Bully Sticks..are they really that great?!?

[heartmyyorkie]

Yes, I admit it I have never ever given my dogs a bully stick, the thought of it just grosses me out. I see now that they do make odor free ones. Are bully sticks, in general, safe? I worry about them or the himalayan chews being choking hazards.

Also, can they have a bully stick everyday??

[rubymoon2072]

well my cedric loves them..he hasnt choked or had issues that i know of. i get mine at the pet store and they are all natural and made in usa. i use them for times when i need to do things and keep him busy!!

[heartmyyorkie]

What about sweet potato chews, has anyone tried them?

[Nancy1999]

I only will use Merrick Bully Sticks, they are made in the U.S. and are individually wrapped. They also have a low moisture content, which means they are very hard and it takes a whole week for Joey to eat a 6 inch stick, I throw away the last couple of inches to avoid a choking hazard. If your dog is eating a bully stick in one day, it's too soft, and it's more of a food item than a chewing stick. Dogs have an innate need to chew, and you must satisfy this with something. Everyone has a different idea of what's safe, but Bully Sticks are 100% digestible and that's important to me,= because it means no intestinal blockage. I also believe bully sticks are great for the gums and teeth. Merrick sticks do have some odor, but it's not overwhelming like other brands, and when your dog loves something that's much, it's easy to adjust.

[heartmyyorkie]

Originally Posted by rubymoon2072

well my cedric loves them..he hasnt choked or had issues that i know of. i get mine at the pet store and they are all natural and made in usa. i use them for times when i need to do things and keep him busy!!

Pita loves to chew and destroy her toys, so I am looking for something safe that can entertain her as well....esp when I am sewing!

[rubymoon2072]

yes i was giving cedric the chicken and sweet potato kind which were the AKC brand from the grocery store but they are made in china so i dont feed those anymore...btw i just chuckle everytime i see pitas birthday pic...she is just the cutest.

[heartmyyorkie]

Originally Posted by rubymoon2072

yes i was giving cedric the chicken and sweet potato kind which were the AKC brand from the grocery store but they are made in china so i dont feed those anymore...btw i just chuckle everytime i see pitas birthday pic...she is just the cutest.

Oh, I agree, gotta what those made in China labels..eek! Thank you, she is a little ham for sure!!

[rubymoon2072]

Originally Posted by heartmyyorkie

Pita loves to chew and destroy her toys, so I am looking for something safe that can entertain her as well....esp when I am sewing!

a bully stick will cetainly keep her entertained while you sew!!!

[DvlshAngel985]

Sweet potato chews are awesome! Kaji loves them!!! They aren't as thick or hard to chew as a bully stick, so they don't last for more than a minute. Even "bullies" don't last. I don't actually buy bullies, I buy the dehydrated tendon. Those don't smell, whereas even the odorless bullies give me a headache. Kaji will only be entertained with a chew for 2 hours at most, which is barely enough time to clean the entire apartment. I can't give them to him everyday because he gets bored with them. Once every 4 weeks is more than enough bully time for him. I also would never leave him alone with an edible chew just because I'm afraid he might choke and there is no one around to help him.

[Lovetodream88]

Callie has had bully sticks for years like at least 3 and we haven't had any choking or anything. We love the odor free ones from bestbullysticks.com. I personally would be worried more about the himalayan chews breaking there teeth.

[roseslevi]

I prefer the himalayan chews over bullies for safety. Levi choked once on a bully and it scared the daylights out of me. The himalayan chews don't break down as quickly into a big piece that can be swallowed.

[SophieandZiggy]

Mine love Bully Sticks too.

[gumbysuz]

Well, Dori is a big fan of the chews. She is allowed a 1 hr. chewing session each evening while I am catching up on my Tivo. They don't really smell and she has never bitten off a big chunk, more like grated cheese sizes. It shrinks a little at a time, so lasts awhile. I would NEVER let her chew unsupervised. Try one!

[ladyjane]

Not a fan. My vet is totally against them for a number of reasons...mostly because of the possibility of choking and/or obstructions.

As for Merrick. I would not buy anything from a company that has had recalls and notices from the FDA. They scare me.

I have also heard of pups having GI problems related to bully sticks. My pups chew on Nylabones and are all happy and I see no reason to introduce any kind of edible chew.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

...Those don't smell, whereas even the odorless bullies give me a headache.

That would concern me. Some "odorless" bullies are washed in a bleach solution to try to eliminate odor.

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Callie has had bully sticks for years like at least 3 and we haven't had any choking or anything. We love the odor free ones from bestbullysticks.com. I personally would be worried more about the himalayan chews breaking there teeth.

I just ordered ZoE new bullies and bestbullysticks is now listing them as "low odor" and no longer referring to them as "odor free". I guess some people expected them not to smell at all.