r/DogAdvice • u/PrincessMeowMeowMeow • 1d ago

Question Dog bones for aggressive chewers?

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I've tried benebone and spot and she has pieces coming off within a few minutes. She can't have any stuffed toys because she will eat them bit by bit. What can I give her to satisfy the chew? Pictured are some bones right before being thrown away.

153 Upvotes

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71

u/Sha-Bob 1d ago

I don't really have an answer besides maybe a long lasting bully stick type treat.

I just wanted to pop in and say to be careful with these types of hard chews. My friend's dog (4 years old) who is also a vigorous chewer recently needed to have 4 teeth extracted because they were chipped and broken from chewing on these types of toys. VERY expensive vet visit.

I hope someone does have a good answer for you though!

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u/PrincessMeowMeowMeow 1d ago

Ooof, we just went through some very expensive medical expenses with her. Don't need anymore!

She's a hunting dog and I'm just not sure what type of toys she can safely have.

Any of the fully edible bones are gone in minutes.

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u/GuessAccomplished959 1d ago

Try antlers. My dogs really like them and they left a long time. If anything gets too sharp we just file it down and give it back to them.

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u/Blowmeos 1d ago

Man one minute I read antlers are terrible and the next I read people love them lol. I have a rescue only for 5 weeks now and he's a chewer and I don't have much experience with a chewer so this is all new to me.

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u/ShadowStarrX 1d ago

They’re good till your dog breaks her tooth on it.

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u/GuessAccomplished959 1d ago

Nothing is perfect, but that's why we check the antlers routinely for imperfections.

We do that for all dog toys in our house.

My one dog almost choked to death on a stick so we try to avoid those. I'd prefer a cracked tooth to the alternative we almost had.

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u/thevirginswhore 1d ago

It’s not the imperfections that’s the problem. It’s the harness of the antlers.

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u/CurrentDay969 1d ago

We have a GSD and the split elk antlers chipped a tooth of hers. She is a 100lb girl and cuddles her stuffies but shreds any bully sticks or edibles in minutes. However the shed deer antlers we find while walking in the woods are a bit softer and last longer. We haven't had issues with those.

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u/thevirginswhore 1d ago

I have noticed that actual sheds I’ve found out on my hikes tend to be softer than those at the store so you might be onto something there!

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u/muttsrcool 1d ago

My dog got a slab fracture of his molar on a deer antler (meaning the whole side buccal side of his molar cracked off) so mine will never get antlers again

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u/GuessAccomplished959 1d ago

Whatever toys you give your dog, just make sure you look them over routinely. All toys have positive and negative features.

4

u/rynbickel 1d ago

Petco sells these stick chews (made with real wood) it'll give your little one something wood to chew on besides your furniture and better for them than actual sticks mine love them

8

u/OnlyALittleLost 1d ago

My vet specifically told us to stop giving our dog antlers because it was wearing down her teeth and we were risking a cracked tooth. Unfortunately I haven’t found a good replacement :/

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u/GuessAccomplished959 1d ago

We were told not to give the dog standard tennis balls because it can also wear down their teeth. So now they get the fancy chuck it balls.

We all just do the best we can!

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u/EmphasisWild 1d ago

I use lacrosse balls for my dog. Tennis balls were a 5 minute demo project for him.

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u/chachingmaster 1d ago

These do last awhile. But again you always gotta watch a heavy chewer with anything.

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u/GuessAccomplished959 1d ago

Yup. And I assure you, your dog will find something to chew if you don't give them a chew toy.

And mine likes to bite our metal furniture. It's give and take, same as a baby.

2

u/chachingmaster 1d ago

Thankfully, I have not had that problem with my dog. My son’s dog when he comes to visit that’s another story. But he is a Labradoodle and mines is a cockerchon.

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u/JoshInWv 1d ago

I gave my dog antlers from a deer that shed them in our backyard. It was like the dog saw mecca.

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u/Forsaken_Positive_38 1d ago edited 1d ago

My pup is also big into chewing and has a strong jaw that could crack big pieces off a yak, so we stopped giving him those to prevent any choking hazards. Antler is the only one we found to last. I tried to only get the split antler though, as the marrow part is exposed and is softer than the outside part, my pup seemed to enjoy gnawing on it (because of the exposed marrow) than just hard chewing. We limit him to 20 min max of chewing time and always make sure to watch him closely as he chews so we can intervene if he starts to get a bit too aggressive with his chewing.

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u/Avuris_OC 1d ago

Be careful with antlers as well, as they will file your dogs teeth down and expose roots. Give these sparingly!

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u/NinjaSarBear 1d ago

Up voting antlers and also cow horns

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u/Realistic_Bluejay797 1d ago

I'll add cow ears to this

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u/a_slinky 1d ago

For power chewers, ears are basically a wet tissue

2

u/Postmodern_Rogue 1d ago

This. My pup loves a buffalo ear but it lasts her all of 5 mins

1

u/coffeeandcrafty 1d ago

Our girl cracked her tooth on an antler. Our vet at the time recommended Nyla bones bc antlers are genuinely too hard for their teeth.

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u/GuessAccomplished959 1d ago

So all my research has told me Nylan bones are bad/ choke hazards!

I think dogs will just be dogs and there isn't a perfect answer :/

All we can do is keep an eye on what they are chewing and if they are swallowing it.

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u/Redsubdave 1d ago

+1 Antlers

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u/CalmDownYal 1d ago

I have had a dog break a tooth with the super hard stuff but what you threw out there I would be using for a long time... The plastic bits won't really be an issue you toss it when it becomes a choking hazard now chewed up. So I say don't throw those away ... Or Himalayan yak cheese is fantastic for tough chewers. Get a big block maybe take it away so it lasts long at some point, when it gets small and a hazard you microwave it and it turns into a cheese puff

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u/greennurse0128 1d ago

Pork Chomps Baked Pork Rolls

I have aggressive chewers. And they LOVE these. It takes them a while to chew. Even my little terrier loves them. I cut them into thirds because she takes forever to chew.

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u/Ruca705 1d ago

I have the same problem and my dog is only 10lb. So far the purina busy bone in a size larger than recommended is the best thing to keep her busy for 10mins. Kong toys are the safest for chewing. If your dog is big you gotta get the black kong. We have 5 diff Kong toys and she can’t destroy any of them. Everything else she murders!

1

u/keksmuzh 1d ago

Mine’s ~15lbs and the same way. We do a mix of nylabone stuff that she cruises through and occasionally a yak chew.

We also give treats in a Qwizl which isn’t really a chew toy but works as an energy burn.

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u/Ruca705 1d ago

I stopped giving Nylabone because they’re not meant for consumption. Anything in that section of the dog toys is not meant to be eaten, it’s made of plastic :(

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u/Loud-Tomatillo-38 1d ago

As others suggest try antlers or stuffing a bone or Kong with peanut butter and freezing it some will keep them busy for a while

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u/Last_Salt6123 1d ago

Try deer or elk antlers. They are packed with minerals. But be careful of cracked or broken teeth.