Do you wanna give a treat to your dog? Then deer antlers are the perfect toy for your dog. They are kind of a nutrition-packed chew toy for them which are full of vitamins and minerals. Before talking more about deer antlers you should first know that what exactly are deer antlers? So, antlers are generally extensions of an animal’s skull which are found in deer. They are of single structures which are basically composed of bone, cartilage, fibrous tissue, skin, nerves, and blood vessels. A deer antler for dogs is a good choice if you want long-lasting chews for your dog.
For a long time dogs have been chewing antlers. As your dog will grind deer antler into small pieces, these bits of pieces are completely safe and also completely digestible. Also, antlers are healthy and also refreshing treats for your dog. As your dog will break down the antler into small pieces you should keep a watch that he should not swallow it. An antler regenerates each year and branches out. There are many benefits of deer antlers for dogs
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- Dog loves deer antler treats – as antlers are a natural treat for your dog, it is free of odour, staining and residue.
- Long-lasting – antlers can last for months and also years. Yes, it can, and it’s not a joke it just depends upon your dog that how he chews the antler.
- Dental hygiene – chewing of antler can really reduce the instances of plaque by a staggering 70%. Just your dog needs to chew the antler for 30 minutes a day and then there is no need of spending money on the dental hygiene of your dog.
- Hypoallergenic – antlers consists of novel proteins which are generally not found in pet foods. For the most sensitive types of dogs, antlers are low allergic. Antlers are generally packed with vitamins and minerals such as calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Sulphur, and Zinc. All these vitamins and minerals really help to keep the dog’s muscles and bones healthy.
There are various things you should keep in mind while choosing antlers for your dog –
- You should make sure that the antler is large enough so that there is no possibility that while chewing the antler your dog could choke on it.
- Check that your antler does not have any sharp edge. If there is any sharp edge you can remove them easily just by rubbing that area against concrete or sandpaper.
- Before giving the antler to your dog wash that antler in warm soapy water and then rinse it well.
- After giving the antler to your dog watch it for some time while he chews it.
- If your dog is trying to break the antler into two half instead of gnawing then it is better to take it away from him.
- Don’t allow your dog to chew antler more than an inch per day.
- Once an antler gets worn down to a small size take it away from your dog so that he does not chew it.
You should not give deer antlers to your puppy because it is just the beginning of the teething process. When a puppy is of two weeks of age puppy’s teeth also known as milk teeth begin to emerge, and this process of growing milk teeth continues till the puppy is eight weeks old. Just like humans puppy’s milk teeth are considered temporary teeth. As the antler is hard, and if the puppy chews it, he will end up getting a toothache. So you should not give deer antlers to puppies.
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You should buy deer antlers for dogs because antlers are cruelty-free which means they fall off a stag’s head naturally, they never get soggy, they are a natural product, and dogs love them. Chewing for dogs is very important for canine health and also contributes to the reduction of stress and healthy gums and teeth. When the dog chews something, the process of chewing releases endorphin which helps in the reduction of anxiety and frustration among dogs. So, giving antler to your dog is the best idea you can go for.
There are two kinds of antlers whole antlers and split antlers, but when it comes to durability whole antlers are long-lasting. Though whole antlers have great durability they have limited access to the centre marrow. Antlers are long-lasting chew for your dog but you should choose the right type of antler for your dog based on his chewing style. For dogs that are moderate in chewing, antlers are best for them. But for dogs who are powerful or aggressive chewers, you should give them a long-lasting digestible chew.
Antlers are available in three types on the basis of durability
Split Elk Antlers
these types of antlers are good for puppies because they are split down the middle to expose the marrow. These are also good for older dogs that are new to chewing. When compared to other types of antlers, these antlers last long because dogs find it hard in chewing them.
Whole Elk Antlers
This type is good for dogs who love chewing. In this type, the marrow is not exposed rather cut on the ends. This type of antlers gives a hard challenge to your dogs and also has good durability. They vary in density because their density depends on which part of the antler they are cut from.
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Whole Deer Antlers
this type of antlers is much harder and denser. These antlers have less marrow and have a thicker outer core. This thicker outer core makes them hard in chewing.
Give your dog a treat by giving him a deer antler. Giving this to your dog is really a good idea because it really contains vitamins and minerals which are good for dogs. They also don’t cause any harm to your dog. These antlers also provide mental stimulation to dogs because when the dog chews it is an exercise for the jaw muscles.
