What do you buy for your dogs to chew on? I’m looking for something that doesn’t break/crack their teeth, lasts more than 3 minutes, doesn’t have chicken in it, and doesn’t break my poor wallet.
After spending $$$$$$ at the vet to have my boxer’s tooth repaired, the dental vet told me that if you can’t break it or bend it, throw it in the garbage. Well, that’s everything they like. She mentioned dental bones but they eat those in about 1 minute. I want something that will keep them occupied for hours. They love rawhide rolls, so I soak them in a bucket of water until they’re flabby. They’ve been happy with them until recently. I think they’re tired of them. I used to get raw bones from the butcher during seasons they could chew them outdoors. They absolutely LOVE them but now I’m afraid they’ll break or crack a tooth. Or get bone splinters. Those kept them busy all day. I tried those yak milk chew sticks. They liked them and they lasted a little longer than dental bones but they are expensive - $35 for 5. I have 3 dogs.
Yeah those Kong toys. Fill them with peanut butter (or Kong peanut butter which is less hard on their tummies) and treats and freeze them. They’ll last longer.
Another vote for Kongs - we’ve been using them for years… No need to use peanut butter - I stuff a few broken dog biscuit pieces or other small treats in there with some bits of cheese - cram it in there such that it will take a long, LONG, L O N G time to get out. If we’ll be gone more than a couple-three hours we’ll leave her another one stuffed just as difficultly. We occasionally use peanut butter but only in small amounts, and wiped deep inside so it will take a while for her to get it all out.
If you are looking for something specific for chewing as opposed to just keeping them occupied and distracted - I also agree with the Nylabone suggestion - it wont splinter or crack, and any little pieces that come off and are ingested wont harm their GI tract.
I think she meant that if you can’t break it or bend it the dog will be more likely to break a tooth. Something that breaks meaning something edible.
None of the past dogs I’ve had liked Nylabones. I haven’t tried them with these dogs yet. I didn’t want to spend the money to have them just sitting in their toy basket. I think I’ll try the softer version of a Nylabone. Some of them seem like hard plastic. Kongs are ok but the one I have is horrible to clean out. I’ll look at those better too.
I’ve also had hooves and antlers. But again they’re pretty hard. Pizzles/Bully sticks are much loved but most stink to high heaven. I could put the dogs outside with those.
I bought a few different chewy things for my guys, but they all want this one:
It may be the shape that they like, they can all hold it with their paws and go to town! The worst thing about it is that it’s such a bland color that I’m always stepping on it, and it hurts like the dickens.
We basically bought a car for my dog, after he ate his supposedly chew-proof bed, and needed extensive hospitalization. Since then, we have been very, very careful about what he chews, and have settled on these:
They aren’t indestructible, but they last a long time, and we can tell when they are starting to come apart.
We used to get smaller rawhide chew sticks for our dogs. Our dachshunds didn’t care much for them, but a beagle we had loved them. She would hold them between her front paws and basically eat them. One of our dachshunds tried copying her, but her short little legs made it hard for her to grasp them. She’d get one end slimy then walk over to one of us to hold it for her while she chewed. Or she’d just chew the end and leave it all slimy on the floor to step on.
Someone gave us one of those Bullibine Superbrushes. I couldn’t find a pic. Our dog uses it quite a bit. I find it amusing the way he holds it upright with his paws.
But for the OP, I think you just gave to go with trial and error. I’d start with a Nylabone and a King, and if those don’t work, expand your search.
Kizzy’s favorite chew toy currently are my gf’s reading glasses. If she leaves a pair anywhere Kizzy can find them, they are destroyed in seconds.
Another thing we put inside chew toys is cheese in a can. Not sure what it’s called. My gf is a bit embarrassed buying it at the grocery store, as she would never purchase it to eat,
