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02-18-2020  Bones and Chews Can Be Beneficial to Your Dog’s - and Cat’s Too - Dental Health

Feeding a raw diet with quality meats and ground bones is one way to promote and improve the oral health of your companion animal (see our earlier blogpost to learn more).

Chews and bones complement a wholesome, quality raw diet and may benefit your pet by helping to keep teeth clean, promoting gum health and, as an added bonus, a “good chew” helps reduce stress.

For dogs, the crunchy texture of chews such as our traditional bully sticks, Crazy Beef Bully Sticks and beef tracheas act as a “natural toothbrush.” The scrubbing action provided by these ingredients can have a beneficial result on teeth and gums.  

All of our chews are dry roasted for a nice natural flavor. They do not contain additives, colors or flavorings, which may stick to teeth and cause plaque to build. Products without additives are also less likely to stain carpets and furniture. We have spent years perfecting a manufacturing process that results in a no-odor bully stick which is an added bonus.

Fresh, raw bones can also be beneficial for their scrubbing power. It’s important to note that you should feed raw bones only. You never want to feed a cooked bone, especially poultry bones, which can easily splinter when chewed.  

Cats require different forms of dental care, but a good diet and meaty treats can have beneficial results on oral health due to the scrubbing action the ground bone provides to the teeth. Many people have learned that their cat loves our duck feet, which they are able to chew and enjoy. This provides the same kind of scrubbing action as a bully stick or trachea chew does for a dog. Duck feet are the perfect size and a protein cats enjoy! Of course, both your dog or cat should have an annual dental exam from a veterinarian.

The age, breed and size of your dog or cat should all be considered when deciding on which chews and/or bones to feed. Your local independent pet retailer is a great resource and can help match you with the right size and type of chew for your pet.

When making your selection, keep the following things in mind:

Calories Count. It is important for pet parents to watch the number of calories their pet is consuming. While chews are a great way to promote dental health, they do have a lot of calories so that should be considered as part of the pet’s daily caloric intake. They are also high in both protein and fat content and over-serving can lead to stomach upset and loose stools. Remember: all good things in moderation.

How aggressive of a chewer is your dog? Breeds or dogs who are more aggressive chewers may need a larger or more durable chew. Some may be better served with a larger knuckle bone as a treat as opposed to a chew.   Slower chewers or petite dogs may need something smaller. Watch your dog to see how they do with the various chews and make changes as needed.  

Select the Right Size. While it may seem simplistic, common sense rules here. Do not give a big bone or chew to a small dog, as dental issues are possible. Smaller dogs will likely need a smaller chew, or might do better with a trachea or pig’s ear. You also don’t want to give a large dog a chew they can demolish in minutes

Whether you choose to feed chews, fresh bones or duck feet to your dog or cat, we always suggest supervising your pet when they are enjoying any bone or chew.