Bully Sticks and Bones for chewing?

[rsjenni]

Just wanted to know what the you all thought about bully sticks? Are they safe, or can they be torn apart and choked on like rawhide? Also I am trying to find a good Shin bone for Austin and don't really know where to look to find one that is good, filled or unfilled, any help?

 

[mancin]

I have never had problems giving bully sticks to Tyson. I take them away when they are small enough that they can fit inside of his mouth so he doesn't choke on them.
Check out this post: http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59836&highlight=rawhide
It discusses rawhide, bully sticks, and bones.

 

[FarleyBoxer]

Also I am trying to find a good Shin bone for Austin and don't really know where to look to find one that is good, filled or unfilled, any help?

Ask the butcher at your grocery store if they have shin bones. Sometimes they will package them in the meat section for people to use in soup, but oftentimes they don't, in my experience.

 

[rsjenni]

Ask the butcher at your grocery store if they have shin bones. Sometimes they will package them in the meat section for people to use in soup, but oftentimes they don't, in my experience.

Great idea! Thanks... so do you think these will be good enough they won't splinter off or anything...?

 

[BeckyNC]

Petsmart sells sterilized calf shin bones.

 

[gmacleod]

I would avoid the sterilized bones (they are cooked - and yes, those can splinter). Get raw ones from your butcher. Raw bones won't splinter, or at least not until they are very very old and dried out. If you get a marrow bone, you might want to scoop some of the marrow out before giving it to your dog - too much marrow can cause diarrhoea

 

[RamonasMom]

Another thing to be careful about bones is breaking teeth. I bought my dogs the sterilized bones with peanut butter in them. The dogs LOVED them but Ramona wanted to chew on the bone to try to get the PB out and broke the tip of her tooth. Luckily - it was just the tip and no pulp was exposed but it could have been a lot worse. Just keep a good eye on them if you do buy bones.

 

[Jade010103]

I understand that the raw bones won't splinter but can they still bite off small pieces off the ends? and will it be ok if they do? My boxer isn't a power chewer but I have a golden retriever that is and she has biten off small chunks of the cooked bones that I've bought and I'm hoping that if I get raw ones they'll be better for that reason. I don't know how my golden hasn't broken any teeth yet but is doesn't take much for her to bite off a chunk of bone when she's getting into chewing on it. I'm really trying to find something safe for her since she's such a powerful chewer and kongs only interest her if there filled, they don't satisfy her chewing needs and she only chews on her Nylabones when she wants something different to knaw on but she doesn't chew hard on them, they're more of a toy to her. Any suggestions would really help.

 

[rsjenni]

in regards to the bones from the butcher, we just got one and he left some of the fatty tissue and a TINY TINY piece of beef on there. Is this dangerous for him? How long does it last and should I clean the bone. I already cut off most of the fat from the bone just b/c i was scared of it getting him sick, but I don't know if I should freeze it or how long it will last and not develop any bacteria that will harm him.. any thoughts?

 

[kflanaga]

Marrow bones was the best advice I EVER got on here. One bone keeps Simon occupied for a good hour or two, and they cost next to nothing compared to bully sticks and things like that.