Are Antler Chews Good for Your Dog?
Are antlers safe for dogs? Are deer or elk antlers good for dogs? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is – as long as you select the right one. Not all antlers are the same, and while some chews are safe and nutritious for your furry best friend, others are bereft of any nutrients and may not be high-quality or checked for any flaws.
According to the American Kennel Club, the right antler chews for your dog help reduce plaque and tartar buildup, and also help curb destructive behaviors, stress, and anxiety into an acceptable and appropriate outlet.
Some of the many benefits of antler chews include:
There are two common antler chews on the market – elk and deer antler chews. Pet Parents® only sells Grade A elk and deer antlers, the highest grade of antlers available.
Are split elk antlers safe for dogs? Are whole elk? Are deer antlers safe for dogs? Lower grade antlers sold by others may not go through as meticulous of an examination process. There are options for whole deer, whole elk, and split elk antlers safe for dogs. You will want to ensure that any antler chews are Grade A and raw. Our Gnawtlers® are sorted, weighed, cut, sanded, and vacuum sealed, following meticulous safety standards to make sure they are perfectly safe for your furbaby. Our Grade A Gnawtlers® are collected from naturally shed antlers from the rocky mountain and heartland regions of the US. Then they are specially chosen for their weight, density, color, and shape to ensure they are the best quality for your furbaby.
Always be very wary when shopping for antler chews for your dog. If you see one that is marked “premium” yet is priced very low or lacking information on sourcing, you can almost guarantee that it is an overly-processed elk antler. Yes, premium elk and deer antlers are slightly more expensive, but will last longer and are much safer for your dog to be chewing on. They are a superior choice for your dog and one that is more nutritious as well.
Elk antler is a far superior dog chew because it is larger than deer antlers. The diameter of an elk antler allows for it have much more marrow than deer chews which results in more flavor for your dog.
Most importantly, the thicker pieces of the elk antler is safer for your dog because your dog is less likely to attempt to snap the antler. The problem is that the antler will not snap and your dog might hurt thier teeth. The thicker elk antlers cannot be leveraged the same way by your dog and your dog will inherently chew it more safely.
Deer and elk antlers are similar in how they grow, that they only grow on the males of the species, and that they shed each year in the springtime.
In this post were going to break down the main differences between elk and deer for dog chews.
5 Best Antlers For Dogs Reviewed
If you do decide to give your dog antlers to chew, there are a few good options on the market, which are ethically sourced and designed to be safe for your dog when used correctly. Here are our top five picks.
OUR PICK: USA Bones and Chews
USA Bones and Chews makes quite a few different antler options for dogs, always ethically sourced from within the United States.
They offer regular deer and elk antler chews, but one of our favorites is their split elk antler chews.
The fact that the bone has been cut makes it a bit easier to get at the marrow on the inside. Both the marrow and elk antler, in general, are slightly softer; it is an easier experience for your dog.
Like all of their antlers, this range comes in a variety of sizes so you can choose one that is safe for your dog. All of their antlers are also low odor and none are treated with chemicals, bleach, dyes, or formaldehyde.
Overall, what you have is an antler chew you can trust to be from an ethical source and not contain any extra nasties that might upset your dog.
If you are looking for affordable antlers that are still safe for your dog, then Buck Bone Organics makes a good line.
They come in packs of six, and there are a variety of different sizes to choose from, so you can find a safe choice for your pooch.
The antlers are top-grade A antlers harvested in the United States without any processing, additives, or fillers, and the resulting product is eco-friendly and odorless.
What sets this product apart is that all the antlers are reviewed and shaped by hand to ensure there are no cracks of outcrops that might be dangerous for your dog.
The result is an affordable product that is safe and has a low environmental impact.
Prairie Dog is another trusted brand that produces some of the best deer antlers on the market, again in a variety of sizes.
They offer antlers exclusively harvested from North America that have been naturally shed and are Grade A or B.
The company then uses an 11 step quality control process to ensure that only the safest antlers make it into your dog’s mouth.
Like all the other products that we are recommending, these antlers are 100 percent natural with nothing added that might unexpectedly upset your dog, such as dyes, preservatives, or artificial flavors.
While Prairie Dog’s deer products are their best, they do also offer elk and moose options.
When we talk about dog diets, we often talk about novel proteins, which are the proteins that dogs don’t eat very often and, therefore, it is good to add this kind of variation to their diet. You can also get novel antlers.
Icelandic offers a range of lamb horns, ethically sourced from free-range Icelandic lambs, one of the few animals that shed their horns.
The resulting product is completely free of additives, preservatives, supplements, and anything nasty. But the horn is cleaned, boiled, and baked in order to meet FDA, USDA, EU, and MAST guidelines.
These horns tend to be a little bit softer than antlers as they are bone that is covered in keratin, which is the same substance that makes up human fingernails.
This makes them a good alternative choice if you are worried that antlers are a little too hard.
USA Bones & Chews gets a second mention on the list because they offer a great alternative product in elk antler burrs.
Burrs are the portion of the antler that attaches the antler to the animal’s skull and is the point where the antler naturally falls off.
This is the strongest section of the antler, but it isn’t too strong for your dog when it is cut into slices, exposing the softer marrow on the inside. It can also be ideal for aggressive chewers, as the flat shape means the burr won’t splinter or chip and cause potential choking issues.
There is less variety in size with burrs, so they are better for small to medium dogs, as they are just too small for larger breeds.
What are the Best Dog Chew Toys – nylabones and antler or are there better? – Dog Health Vet Advice
If you are looking for a safe hard chew for your dog, you may be frustrated, as it seems that nothing is safe.
Antlers for dogs as chew treats are also controversial, with mixed opinions on whether they are safe or cause major dental problems.
In today’s article, we will start by investigating the question of whether it is safe for dogs to chew antlers.
SPOILER ALERT! It depends on the dog. Antlers can most definitely cause dental problems with some dogs including chipped and cracked teeth. If you do decide to give your dog antlers, we will also look at what kind of antlers are best for dogs and how to safely give your dog this treat. Finally, we will look at the best places to buy antlers for dogs.
OUR TOP PICK: If you are looking for a reliable brand that offers a range of safe antlers for dogs, look at USA Bones & Chews.