My dog likes to chew

Chewing is a natural behaviour that has important benefits for your dog, from promoting dental health to mental stimulation. The repetitive action of chewing also releases dopamine and serotonin, so it can be a great stress relief. There are plenty of great chews out there, and so we have come up with a list of our recommendations.

What we don't recommend

Before we go on to talk about our favourite chews, we thought it sensible to address what doesn't make a good chew. This is just my personal opinion based on my experiences, and you may never have a problem with the below examples, but it is important to be aware of the potential risks. A lot depends on how strong of a chewer your dog is; dogs that aren't big chewers will probably encounter fewer problems with the following examples, but both my dogs are strong chewers and so the risks outweigh the potential benefits. Having said that, all chews pose some risk of choking and so it is always sensible to supervise your dog, whatever you decide to give them.

Anything made of indigestible material

Anything indigestible generally doesn't make a good chew as we understandably don't want our dogs consuming this. So for example, we don't recommend leaving your dog with toys that could be torn apart and swallowed, whether that be a rope toy or plastic chew. For example, Nylabones are marketed as chew toys but are not safe to be swallowed, and in my experience they can quickly become sharp and it is not hard for dogs to chew pieces off. Equally, some dogs will chew rope toys and end up swallowing pieces of rope, which can cause obstructions and a hefty vet bill!

Rawhide

Another common chew is rawhide. Typically, rawhide is made from the inner layer of the skin of a cow, which is dried and treated with various chemicals which remove any remaining animal hair and fat. This processing also delays decay and removes any skin colour, turning the remaining product cream or white, which is sometimes then dyed to make colourful chews. Raw hide is not easily digestible and so if large pieces are consumed then they can take a long time to be digested and there is the possibility of them causing an obstruction. It is also heavily processed so it goes without saying that we are not a fan of rawhide!

Weightbearing bones

Whilst chews such as weight bearing bones (such as knuckles), cow hooves, marrow bones and horns are natural in comparison to rawhide, they are often too dense and your dog can risk breaking a tooth, especially if they are a strong chewer. These types of bones/chews are described as recreational, in that they are not to be consumed. However, if you have a strong chewer you may find that your dog can actually break pieces off and eat them. This is not recommended because the pieces can be sharp and cause blockages. I have also found that these chews can also cause a dog's gums to bleed if they continue to chew too heavily, or if sharp bits break off. That is not to say that you cannot give your dog one of these, but we would recommend doing so only for short periods and under supervision.

Dentastix and other vegetable based chews

Finally, Dentastix are a commonly used chew and are recommended for cleaning your dog's teeth. However, in comparison to the other items mentioned here, they don't last long at all and don't require sufficient chewing to actually clean your dogs teeth. The only dog that these are probably suitable for are very small dogs that aren't big chewers. However that said, they are composed of 90% carbs, with the main ingredients being cereals, derivatives of vegetable origin and meat and animal derivatives so are very poor quality and will not benefit your dogs health. A lot of rawhide alternatives have also cropped up more recently, which are similar in their ingredients to Dentastix so make sure to check the ingredients and quality before offering them to your dog.

Recommendations

So, now we have dealt with chews that we don't tend to recommend, we can now move onto the best bit - what chews we do recommend!!

Deer antlers

One of my go to chews is a deer antler - they are hard enough to last a while but soft enough not to damage teeth, and not splinter. Antlers are made up of fibrous tissue, cartilage and soft bone, which differs from horns, which are hollow bones with a tough coating of keratin. This means that they are suitable for even the toughest of chewers. Split antlers (where the antler is halved lengthways) are also available for dogs that are not such keen chewers, as the inner part is a lot softer and easier to chew.

Deer antlers are 100% natural; deer shed their antlers and regrow a pair every single year, so if you are lucky enough to find one on your walk, you can take it home and give it to your dog! Better still, if you have the equipment needed to chop it up into pieces, you could bag yourself enough chews to last years! Antlers bought in shops tend to already be chopped into different sizes. As with most chews, the bigger your dog, the bigger chew you want to give them to avoid any risk of choking.

Raw, meaty bones

Raw bones are a fantastic way of cleaning your dog's teeth. They are not to be confused with cooked bones, which become brittle and can splinter. Raw bones on the other hand are completely safe to consume as they are soft. I feed my dogs raw bones once a week, as part of their daily food allowance.

As with any chew, it is important to choose a bone that matches your dog's size in order to decrease the risk of choking. So, for small dogs bones such as chicken feet and wings might be adequate, whereas for larger dogs lamb ribs and turkey necks might be more suitable.

Yaks

Yak chews are made through a process of boiling and drying milk, lime juice and salt, which makes a hard chew that comes in a variety of sizes. For dogs that are strong chewers, Yaks don't tend to last too long, however they are completely edible and are a great way to occupy your dog.

All natural dog treats

There are a whole variety of 100% natural chews available nowadays, whether that be bully sticks/pizzle, pigs ears, deer legs, rabbits ears and many many more. These chews are air dried and have no other ingredients at all, making them great for your dog. Be sure to check the ingredients of any chews you buy, as some companies market their products as natural when they actually contain other ingredients.

The only downside is that they don't often smell very pleasant, but that it what makes them all the more tasty for our dogs! As well as being a tasty treat, they are great for keeping your dog occupied and have some great health benefits of their own. For example, anything with hair on acts as a natural de-wormer.  These chews probably last the least amount of time, but they are a great treat that requires a little more effort!

We have just launched our very own all natural treat boxes full of good quality chews your dog can enjoy so if you're interested in grabbing some for your dog - be sure to check out our website here!

So, if your dog loves to chew, or you are looking to find something that cleans your dogs teeth, consider purchasing a few of our recommendations for your dog to try. That said, if your dog is anxious, bored or in pain, chews are not a substitute for addressing the root cause, nor will they necessarily stop your dog from chewing your furniture!