The Antler Growth Process:
This is great, but there are caveats to be aware of. That is, the type of species from which you’re choosing your antler. You certainly don’t want to harm your dog in any way, so pay attention to this: According to Don from Mountain Dog Chews, “By FAR, I prefer elk antler over any over species of cervids (whitetail deer, mule deer, etc.), as the antler material offers optimal density – which makes for a chew that is durable, but also more safe. Elk chews actually are LESS dense than other antler chews as the outer-structure / marrow ratio is much lower. By contrast, most deer antlers are incredibly hard throughout (think jawbreaker hard), while lacking much in the way of core marrow. I have found that such other antler offerings carry too high a risk of causing slab fractures (Ouch! I can’t imagine the pain of a broken tooth…)”
There are TONS of benefits to “chewsing” antlers for your pup! Okay, now that our terrible pun is out of the way, let’s discuss. 100% natural antler chews help clean teeth & last and last! 100% natural, North American deer or elk antlers are ideal for puppies, aggressive chewers, and large dogs because they last a very long time and rarely split, splinter or chip. Dog owners with allergies will be relieved to find out that they’re non-allergenic and improves your dog’s coat, subduing the negative effects it may have on your allergies. What are some other benefits of choosing antler chews over other dog chew products?
Antlers may cause a GI obstruction.
If a dog swallows a chunk of antler, it could also get stuck in the stomach or intestines. There is some debate among veterinarians on whether a dog’s stomach acids can break down antlers. However, even if the antler will eventually break down, it can still cause problems while it is intact. The antler could block food from leaving the stomach or lodge somewhere in the intestines and prevent intestinal contents from moving through.
In severe cases, an intestinal obstruction can cause a portion of the intestine to die or create a hole in the intestine. This may allow intestinal contents to leak into the abdomen. Dogs with dead intestines or holes in their intestines are very sick and sometimes die.
Signs of an intestinal or stomach obstruction include:
A variety of conditions, including other GI problems like pancreatitis in dogs, and systemic problems like organ failure can also cause these signs, so they are not specific for an obstruction. Whenever you see these signs, call your vet promptly so he or she can assess your dog and make a plan.
GI obstruction is an emergency and requires surgery to remove the antler (and possibly part of the intestine if it is damaged). Complicated or severe cases may require a several day hospitalization and intensive care. Some obstructions are even fatal, so antlers aren’t worth the risk.
Antlers may pose a choking hazard.
The dental concerns with antlers are definitely the biggest reason that I am anti-antler. However, it is also worth mentioning that antlers chewed small may pose a hazard. Anything that can be chewed down to a small piece may cause true choking (obstruction of your dog’s windpipe) or esophageal obstruction (which some people also call choking). True choking, while uncommon, can be life-threatening if your dog can’t get enough oxygen.
Next, let’s take a look at the hazards of an esophageal obstruction. If your dog attempts to swallow a piece of the antler, it could get stuck in the esophagus. This would keep other food from being able to reach the stomach, and can also damage the walls of the esophagus.
In severe cases, the esophagus could get a hole in it, which would allow the contents of the esophagus to leak into the neck, chest, or abdomen.
If your dog is showing these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately. Be able to tell your vet if any of your dog’s toys are missing or you suspect he or she may have chewed an antler or other toy down to a small piece then tried to swallow it.
If your dog does have an antler stuck in the esophagus, endoscopy is the safest way to remove it. Some veterinary practices have an endoscope (a flexible tool with a light and camera), but other clinics may refer you to a veterinary specialty center for the procedure. Endoscopy typically requires brief general anesthesia. Complications of an esophageal obstruction (and removal) include irritation of the esophagus, esophageal perforation (i.e. hole), and esophageal stricture (i.e. scar tissue that narrows the esophagus).
What are the Best Dog Chew Toys – nylabones and antler or are there better? – Dog Health Vet Advice
In this article we are going to help you to decide whether antlers are safe for your dog. Because these effective chews have a lot of bad press. We’ll balance up the arguments and help you to make your own decision on whether antlers are safe for dogs.
So are antlers safe for dogs? How can you weigh up the risks and benefits? Let’s take a closer look to help you decide whether to use antlers for dogs.
Are antlers safe for dogs? Antlers are popular chews for dogs and dog owners alike. But, the safety of antlers for dogs is a hotly debated topic. On the one hand, most dogs love the taste of antlers and can get some important nutrients from antlers. But, on the other hand, hard antler chews can cause broken teeth, internal blockages, and internal punctures if your dog swallows any particularly sharp pieces.
When it comes to the safety of antlers for dogs, there is neither much evidence, nor much research. Numerous well-respected vet sites claim that chewing on very hard objects, including antlers, are the primary source of tooth fractures in dogs, along with rough play.
Unlike cow horns, which are made from keratin, the antlers of many species of deer are made from real bone. They are a bony outgrowth of the animal’s skull and are quite unique in that respect. Antlers are usually shed each year, and a new set grows in their place.
