Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) Bones like cattle leg bones are bad for teeth as they are very hard once the knobby ends are chewed away. But raw bones that can be crunched and easily broken by the large teeth are fine A lamb shank would be the largest single bone we'd give. 95% of the time Obi gets non-weight-bearing bones. I was getting worried about the deer antler when I realised how hard it was. I was already poised to toss it when I read Lochan's post. I'm pretty keen to see to it that Obi will have good teeth (clean, unbroken and as unworn as possible) all his life.
Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) jade i got one for jasper, he dont like them, he prefers the bones from butchers and they a lot cheaper at butchers on 20p a bone or a pound for large ones,
Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) £20 spent on stag antlers and now they are not good for dogs. I can't keep up! I am going to carry on with bones from the Butcher for a £1, chicken wings and hide chews as I always have and that's it. Clearly we can't win!! Helen x
Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) I have given my dogs antlers to chew for years and never had a problem - too many bones on the other hand have caused a digestive problem or two : I will continue to give the antlers. The dogs like them and they keep their teeth lovely and clean.
Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) I'm sure that most dogs would never experience a problem with an antler. If the antler or bone is soft enough so that they are able to make progress on it (i.e. in the teeth versus antler contest the antler is losing) then all is probably fine. But I am just totally paranoid about Obi breaking a tooth. Our first dog broke the whole side off one the biggest pre-molars in his head and it was enormously painful and required either (a) an extraction (which would have weakened his upper jaw since the tooth was so large and he was already missing the tooth in front of it (genetic)) or (b) a root canal. We went for the root canal (after our normal vet temporarily glued his tooth back together to relieve the pain) which meant an 1600km round trip to Melbourne to a specialist and lots of $$$. Anyway, that's why I'm paranoid, LOL. He broke the tooth on a very hard and dried out cow leg bone though, not a fresh bone or an antler. But by the time he was old his front teeth were also quite worn from chewing on big cow bones and I know they were sore because of that (though his gums and dental hygeine were great.....we used to brush his teeth). I want to avoid worn teeth too this time around. Having said all that, it's really way too easy to get too hung up on these things.....
Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) Hi Rachael - how horrid for your poor old dog! But it is nonetheless important to let your dogs chew on bones and stuff, as I know you know! I didn't realize that with my old dogs, and they both had tooth decay in old age requiring extractions.
Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) [quote author=Karen link=topic=1413.msg10713#msg10713 date=1368782586] But it is nonetheless important to let your dogs chew on bones and stuff, as I know you know! [/quote] Yes, absolutely - meaty bones are essential It'd have to be true that the overwhelming majority of poor teeth are caused by a lack of bones etc.
Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) I got her a bone today, is she ok yo have it at 16 weeks? She must still have her baby teeth.
Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) Personally, I think that bones are fine at any age. For a young pup I'd give things like chicken wings, chicken necks, a quarter of a chicken back, a slice of lamb neck, half a turkey neck or a couple of lamb ribs - things about that size (just because mouths and tummies are smaller). If you have ended up with a cow leg bone then you could just let her have it until she's chewed the meaty bits and soft cartilage off and then take it away once she starts getting into the harder bits. Swap it for a nice treat.
Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) I have a question. I have some bones to give my two today, look like lamby bones with some meat on, just not quite sure which cut ???, nevertheless greatly received from my sister. Should I deduct some kibble for bone? Thanks Helen x
Re: Stag Antlers ( stagbars ) Jade, I agree with Rachael, yes you can give a big bone like that to your pup, just take it away once she has chewed down the 'chewable' bits (that will probably keep her busy for half an hour or even more). Helen - you could reduce the amount of kibble, and I would do so if you are often going to be giving bones in addition to their normal food. But if this is a 'once off' treat, and since Charlie (and I assume Hattie too) are so nice and slim, I really wouldn't worry too much. Think of it like a human having an ice cream or a slice of cake as a treat - once in a while is fine, but if it's part of every day's food, then you have to deduct calories from somewhere else...
