In this article we weigh up the pros and cons of antler dog chews so you can make an informed decision for your pup.
Are antler dog chews safe for puppies.
While antlers are hard they can splinter and these pieces can become lodged in your dog s mouth throat or stomach causing damage as well as pain.
They must be provided with caution though as puppies are more at risk of swallowing objects.
This is how teeth are broken or gums are lacerated.
Because we don t have any published data on the causes of tooth fractures there is no way to specifically tell you for sure that antlers are safe for dogs to chew or that antlers are not safe for dogs to chew.
Excessively hard chew toys are a common cause of broken teeth in dogs.
Each type has different textures.
You may not need to dive onto a fallen ice cube before your dog gets to it but it s not the best idea to intentionally give ice cubes to your dog to chew.
Whole elk horns are better for dogs that are more powerful chewers.
Antlers are an excellent tool for dogs with inflammatory bowel disease.
This makes it much more difficult to find a novel protein if needed in the future for skin or intestinal issues.
However split elk antlers will not last as long as whole elk antlers because they are already broken.
Avoiding health complications from.
Types of antler chews.
I believe that hard plastic or nylon chews sterilized bones cow hooves and antlers are too hard to be safe for most dogs.
Are antlers safe for dogs.
Natural antler dog chewscan come from a variety of sources.
Deer antlers are good treats for puppies especially when they are teething to relieve the discomfort of their adult teeth coming through.
There has been a huge increase in demand for antler chews for dogs over the past few years.
Unfortunately like bones antlers hard nylon chew toys and other hard chews ice cubes can actually be hard enough to break your dog s teeth.
The hardness of antlers also means they can damage your dog s teeth and gums if they chew too aggressively or if they have weak teeth.
Perhaps the biggest irony when it comes to hard chews like antlers is that we as owners.
All we can do is talk about the anecdotal evidence.
Antlers and dental health.
Plus strong chewing dogs will whittle down antlers into sharp points that are painful to touch.
A broken tooth is extremely painful and can sometimes become abscessed.
Yes antlers can hurt dogs.
Unfortunately antler chews aren t recommended for strong chewing dogs.
Antlers are rock hard and strong chewing dogs will bite down on antlers with all their might.