One of the notable features of antlers, compared with other non weight bearing bones, is their hardness. Antlers are very hard indeed. After being shed, antlers are often picked up and gnawed by wild animals. So, it may seem natural that dog owners would assume antlers are safe for domestic dogs too. Especially when owners can find such a large range of antlers for dogs in pet stores and for sale online.
The main concern for most pet owners and vets is the hardness of antlers and whether they will damage a dog’s teeth. And this problem can be made worse if your dog is an aggressive chewer. But different types of antler can actually have varying levels of hardness. Deer antlers for dogs are the most popular, and the most common up for sale. But there are plenty of others out there. Such as…
The above types of antlers all vary in their hardness, shape and size. The harder an antler is, the harder it will be for a dog to chew on. And whilst many dogs might be completely fine chewing on an antler, others may experience painful issues. In particular, the dental problems mentioned earlier.
Vet Norman Johnston of the UK Dental Vets group has touched on the topic. Since awareness of hard chews causing dental issues was first raised in the veterinary press in 2013, they state, there has been a “large increase in cases seen of fractured carnassial (and other) teeth by dogs chewing on antlers and other hard toys”.
Frustratingly, many of these sites lack links to credible sources of research on this topic. When this happens, it usually means that there aren’t any such sources! What you will find are many vets and dog experts telling you not to give antlers to your dog. And a great many websites promoting antlers for dogs. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of antlers for dogs versus the risks and potential health concerns next.
Antlers are a source of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. And many dogs seem to really like the taste. For domestic dogs, who often suffer from boredom, chewing on a hard substance is a relaxing and recreational activity.
Some studies have also suggested that chewing on bones is a highly effective way to remove dental calculus in dogs – currently the most widespread oral problem our dogs experience. When comparing firm and softer dental chews, firmer chews took longer for dogs to consume. This was associated with improved dental health, but the difference was not significant. So, some may argue that the lower risk, softer chews are just as good.
If your dog fractures a tooth on an antler or hard chew, he or she will be in considerable pain. Any treatment will need to take place under a general anesthetic. Generally speaking, the treatment for your dog will be just like it would be for you. But you can’t just sit a dog in the dentist’s chair and ask him to open wide.
As we know, the main risk associated with hard antler chews is dental issues such as a fractured tooth. There are figures on the incidence of tooth fractures in dogs. Up to 20% of dogs will suffer a fractured tooth at some time, according to the Embrace insurance company.
If this occurs, you must consider the risk and expense of a general anesthetic, plus the cost of removing the tooth or, in some cases, repairing it. There is also the chance that the damage has extended to the tooth pulp and the gums. In severe cases, stabilization of the fractured tooth may need wires and pins. If the fracture is bad enough, you may even need to use a feeding tube to ensure that your dog gets enough nutrients while he heals. There will also be x-rays, follow ups, and so on. You are not going to see much change from $1000. And that is a conservative estimate.
On top of broken teeth, if your dog breaks off a smaller chunk of bone and swallows it, they can experience further issues. Internal blockages and punctures from particularly sharp pieces of bone are major concerns.
Because we have no published data on the causes of tooth fractures, there is no way to tell you for sure that antlers are safe for dogs to chew, or that antlers are not safe for dogs to chew. All we can do is talk about the anecdotal evidence. And turn our attention to the vets who are telling us what they are seeing in their surgeries.
Anecdotal evidence can be a tricky subject. And we often caution our readers against using only anecdotal evidence to underpin important decisions about their dogs’ health. Anecdotal evidence is the accumulated observations of people, rather than properly controlled clinical trials. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable.
Like broken bones, broken teeth may often, but not always, have dramatic symptoms. The broken tooth may be obvious for all to see. And if a tooth sheared off while the dog was eating an antler, then the probability of a “cause and effect” link is fairly high.
So for dogs that suffer major tooth fractures while chewing on very hard objects, there could be another cause. The tooth might have been cracked already, for example. But the chances are it was not. This means that the anecdotal evidence we are hearing from many vets around the country, with regard to the link between antlers and broken teeth, is actually quite valuable.
For raw fed dogs, bones are a necessary part of their diet. But, it isn’t necessary for a raw fed dog to eat very hard bones, such as antlers or the weight bearing leg bones of larger mammals. There are a wide range of alternative softer sources of bone, such as ribs, or the bones of smaller animals.
The marrow inside antlers is much easier for dogs to digest, and this part contains plenty of the tasty nutrients and flavors dogs love. But the bone of the anter itself will be much harder for your dog to eat.
Some owners may even notice chunks of antler and bone in their dogs’ excrement if they have been chewing on an antler. In extreme circumstances, chunks of antler can cause internal blockages. Or, sharp pieces can damage your dog’s internal organs as it makes its way through their digestive system.