the intact ones.

There seems to be some inconsistency in the hardness of the antlers. My dogs have one which they've managed to nibble down and nibble down. It's lighter in color and seems "softer" and not prone to break. Then there's another one that's darker in color and seems "harder," which Sugar will chew, but really is working it to get it to wear down even a little.

Mine do like the Himilayan dog chews, but the corgis will consume them in no time flat, so they're a treat for Sugar while he's in the room with mommy, no sharing. We give bully sticks for special treats, also chicken or duck feet, and beef knuckles (until they get too worn down). Gotta keep those teeth occupied!

--Q

fairhavenmagick

I like the idea of duck feet or maybe turkey feet (chicken feet are probably too small for my other guys). Does anyone have a good online source for them?

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jasperspoo

Jasper has a couple of antlers that he chews. He's not a heavy chewer, so he's still on his first (he's had it for like 2 years now) It's scary that others with powerful chewers are having some difficulties, though!

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msminnamouse

Huh. I didn't know there was such a difference. I have white and other colored elk ones. I haven't tried deer yet or moose. I've been thinking about trying goat horns! I bought these so I could split them because her bottom front teeth are worn down and her gums bleed there from chewing hard things. Thankfully I only split one. I've since given Ginger another one whole. It's whiter. She's making a serious dent in that one too in little time. She doesn't spend a lot of time on it. I was surprised she's taken to them at all because we've been checking them out at the stores for a while and she's never shown any interest up until recently. She's got some serious jaw pressure. Makes me all the more considerate of how gentle she is with her people and friends.

I've bought duck feet from the international stores in the past. A big pack for much less than you'd buy from a pet store. I clip the claws, then cook them down to make broth for the dogs. Then I roast them and they're pretty dehydrated by then. They like them a lot. I'm still concerned about giving bones in general for canine tooth fractures and intestinal damage. Even raw bones cause intestinal injuries and tooth fractures. All bones, cooked or raw have that potential. I wish the misconception wasn't out there. Most people don't know until it happens. Some dogs go for years or even a lifetime eating cooked or raw bones without any problems because they're lucky. Doesn't mean that it's not risky though. It's a particular risk I'm not too keen on when there are other chewing choices. Even antlers (bone) concern me and I carefully supervise. Cooking the bones until they're rubbery makes the feet safe, IMO.

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CT Girl

I agree eating bone can be risky but for me the benefits outweigh the risks. I do feel a raw bone is less likely to splinter than a cooked bone. I feel the dental and mental benefits are considerable and the risks are relatively low. My uncle had a pack of hunting dogs all fed on a raw diet for umpteen years. The way they gulped their food down I am shocked none of them had issues. I do feel it is wise to keep a watchful eye. I am lucky Swizzle chews the whole bone and does not swallow big bits of bone. I wonder if all cracked teeth experienced when eating raw bones. Many dogs have shockingly bad teeth that eating raw bones throughout there lives may have prevented. Undoubtably there is a genetic component too. I have a friend who every time he goes to the dentist he has 20 plus cavities. He eats healthy and is a zealot on dental hygiene but all of his family are cursed with soft, cavity riddled teeth. I think the duck feet you give are great. They have tons of condroitin and are a great healthy treat.