Something to Chew On

So there you are walking up down the toy and chew aisle at your local pet store and wondering, “What’s good and safe for my dog?” It can be confusing with so much to choose from and maybe you don’t know where to begin.

There’s a lot to consider when selecting a chew. For starters if you have a puppy you should know they are more susceptible to breaking teeth, but they’re also teething and have a great desire to chew.  Also you can apply a simple test and that is to try to dig a fingernail into the chew. If there is no give to it, there is potential for damage to your dog’s teeth.  If there is no give, no way to chew or soften it, your dog may fracture their teeth. I recommend consulting your Vet before selecting a chew that is just right for your dog. Every dog is different in what they like as well so your dog will decide what they do and don’t like. If your dog is an aggressive chewer you should steer clear of hard chews that have no give like Antlers or Nylabones. Always supervise when giving a chew as well. Finally, as a rule of thumb when the chew becomes small enough to fit in your dog’s mouth they should be thrown away as it can become a choke hazard.

Below I’ve listed some of the chews I’m comfortable giving to my dogs. With that said, these may not be a good choice for your dog. Virtually every chew on the market have some safety concerns and you should evaluate them before reaching a decision.

Adult Dog Chews

1. Kong (The black colored Kongs are made for more aggressive chewers)
2. Himalayan Chews
3. Honest Kitchen Catfish Skins
4. Bully Sticks
5. Raw Knuckle Bones (From organic grass fed source) It’s best to choose non-weight bearing bones.
6. Mootugs
7. Trachea Chews
8. Goughnuts
9. Carrots and other acceptable veggies and fruit. They can be frozen.

The following pose a greater risk as they are hard chews and thus there are greater safety concerns. These are not a good choice for aggressive chewers

1. Antlers cut in half lengthwise
2. Nylabones
3. Hooves

Puppy Chews

1. Goughnuts
2. Kong
3. Carrots
4. Freeze acceptable fruits and veggies like Bananas, Carrots
5. Bake sliced Sweet Potatoes at low heat
6. Create your own healthy treats and freeze them in an ice-cube tray.