Bully Sticks Bad???

[joNmoxie]

We picked up Moxie one week ago today, and she's been doing great (she was 8 weeks old yesterday). I read all of the positive things about Bully Sticks here, so when we were buying all of the puppy supplies, I picked one up. She absolutely loves it and it keeps her occupied for hours. However, we visited the vet for her puppy exam on Tuesday, and when we told her that we'd given her one, she told us to stop immediately.

She grouped them with rawhides and bones, and said that they can cause digestive upset. She also told us that once she has a taste of a Bully Stick, she will never be satisfied with a Kong (which is what we're planning on giving her in her crate when I go back to work in a few weeks).

Can anyone share their experiences with this? She really loves it, and hasn't had any tummy trouble since she came home. It occupies her while I get things done around the house, but I don't want to give it to her just for my convenience if it's not good for her.

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Well some do experience stomach upset but they can experience stomach upset with almost anything so make sure you get the natural bully sticks and not "man made" ones that are by products and yucky stuff pressed together to look like a bully stick. Also make sure there's nothing on it such as flavoring.

IMO saying she'll never be satisfied with a Kong is absolutely NOT true. All 3 of my dogs have had bully sticks as well as raw bones and all 3 love their Kongs when I give them to them too as well as their regular kibble diet any treats, etc. I usually just put a tad of PB along with a broken up milk bone type bone (not the actual milk bone brand as they have yucky ingredients) in there and all 3 are very happy with that whether in or out of the crate.

I don't know, a vet that would say that would seriously have me considering finding a new vet because that's a bit over the top and IMO completely wrong information (and that's the beauty of the bully sticks is that they're supposed to be digestible which rawhides, etc are not).

 

[Peppermint]

That is really strange to me. I've never experienced stomach upset after bully's with my puppy. Maybe it has to do with from what company you get them. I don't believe a dog wouldn't want a kong afterward either -- Bowser will work at his anytime there's something yummy in there.

As for getting the "good" ones as Bxrmommie suggests, check out bestbullysticks.com ~ they have cheap bullys made from grass-fed cattle. And the regular ones don't stink, so you don't have to get the more expensive ones labeled specifically odor free. =)

 

[RockyCody]

Rocky has been eating bullysticks since he was a pup too. The only time we ever had issues was when he was a bit older around 4-5months and we were still giving him the 6" ones - he swallowed about 3 inches whole and I woke up to wretching in the middle of the night. it was scary - he was able to vomit it up and was fine after - but we always take away the last 4 inches or so just to avoid that situation.

I think they are safe, they dont expand like rawhides do so with us we have had no problems.

 

[Sansal]

Happy and Sky get bully sticks all the time, never had a problem and they also love their Kong. Just make sure to throw them out when they get too short.

 

[gmacleod]

I would not, personally, ever give a bullystick - or any other dried body part - to my dog as a chew. If I had a dollar for every choking, diarrhoea (read bacterial poisoning) or upset tummy story I've heard/read, I'd be rather a lot richer than I am now IMO it is far better to give the dog something natural to chew on - that is, something NATURE rather than man, invented for dogs to chew on. Which pretty much brings you to raw bones. If you really can't stand the thought of those (though it seems strange to baulk at a bone if you can handle a bulls penis), then the non-edible man-made chew items are the next best alternative.

The problem with bullysticks is exactly the same as raw hides, btw. With the possible (but not certain) exception of some of the chemicals used to produce it.

 

[Kilby'sMum]

Totally agree with gmacleod. We have always given our girls raw treats rather than anything processed. Cheap and easy

If you're going to give her the Kong in the crate in a few weeks anyway, why not just give her that now? We put in carrot, apple, cheese, cubed beef and peanut butter (not all these things at once of course). We also gave raw bones which keep them occupied for HOURS (Kilby would gnaw on bones for so long she wore the skin off her lips... ouch!).

 

[kellera4696]

Kongs

What would be the earliest age a pup could get a Kong? Would it be safe for a puppy before 8 weeks old? And if so, should I start by giving it plain, or can I put something in it???

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

I had the puppy kong and just put a little bit of his dry food inside of it when I got him at 8 weeks old. As long as your pup can eat solid food you could put a few pieces of their kibble in it.

 

[rayofsun]

I can completely understand your situation. When I first heard about bully sticks, I thought they were the best thing since sliced bread so I went out and bought one for my girl. Well, after she and my sister's dog devoured it after a few days, I read somewhere that they were pretty much the same as rawhide. I was surprised because I wouldn't have ever put the two in the same category, and also, I pledged to never give my dog rawhide. Sure they love it, but they don't always know what's best for them.

All in all, I'd say go with what you think is best. She's your dog and you know what she likes. You'll always hear different opinions about what's best and while these opinions are meant to be helpful, you've got to figure out for yourself what works for you and your dog. No person can be 100% sure of everything all the time, right? Even if the majority of ppl feel a certain way about a product, how can we be completely sure if we never try it out?